East Hants Aquatic Centre

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East Hants Aquatic Centre
East Hants Aquatic Centre
Interactive map of East Hants Aquatic Centre
General information
Type
Location14 Commerce Court, Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, Canada
Coordinates 44°58′38″N63°30′37″W / 44.977208°N 63.510254°W / 44.977208; -63.510254
Year built2018–2020
Opened22 July 2020
CostCA$19 million
Owner Municipality of the District of East Hants
Design and construction
Architecture firm
  • TEAL Architects
  • MJMA Architecture & Design
Website
www.easthants.ca/east-hants-aquatic-centre

The East Hants Aquatic Centre is a large swimming pool and recreation centre in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the community of Elmsdale. Built to replace the old municipal pool in Milford, the aquatic centre opened to the public in July 2020. The centre suffered extensive damage during the 2023 Nova Scotia floods, and remained closed for repairs for an extended period.

Contents

Description

The East Hants Aquatic Centre is a large, modern facility in Elmsdale, located in the business park on Commerce Court. The 28,800 square foot building was designed by TEAL Architects in partnership with MJMA Architecture & Design, [1] [2] and was built for a total cost of CA$19 million. Two-thirds of this cost was covered by the Municipality of East Hants, while the federal government covered the remaining $5.8 million. [3] [4]

The centre features six 25-metre swimming lanes, a waterslide, diving boards, a 20-person hot tub, a climbing wall, a lazy river, splash pads, and an outdoor splash park. [3] [5] In addition to swimming facilities, the aquatic centre also has a multipurpose room with a kitchen for accomodating recreation programs. [6]

History

The aquatic centre was built to replace the old municipal pool in Milford. [3] In 2015, the municipality announced a proposal to build the aquatic centre adjacent to the Elmsdale Atlantic Superstore in a partnership with Choice Properties REIT; [7] they instead chose to build it in the Elmsdale Business Park, adjacent to the Lloyd E. Matheson Building. [6]

Construction of the East Hants Aquatic Centre began in May 2018, and was expected to be completed by fall of 2019. [6] The centre officially opened on 22 July 2020, [8] and a grand opening ceremony was held on 18 September 2020, attended by Warden Jim Smith and MP Kody Blois. [5]

The East Hants Aquatic Centre suffered extensive damage as a result of the 2023 Nova Scotia floods in July, during which 175–250 millimetres of rain fell in Elmsdale within a 12-hour timeframe. Several feet of stormwater accumulated in the basement of the aquatic centre, and several inches on the upper level. [9] The basement of the centre contains the building's electrical equipment and mechanical systems, [10] some of which was damaged beyond repair by the flood. Total costs for repairs exceeded CA$3 million. [9] [11] The aquatic centre re-opened to the public in July 2024. [12]

References

  1. ↑ "East Hants Aquatic Centre". TEAL Architects. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "East Hants Aquatic Centre". MJMA Architecture & Design. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Palmeter, Paul (30 June 2020). "New pool, repaired sports dome for East Hants to be up and running this summer". CBC News . Nova Scotia: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "New aquatic centre for residents of East Hants". Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (News release). Ottawa: Government of Canada. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  5. 1 2 Healey, Pat (20 September 2020). "Grand opening of East Hants Aquatic Centre brings vision full circle". The Laker News. Enfield, N.S. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Berman, Pam (1 March 2018). "Construction of new $19M aquatic centre for Elmsdale to begin this spring". CBC News . Nova Scotia: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  7. ↑ [PNI Atlantic] (1 December 2015). "Location of new East Hants Aquatic Centre revealed". PNI Atlantic News . Elmsdale, N.S.: Postmedia Network . Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  8. ↑ Healey, Pat (10 July 2020). "Swimmers take your starting positions: East Hants Aquatic Centre to officially open July 22". The Laker News. Enfield, N.S. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  9. 1 2 Woodbury, Richard (15 June 2024). "Elmsdale's aquatic centre was built to withstand once-in-a-century storms. Then the rain hit". CBC News . Nova Scotia: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  10. ↑ Healey, Pat (27 July 2023). "Aquatic Centre closure expected to be lengthy due to flooding damage". The Laker News. Enfield, N.S. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  11. ↑ Woodbury, Richard (6 October 2024). "Repair bills near $3M for Elmsdale pool shut down for almost a year due to flooding". CBC News . Nova Scotia: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  12. ↑ Healey, Pat (29 May 2024). "Officials aim for July 10 re-opening of East Hants Aquatic Centre". The Laker News. Enfield, N.S. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
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