The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame (NSSHF) will have a brand-new Hall of Fame facility in a familiar old location.
After closing its previous home adjacent to the Scotiabank Centre in fall 2020, the NSSHF has negotiated a new lease with landlord Armco Capital, and will return to its old location after undertaking significant renovations to build a bigger and better Hall of Fame museum.
“There were many great potential sites around the province, but we kept coming back to the idea that it is an amazing bonus to be attached to the province’s major arena,” says NSSHF President & CEO Bruce Rainnie. “We realized that the location was ideal for the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, so we went back to the landlord and found a way to make it work.”
Renovations are beginning now, and will include an approximate 30 per cent increase in square footage. The NSSHF redesign will allow for many improvements including three key features:
1) The bigger museum area will provide more display space and better recognition of NSSHF inductees
2) The facility will be fully accessible with an improved entrance for those with special mobility needs
3) The NSSHF will be able to bring its entire collection of more than 8,000 artifacts onsite for optimal conservation and preservation of Nova Scotia’s sport heritage.
“Our familiar location at Scotiabank Centre will be rebuilt from scratch, and will offer us more space and more potential than we have ever had,” says Rainnie. “We are especially excited about a new, interactive Hall of Fame inductee area, where you’ll be able to learn more about your favourite Nova Scotia Sport Heroes. Our very popular Sidney Crosby exhibit and multi-sport simulator will return, along with more technology and hands-on opportunities. Our goal is to make the Hall of Fame a place families want to visit again and again.”
Prior to closing in 2020, the NSSHF had occupied the location at Scotiabank Centre since 2006, operating a free-admission museum year-round and welcoming more than 70,000 visitors annually.
The NSSHF is proud to say that the new facility is being designed by a Nova Scotian architecture firm (Harvey Architecture) and built by a Nova Scotian construction company (RCS Construction). Preliminary drawings have been provided by Harvey Architecture, and renderings of exhibit design have been created by International Sports Heritage Association member CambridgeSeven (see three images below).
The project, including exhibit installation, is expected to be complete within 2023. In the meantime, the Hall of Fame is committed to expanding its presence across the province.
A True Provincial Museum
“As we toured the province, we were touched by the desire of many towns to have us as a part of their community,” says Rainnie.
As a result, the NSSHF is improving its provincial reach with satellite exhibits that offer an interactive experience with the use of a free mobile app.
There are currently satellite exhibits installed in Sydney, Truro, Bridgetown, and the HRM, with more to come in the months leading up to the opening of the new NSSHF facility. These displays throughout the province will serve as an extension of the NSSHF museum, while its primary facility will remain in downtown Halifax.
The vision for the renovated Hall of Fame space is to be a community hub for Nova Scotians, an inviting attraction for out-of-province visitors, and a fun and educational destination for Nova Scotia youth.
NSSHF Launches Capital Campaign to Raise Funds
Creating a bigger and better Hall of Fame will come at a cost, which will require a significant undertaking from the NSSHF, which is a non-profit organization that is 90 per cent self-funded.
“We will be looking for some help from the three levels of government, but we will also be doing a lot of fundraising ourselves,” says Rainnie. “And the man best-suited to lead that charge is Hall of Famer Dr. Bill Stanish.”
Dr. Stanish will be heading up a capital campaign for the NSSHF, with the goal of raising $4 million.
“The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame needs this new home to best celebrate the current and future generations of heroes who have contributed so much to our sport heritage,” says Dr. Stanish.
In addition to the capital campaign, titled “Celebrate, Educate, Inspire,” there will be opportunities for anyone and everyone to be a part of the Hall of Fame rebuild. Nova Scotians are encouraged to follow the NSSHF social media platforms for regular updates.
While the Hall of Fame facility is closed for this exciting project, the NSSHF will continue to offer its free education program, its annual selection process and Induction Night, research assistance and more. Please visit nsshf.com for more information.
Contacts:
Katie Tanner
Museum & Communications Coordinator
Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
902-404-3343 / katie@nsshf.com
Bruce Rainnie
President & CEO
Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
902-404-3313 / bruce@nsshf.com