Halifax committee advances study of $900,000 contribution for Lake Banook Paddle All Centre expansion
Ken Bagnell, CEO of Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic, is seeking $900,000 from the Halifax Regional Municipality toward a $6.5-million expansion of the Lake Banook Paddle All Centre in Dartmouth. The municipality's community planning and economic development standing committee unanimously approved a motion requesting a staff report to analyze the potential contribution.
Ken Bagnell, CEO of Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic, presented a funding request to the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) on Thursday, asking for $900,000 to help finance a $6.5-million expansion of the Lake Banook Paddle All Centre in Dartmouth. Representatives from Canoe Kayak Canada joined Bagnell in presenting the proposal to HRM’s community planning and economic development standing committee.
The project also seeks $2.6 million each from the federal and provincial governments. According to the presentation, approximately $400,000 has already been received from the community. The requested $900,000 municipal contribution could be distributed across three years.
The Lake Banook Paddle All Centre is the only national training centre in Atlantic Canada. Four programs — men's and women's canoe and kayak — train daily at the facility. There are more than 5,000 paddlers across 11 clubs within HRM.
The proposed expansion would increase the building's square footage to include kitchen space, specialized training equipment such as paddle tanks, extra washrooms, meeting rooms, and improved accessibility.
Coun. Janet Steele of Clayton Park, who chairs the standing committee, put forward a motion requesting a staff report to analyze HRM’s potential contribution. The committee unanimously approved the motion.
