Halifax councillors say a former sports dome in Bedford must be fenced off and cleaned up to keep the public and nearby students safe.

On Thursday, the city’s appeals committee heard about the conditions at 44 Verdi Drive in the Bedford Common area.

In early December, municipal staff issued two orders to fix dangerous and unsightly issues at the site.

They said a fence must be placed around the collapsed inflatable dome and ice rink to prevent access to the property, mitigate public safety risks, and enclose the “hazardous area.”

Halifax also said piles of debris including insulation, metal and plastic must be cleaned up.

Humberto Madrigal, the Halifax compliance officer who visited the site, said he did not see anything preventing students from the nearby Rocky Lake Junior High from wandering into the area.

“I got inside the rink, so absolutely that’s an open access to that location,” Madrigal said.

The property owner, Nova Scotia-based Can Sport Inc., is in receivership, and corporate insolvency firm MNP Ltd. is now responsible for the site.

Eric Findlay, MNP senior vice-president, told the committee they are aware there has been vandalism, thefts, and people seeking shelter at the site.

He said they have hired security to visit the site regularly, installed alarms, and blocked the roads leading to the dome. Findlay also said they have hired a company to start cleaning up the site.

“We have, since our appointment, been taking steps to ensure the safety of the public,” Findlay said.

Findlay said the inflatable dome has been collapsed since a heavy snowfall in 2022 caused multiple issues. MNP documents said the rink was built in 2008.

Findlay appealed both orders to allow for more time. Given the size of the site, the committee extended the deadline to clear up the debris within 30 days, but it upheld the original deadline of installing fencing within seven days.

Councillor says fencing can be up quickly

“[Fencing] is something that can be done in like a short period of time,” said Coun. Billy Gillis. “I mean there’s all kinds of fencing rental places in the city, you can call and have it done within two days.”

Area councillor Jean St-Amand, who does not sit on the committee, said his colleagues did “exactly the right thing.”

St-Amand said the site has been deteriorating for some time, and there have been complaints from parents of students at the nearby junior high.

“The natural curiosity of kids that age, they were winding up inside the bounds of that particular property. And, you know, there’s a lot of debris there and lots of things that … they could injure themselves,” St-Amand said in an interview Thursday.

“There was a strong desire for the municipality to step in and try to ensure that things get cleaned up.”

Although the roads have been blocked, St-Amand said the dome is visible from the junior high property, and it is easy to walk through trees to the site.

Findlay told the committee that his group has selected a new buyer for the property, but the courts must approve the deal before it is finalized. He said they are hoping to have a hearing in May. 

There are restrictive covenants on the property that limit uses to recreational activities and a hotel, according to a report from MNP to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in March 2022.

St-Amand said the dome had been used by various local hockey organizations, and keeping the site for recreation would be ideal.

He said a “strong recreation need” remains in Bedford, especially in this area, which can also be easily accessed by people in Lower Sackville.

“If it’s something that complements what’s already being done there, and services the community, then I’m all for it,” St-Amand said.

MORE TOP STORIES