The Centre

On January 26, 2010, Regional Council approved entering into a joint project with the Province to add a community centre component to the new Elementary School project located in Porters Lake. Council directed staff to include $1.65 million in the 2010-11 Operating Budget as HRM’s contribution to the cost of the new facility, estimated to be about $3.3 million.

Construction of the facility was completed in September 2011, and the Centre opened its doors on September 19 with a full slate of programs for the Fall of 2011. Staffed by approximately 20 staff and instructors, the Lake & Shore Community Recreation Centre (aka The Rec Centre) operates year-round with some dedicated facilities (multipurposes rooms, dance studio, soccer field) and some facilities shared with the school (gym, cafeteria, music room and meeting spaces).

While the Centre is the focal point of the management team, the Board and Staff vision a broad mission that puts the Centre at the middle of the local recreational community, but which also intends to encourage and support recreational activity throughout the area, taking advantage of the strong natural assets including trails, lakes, beaches and roads.