Halifax Skating Oval – Canada Winter Games

halifax skating ovalThere is a lot of controversy over whether the Outdoor Skating Oval should stay as a permanent fixture in the Halifax Commons.  The skating oval was built to be used for the Canada Winter Games in February of 2011.  The estimated cost to keep the skating oval open to the public would be Skating on Winter Games Oval Halifax$250,000 per year. The general public is mixed about this, some are lobbying for it to stay open free of charge, some are open to a per use charge and some want it to be ripped out after the games are over.

I have seen 2 outdoor skating paths in operation for free to the public operated by municipalities in Ontario and they are a huge hit with the community.  I think that this outdoor skating oval would be an excellent opportunity to provide something back to the community and also encourages family as well as physical activities to keep the community active and healthy. In my opinion it doesn’t make sense to ‘rip the structure’ out since it is already in place.  There are many possibilities for the city to recoup and profit from this as well including: locker rental, refreshment booth, possible parking, equipment rental, etc.

Click Here For More Information About The Halifax Skating Oval

Photos courtesy of The Coast

Terry Holdershaw, Founder of East Coast Proud

Posted in East Coast History & Landmarks, East Coast News, Nova Scotia | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Halifax UrbEx – Stabilizing Fort McNab

Fort McNab is located on McNab Island near the mouth of the Halifax Harbour. McNab Island is approximately 5km long and 1.5 km wide. Fort McNab was built between 1888 and 1892 and was decommissioned in 1959 when ownership was transferred to Parks Canada.

With permission from the Halifax UrbEx Blog we’ve borrowed this article to share with our East Coast Proud fans.

Fort McNab BuildingAs part of the federal government’s economic action plan $1 025 000 (actionplan.gc.ca) was earmarked for the “stabilization of selected historic assets within the Fort McNab.” Fort McNab was and is falling to pieces and many parts of the cannot be considered safe for unguided public access. The result of the stabilization should provide safe unguided public access to the fort. The work began during in September 2010. I became aware when Fort McNab UndergroundFriends of McNabs announced via Twitter (Friends of McNabs @Twitter) that the fort would be upgraded, getting a “$1.6 million facelift,” and would be closed to the public for the remainder of the year.

It was my assumption that major aspects of the fort’s stabilization would include repairs to the crumbling building facades and the limiting of access to areas determined to be unsafe. Most of the access to underground areas was sealed years ago, I assume the remaining tunnels will be closed off as part of efforts to stabilize the fort.

When I visited Fort McNab with a group of close friends late in September 2010 work was already underway. My assumption that work would be done on crumbling building exteriors was confirmed by scaffolding. We were all pleasantly surprised to see much of the brush and overgrowth cut back revealing all kinds of new views.

Click Here For The Full Article w/ Photos at Halifax UrbEX

Posted in East Coast History & Landmarks, Nova Scotia | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Baby Born In Car During Moncton Snow Storm

Ashley Hicks and Josh Gautreau may have named their brand new baby Raine, but years from now, it will be the snow they remember most about his birth.

Baby Raine - Moncton Snow Storm

GREG AGNEW/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

Baby Raine is welcomed yesterday by grandmother Crystal Hicks, left, mom Ashley Hicks and dad Josh Gautreau.

Baby Raine was in such a hurry to become one of the first babies of 2011 yesterday morning, he showed up 10 days – and about 10 km- too early.

He was born about 8 a.m. on the side of Highway 2, the Trans-Canada Highway, after a snow-slowed drive in from the Gallagher Ridge area, north of Moncton.

As the three set out down Highway 126, the heavy snowfall intensified, and with the highway not plowed, Crystal had to reduce her speed to about 50 kilometres per hour.

It was soon becoming clear Raine was in more of a hurry than Grammy’s driving could accommodate. As she pulled onto the Trans-Canada from Mountain Road, Raine was crowning.

“When our firefighters Lieutenant Don LeBlanc and Jamie Richford arrived, the mother already had the baby in her arms. They clamped the cord and packed the placenta,” McCabe said yesterday.

Though it’s rare for the Moncton Fire Department’s first responders to be involved as much as they were yesterday morning, they do have the training and equipment for such emergencies. ”We take obstetrics in our training and we have obstetrics kits in our trucks,” McCabe said. “I’m really proud of our guys and how they put that to use.”

Read The Full Article Here: http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/front/article/1367479

Posted in East Coast News, New Brunswick | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Merry Christmas from East Coast Proud

East Coast Proud would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! We hope the weather cooperates for anyone that is traveling over the Holiday Season. All the best and lets make 2011 a great one!

Merry Christmas from East Coast ProudSanta Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Capital

Here’s an oldie, Johnny Cash and Anne Murray singing ‘Christmas Feeling’

Terry Holdershaw, East Coast Proud
‘Building An East Coast Proud Community Around The World’
For those that love New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador

Posted in East Coast Music, East Coast News, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

New Brunswick Flooding – December 2010 Photos

New Brunswick and a lot of areas throughout the Maritimes have experienced severe flooding this December.  Here are a couple photos from CBC, Check Out All The Photos on the CBC Website.

New Brunswick Road Flooded December 2010New Brunswick Flooding December 2010

Posted in East Coast Weather, New Brunswick | Leave a comment

December Wind, Rain & Flooding in Nova Scotia, PEI & New Brunswick

Weather has been big news for Atlantic Canada so far this December.  Halifax and most of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI have experienced severe rain, wind and flooding yesterday and today.

Flooded Irving Gas Station New Brunswick

Here is a Flooded Irving Gas Station in St. Stephen, NB

Check Out The Weather Network Story Here

Posted in East Coast Weather, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dick Nolan – Good Ol’ Newfie Christmas

Yesterday we shared some East Coast Christmas Theme photos.  Today I wanted to share a Christmas song with photos from Newfoundland.  Here it is, Dick Nolan – Good Ol’ Newfie Christmas.

Posted in East Coast Music, Newfoundland | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

East Coast Christmas

We did a little searching on the internet and came up with a few photos to share with an East Coast Christmas Theme.

Lobster Trap Christmas Tree beer bottle christmas tree east coast boat christmas lights east coast nova scotia nova scotia boston christmas tree

We’ve got two Christmas Trees, one made of Lobster Traps, the other of Molson Canadian Beer Bottles.  We also have a boat with Christmas Lights and the large Christmas Tree that Nova Scotia sends to Boston each year.

If you have any East Coast Christmas Photos or stories that you would like to share, we highly encourage you to share and comment with them.

Thank you and all the best this Holiday Season from East Coast Proud

Posted in East Coast News, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

New Newfoundland Premier Kathy Dunderdale

Kathy Dunderdale Newfoundland PremierOn December 3, 2010 Kathy Dunderdale was sworn in as the first female Premier of Newfoundland.  Kathy grew up in the town of Burin, Newfoundland & Labrador.  She attended Memorial University and has worked throughout the province in community development, communications, fisheries and social work.

Click Here For More Info on Kathy Dunderdale

Posted in East Coast News, Newfoundland | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Stompin’ Tom Connors – Bud The Spud

One of Canada’s most well known and ‘Canadiana’ artists, Stompin’ Tom Connors originates from Prince Edward Island.  I was looking for a good video of ‘Bud The Spud’ and came across this live concert in Hamilton, ON that I wanted to share with you.

Posted in East Coast Music, Prince Edward Island | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment