Work begins on site of future Glace Bay Youth & Family Centre

GLACE BAY, N.S. – A transformational project for the community of Glace Bay and beyond will mark a milestone on April 26, 2024, with a sod-turning event hosted by the project partners.

The Glace Bay Youth & Family Centre is slated to open in 2026 and will provide a vibrant, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable place for families, children, youth, seniors, and community organizations to enjoy and deliver a range of programming and activities.

The 24,000 square foot facility will be located on 6 acres of land in the heart of downtown Glace Bay at the corner of Reserve and Union Streets and will include:

• a creative lab and makerspace for children, youth, families, and entrepreneurs
• a nursery and indoor playground
• a community kitchen for programming and entrepreneur use
• indoor and outdoor recreation and multi-use spaces with programming for youth, families, and seniors throughout the day
• a community café

The Glace Bay Youth & Family Centre will feature accessible/barrier-free spaces and a net-zero carbon design, making the building highly energy efficient. It represents a significant investment in the future of the community, providing a much-needed space for families and individuals of all ages to come together, learn, and grow.

“Glace Bay has faced some difficult circumstances and has shown time after time that it can overcome these trials. In that respect, the new inclusive youth and family centre will help do just that and more. The operator of this new centre, New Dawn Enterprises, and its anchor tenant, Undercurrent, will be able to offer more of their fantastic programming for the community, strengthening youth, and supporting families and people of all ages and abilities. This new centre will be an extraordinary asset for all of the community,” said Cape Breton-Canso MP Mike Kelloway on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

The federal government is contributing $8.8 million to the project through the Green and Inclusive Communities Building Program and the Nova Scotia government has committed $6 million in funding.

“I am thrilled to be part of today’s sod-turning ceremony for the new Glace Bay Youth and Community Centre. As one whose life has been positively impacted by the Police Boys and Girls Clubs I stand as a living example of the statement ‘it takes a community to raise a child,’” said Glace Bay-Dominion MLA John White, speaking on behalf of Allan MacMaster, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.

“This centre represents more than just a building – it is a commitment to our youth and families. Community hubs like this are vital in providing a safe, accessible place for education, recreation, and support services. By investing in this facility, we are investing in a stronger, more vibrant future community.”

The goal of this project is to serve vulnerable youth and families, with a focus on breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty and addiction. As a community hub, it will meet the needs of economically marginalized youth and families, providing daily free programming for children, teens, families, and seniors including life skills classes, parental supports, sports and recreation and opportunities in entrepreneurship, volunteerism, mentorship, and employment.

“The well-being of our youth and children today is a strong predictor of the well-being of our communities tomorrow. This project reflects the aspirations of the people of Glace Bay for a future and that is vibrant, diverse, healthy, growing, and compassionate and a community that sees and supports each person from infancy through to their elder years. Projects like this are a toehold in the turn towards this different kind of future,” said New Dawn President & CEO, Erika Shea.

“We are grateful for all the voices and perspectives that have, and continue to, shape the designs, programming, and drive for this project. All our children are deserving of spaces that reflect their beauty and worth back to them, that challenge them, that carry them through hard times, and that help them uncover the unique gift they want to offer to the world.”

The project partners invite the media to join us for a sod-turning event and the unveiling of the architectural renderings of the exterior of the building.

EVENT DETAILS:
TIME: 3:30 pm
DATE: Friday, April 26, 2024
LOCATION: Corner of Union St. and Reserve St., Glace Bay (parking available off Official Row)

PRESS CONTACT:
Alyce MacLean
Director of Properties and Development, New Dawn Enterprises
amaclean@newdawn.ca
(902) 539-9560 ext.257

PROJECT PARTNERS:

New Dawn Enterprises will own and operate the Glace Bay Youth & Family Centre. New Dawn operates across eight sectors, including food security, healthcare, immigration, and the arts. Its properties division operates supportive housing, commercial rentals, and has a 25-unit affordable supportive housing building currently under construction. In 2020, New Dawn opened its $17 million renovation of the former Holy Angels Convent: the Eltuek Arts Centre.

Undercurrent Youth Centre will be an operational partner and anchor tenant of the Glace Bay Youth & Family Centre. Undercurrent has a focus on youth and families and the ending of intergenerational cycles of poverty and addictions in communities with disproportionately high rates of both. It has been leading youth initiatives for over a decade in Cape Breton, having founded several youth centres. Currently, Undercurrent operates more than twenty weekly programs for children and youth.

Teeple Architects is the Architect of Record for the Glace Bay Youth & Family Centre. Teeple is recognized for executing technically advanced projects of exceptional quality that are conceptually and practically rooted in the specific needs and aspirations of each client. Founded in 1989, Teeple’s expertise encompasses residential, commercial, institutional, cultural and civic projects including community buildings such as recreational centers, museums and libraries.

Public City is providing landscape architecture consultation and expertise to the site of the Glace Bay Youth & Family Centre. Since incorporating in 2010, Public City has garnered widespread acclaim for achievements in both architecture and landscape architecture, as well as for its collaborative design projects. The firm has been honored with the Governor General Medal, CSLA Awards, and an International Olympic Committee Award. Their mission is to create a more resilient, sustainable human environment that is capable of thriving in a challenging and changing climate.

Dora Construction is the Construction Manager of the Glace Bay Youth & Family Centre. With 20 years in the market, DORA Construction has delivered exceptional projects ranging from large commercial projects to meticulous restorations across Atlantic Canada. During the planning, design, and building phases, Dora’s priority is to address the community’s concerns, expectations, and perspectives. Dora’s core values and guiding principles include life-long learning, integrity, collaboration, safety, and inclusion.

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