New Convention Centre Secures 16 events, Launches New Brand

Sixteen organizations have already committed to bringing national and international conferences when the new Halifax Convention Centre opens its doors in 2016.

Trade Centre Limited (TCL) today, Jan. 23, announced the conferences are expected to attract more than 12,000 visitors and generate an estimated $18.1 million in new money to the province.

"The new convention centre will attract more people to Nova Scotia and connect them with communities across the province," said Michel Samson, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. "Our convention centre is an opportunity to connect our businesses, tourism operators and researchers with visitors from around the world that will explore our province and all we have to offer."

The brand, Halifax Convention Centre, was unveiled. The logo includes a circle icon -- a visual depiction of connections, collaboration and community unique to hosting an event in Nova Scotia.

"Halifax is the economic, academic and cultural heart of Atlantic Canada, and the new convention centre is at the centre of it all," said Halifax Regional Municipality Mayor Mike Savage. "We've always prided ourselves on being a great host city; this new facility gives us an opportunity to showcase our legendary hospitality to rest of the world."

With two years remaining until the state-of-the art, LEED gold certified convention centre opens its doors in 2016, TCL 's president and CEO Scott Ferguson said interest among conference planners and the community continues to build.

"The list of national and international events choosing Nova Scotia as a result of the new convention centre is significant," said Mr. Ferguson. "We will continue to attract new events, generate new business and contribute to the economic vibrancy of Nova Scotia. We're very excited to open the doors to this new facility in 2016."

"I know first-hand the tremendous impacts of major conferences and the new visitors that come with them," said Donna Hatt, marketing manager of White Point Beach Resort and chair of Events Liverpool. "As a tourism operator, we are excited to partner with TCL in hosting conference delegates from around the world and deliver an authentic Nova Scotia experience they will remember for years to come."

The secured conferences announced today are:

• Canadian Respiratory Conference, April 2016, 650 delegates
• Canada's Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, May 2016, 600 delegates
• Canadian Library Association, May 2016, 1,500 delegates
• Canadian Orthopaedic Association, June 2016, 600 delegates
• ARMA International, June 2016, 375 delegates
• Canadian Society for Chemistry, June 2016, 1,000 delegates
• International Training Conference, July 2016, 600 delegates
• Catholic Women's League of Canada, August 2016, 800 delegates
• Harmony Inc., November 2017, 1,000 delegates
• Federation of Canadian Municipalities, June 2018, 2,000 delegates
• STEMfest, 2018, 4 conferences, 1,450 total delegates
• Canadian Urological Association, June 2018, 600 delegates
• Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, May 2020, 850 delegates

The Halifax Convention Centre will feature 120,000 square feet of rentable space within the Nova Centre, a one-million square-foot mixed-used development including a hotel, financial tower and retail space. The funding of the new convention centre is shared between three levels of government. The province and HRM will each contribute about $56 million toward capital construction costs and the federal government has committed $51 million to contribute to the remaining eligible construction costs.

For more information, visit http://HalifaxConventionCentre.com .