The Floatation Centre in Halifax says months of nearby construction have forced hundreds of appointment changes and cancellations as blasting and rock-breaking work continue just steps from a business built on silence. Inside the centre, owner Lindsay MacPhee says the disruption is already visible before customers enter. On a computerized booking system, what should be a full day of appointments is increasingly marked by gaps and empty time slots. MacPhee says it reflects ongoing cancellations and rescheduling linked to construction outside. “We’ve gone through 100 days, so probably like hundreds of appointments,” MacPhee said. While the centre offers a service designed around sensory isolation and calm, MacPhee says the environment outside has made consistency difficult over the past several months. She says there are quieter days, but notes those are no longer typical. At times, she says customers are contacted ahead of appointments and given the option to reschedule if blasting is expected nearby. “I am consumed by guilt if I’m operating when that’s going on,” she said. MacPhee says the noise and vibration can carry through the building despite insulation and soundproofing measures. Even inside the float tanks, which are designed to minimize external sensory input, she says some customers can still hear and feel the impact. “It’s like having a woodpecker in there with you,” MacPhee said. Susann Hudson, a customer who has been coming to the centre for several years, says the experience changes significantly when construction is underway. “The experience is not the same when you get disrupted multiple times by blasting,” she said. She says the impact goes beyond inconvenience, affecting the purpose of the service itself. “It’s unfair, because if you can’t deliver your product… you’re a small business and you need to make ends meet,” Hudson said. MacPhee says the business has built a steady clientele over more than a decade and was previously considering expansion before the pandemic and ongoing disruptions. She says she has requested blasting schedules and spoken with project managers and municipal officials, but has been told timing is not always predictable due to the nature of the work. The uncertainty, she adds, has led some regular clients and members to pause visits until construction is complete. MacPhee says she understands development is part of a growing city, but believes more consideration is needed for businesses that rely on controlled, quiet environments. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
