New rink in Baddeck, N.S., to receive federal funding if budget is passed

There is new hope that a brand-new arena in Baddeck, N.S., might become a reality.

It has been more than a year since the only indoor rink in Cape Breton’s Victoria County closed its doors back in October 2024 due to structural problems.

Now, however, there is new hope that a brand-new arena in Baddeck, N.S., might become reality.

“I was very happy to inform the Victoria Highlands Civic Centre steering committee that they were successful in their advocacy,” Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish Liberal member of Parliament Jaime Battiste told CTV Atlantic on Sunday.

Over the weekend, Battiste announced that $12 million will be spent towards a new arena to replacement the more than 50-year-old one if the federal budget is passed.

This season and last, minor hockey players from Victoria County have had to travel elsewhere to play.

“It’s one of the only counties in probably all of Canada that doesn’t have their own rink,” Battiste said. “We know that hockey and having a community infrastructure, a place where the community gathers, is important not only for hockey but a part of the Cabot Trail Relay Race.”

The $12 million from Ottawa would come on top of a $5 million commitment from the Nova Scotia government and $1 million from Victoria County.

Victoria Highlands Civic Centre teering committee chair John Trickett said the total project cost is estimated at $25 million and private fundraising has been taking place in the community, but the money from the federal government would be the big piece they have hoping for.

“It’s a huge milestone that we’ve just overcome,” Trickett said. “We could see the momentum building because we had several ministers from the federal government come and visit the site and really ask the tough questions, so we sensed there was a real interest in the project.”

Now it’s a matter of seeing what happens with the federal budget.

“Sometime before we break for December, we’ll have a budget passed, hopefully, or we’ll be going into an election,” Battiste said. “I think that I know which way Victoria County would like to see us go.”

“We have an ambitious target date to open in the fall of 2027,” Trickett added.

Trickett said if the budget is passed and the federal money comes through, the steering committee will then work on finalizing design and construction plans.

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