Halifax inks deal with Manulife to rename Canada Games Centre

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

Goodbye Canada Games Centre, hello Manulife Recreation Centre.

The municipality and Manulife Canada announced a naming rights deal on Wednesday morning. The agreement will see Halifax receive $100,000 per year for 10 years from Manulife, with that money expected to be used for improvements to the facility.

“Halifax is growing, and with that growth comes the responsibility to invest in the health and well-being of our residents,” Mayor Andy Fillmore said in a media release. “This partnership ensures that we can expand programs, increase accessibility, and strengthen the sense of community that makes Halifax such a special place to live.”

Manulife said the money will go toward expanding access to health and wellness programs, including making the centre’s field house and pool open to the public for free access once a month.

The name change to the Manulife Recreation Centre will begin in mid-May, according to the facility, and its digital footprint, including email and social media handles, will happen in June. Manulife is spending $300,000 to fund the rebranding.

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The centre says that rebranding will not impact things like programs or memberships, and the facility will continue to operate as an HRM-owned non-profit.

The name change marks the end of an era for the facility in Clayton Park.

It was built in 2011 for the Canada Games, a legacy the facility says it will continue to recognize.