Nova ScotiaThe Municipality of Colchester is investigating possible insurance alternatives for the Rath Eastlink Community Centre as an interim board managing the facility promises to do better. Rath Eastlink Community Centre ‘probably our biggest insured asset in the county dollar-wise,’ says councillorLuke Ettinger · CBC News · Posted: Oct 28, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe Rath Eastlink Community Centre in Truro, N.S., is operated by the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)The Municipality of Colchester is investigating possible insurance alternatives for the Rath Eastlink Community Centre as an interim board managing the facility promises to address a number of concerns. The 12-year-old centre is owned by the Town of Truro and Municipality of Colchester but operated by the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society. The society also operates the provincially owned Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Grounds and organizes the Nova Scotia Stampede. This month, Colchester council voted unanimously to have staff bring back a report on insurance alternatives for the facility. “This is probably our biggest insured asset in the county dollar-wise. The insurance is being held by a volunteer board,” said Coun. Nigel Leggett at the committee of the whole meeting on Oct. 16. “It was readily acknowledged that they were woefully underinsured,” he added. Leggett suggested the county explore the possibility of holding the insurance policy for the building. Stephanie Jones, the interim chair of the society board, told CBC News in an email she was not aware of the motion and declined to comment. She is among eight volunteer interim directors after the previous society board was dismissed by the municipalities in May. At the time, the municipalities said in a joint statement the dismissal was “not the result of any single incident or the actions of any individual.”Stephanie Jones, interim chair of the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society, answers audience questions at an annual general meeting this month. (Luke Ettinger/CBC)At an annual general meeting last week, Jones committed to strong governance, transparency, and collaboration. Some facility users in attendance praised the interim board and expressed hope that ongoing concerns would be addressed. Jones said the board is making a list of repairs needed including to change room showers, exercise equipment and the pool score clock. “Taking that list, prioritizing and starting to make headway on getting those things fixed. Part of that, I think, should be getting feedback from you, and any other members of the RECC,” Jones said in response to a question at the meeting. The building’s heating and cooling system also needs to be replaced, but Jones couldn’t commit to a timeline for that work.Matt Moore, executive director of the society, said the building’s roof is also in need of further inspection “to address troubling leaks and ongoing water issues.” “These proposed life cycle recommendations will continue to be provided to the municipal building owners on an annual basis,” he added at the annual general meeting. Moore said the society’s eligibility for COVID-19 relief funding is still under evaluation. In February, the two municipalities loaned the operator more than $1.6 million to repay the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and accumulated interest. That is on top of the $1.5-million operating grant the society received from Truro and Colchester in 2025. “We’re proud that the municipal operating grant represents only 17 per cent of our overall revenue streams that’s being generated by the society. When I arrived in Truro with my family back in 2015, over 10 years ago, the initial operating grant represented 50 per cent of the society’s overall revenue,” said Moore “I’m so proud of the staff team and the support being provided by our community to enable our organization to move forward.”The centre posted a deficit of nearly $91,000 for the fiscal year that ended last March 31. Its debt stood at almost $1.3 million.MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORLuke Ettinger is a reporter with CBC Nova Scotia based in Truro. Reach him at luke.ettinger@cbc.ca.
‘Woefully underinsured’ community centre a concern for Colchester council
