Nova ScotiaA request by the top staffer at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre for a public audience to discuss the termination of an operating agreement for the facility won’t be granted, according to the mayors of the municipal units that own the building.Mayors decline request from RECC’s top staffer for public meeting on change in governance Luke Ettinger · CBC News · Posted: Nov 25, 2025 11:54 AM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.The Rath Eastlink Community Centre, located in Truro, N.S., is jointly owned by the town and the Municipality of Colchester. (Luke Ettinger/CBC)A request by the top staffer at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre for a public audience to discuss the termination of an operating agreement for the facility won’t be granted, according to the mayors of the municipal units that own the building.In October, the Municipality of Colchester council voted to terminate the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society’s operating agreement for the 12-year-old Truro facility, which is jointly owned by the county and the Town of Truro.The county said in a news release that council believed the centre’s operation had been “compromised” since society management signed contracts last year to lease and manage another property — the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Complex — without municipal approval, resulting in “a divided mandate and diluted efforts.”In a letter sent to all municipal councillors on Nov. 13, Matt Moore, the society’s CEO, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the move and that it has “negatively affected the reputation of the organization and its management.” ‘Transparency and accountability’Moore requested a joint public council meeting “to ensure transparency and accountability” in response to Colchester’s decision. He said there are recorded board motions that show support for managing the exhibition grounds. “This meeting would provide an opportunity to present the complete business case, address any misinformation directly regarding the terms of Board-approved agreements, and create a forum for Council members and community stakeholders to ask questions and engage in an open, informed discussion about the future of these important community assets and the management services that support them,” wrote Moore. On Monday, Moore declined through his lawyer to comment on the letter. Request denied Colchester Mayor Christine Blair and Truro Mayor Cathy Hinton both declined interviews on the matter but in separate statements said that Moore’s request would not be granted. Blair said Moore was expected to present at joint meetings in February and March but was unable to do so. The municipality also held a joint meeting on Oct. 14. “Mr. Moore was in attendance but chose not to present. The former chair of the interim board presented,” said Blair. Hinton said the presentation was “not viewed as beneficial” given the county’s decision to terminate the operating agreement by giving 90 days’ notice on Oct. 29. “The municipalities are committed to working with the CEO and senior management team based on the direction of the Board of Directors,” said Hinton.Board resignationsCopied on the letter were Danny Nolan, Ron Meech and Doug MacInnes, who Moore called the “remaining citizen representatives.”Municipality of Colchester CAO Dan Troke said Nolan and Meech have since resigned as have former chair Stephanie Jones, former vice-chair Andrew Lake, Ron Smith, Alan Grant and Tracey Ungar. They were among eight interim members appointed to the society board in May after the previous citizen representatives were dismissed. The mayors and a councillor from each municipality are members on the board while the chief administrative officers are non-voting members. Both mayors have previously told CBC News the change in governance will not result in staff changes, nor will there be any impact on the RECC’s day-to-day operations. However, it remains unclear how the community centre will be governed come late January.The 10-year agreement the society signed in 2024 to operate the provincially owned Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Complex will also come to an end that month. A statement from the Department of Agriculture said it had received notification on Friday from the town and county that the society “will be terminating the contract in 60 days.”“This came as a surprise and we are working with staff at the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage to determine what might be impacted, and next steps,” said Deborah Bayer, a spokesperson for the province. MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORLuke Ettinger is a reporter with CBC Nova Scotia based in Truro. Reach him at luke.ettinger@cbc.ca.
Truro community centre CEO ‘deeply disappointed’ by county decision
