The Zatzman Sportsplex is an indoor sports and community centre in

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Dartmouth ( ) is an urban community and former city located in the Halifax Regional Municipality of Nova Scotia, Canada. Dartmouth is located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour. Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes, after the larg ...

, opened 1982 and known as the Dartmouth Sportsplex until 2019. It houses an arena, a gymnasium, two swimming pools, and other fitness, leisure and events facilities. It is managed by the Dartmouth Sportsplex Community Association, a non-profit organization which runs the facility on behalf of the

Halifax Regional Council Halifax Regional Council (french: Conseil régional d'Halifax) is the governing body of Halifax, known as the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Halifax is governed by a mayor-council system, where councillors are elected from sixteen geographi ...

History

The site was formerly home to the Dartmouth Arena, which was built in 1950 and burned down on 16 May 1974. A sod-turning ceremony was held for the new Sportsplex in March 1981 by Dartmouth mayor Daniel Brownlow and Premier John Buchanan. It was constructed by Dineen Construction and cost $7 million. The Sportsplex opened in 1982. A management agreement between the municipality and the Dartmouth Sportsplex Community Association was signed in 1998, and has been renewed every year since. The Dartmouth Sportsplex closed in early 2017 for a major renovation and expansion. A new double gymnasium and multi-purpose meeting rooms were added, while the fitness room was expanded. Most of the interior was revamped, except for the hockey arena. The project was designed by

Diamond Schmitt Architects Diamond Schmitt Architects is a Canadian architectural firm founded in 1975. It is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The firm was founded by architects Jack Diamond and Donald Schmitt.Robinson, John. "Architecture for the People." ''Toronto ...

and local firm Abbott Brown. Estimated in 2016 to cost $20 million, it ended up costing about $28 million. The complex reopened in February 2019 as the Zatzman Sportsplex following a $750,000 donation from the Zatzman family in honour of the late

Joseph Zatzman Joseph Zatzman, CM (April 12, 1912 – December 10, 2007) was a Canadian businessman and politician who served as Mayor of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia from 1964 to 1967. He was instrumental in the development of Burnside Industrial Park in the 196 ...

, businessman and former mayor of Dartmouth.

Facilities

The arena has a capacity of 3,000 for hockey and 3,500 for stage events. It has been home to various junior, senior and minor and high school hockey teams. It also hosts occasional trade shows and concerts. The complex also houses a 25-metre, eight lane swimming pool, home to the Dartmouth Whalers and Dartmouth Crusaders swim clubs, as well as a smaller teaching pool. Other facilities include meeting and community rooms, a gymnasium, fitness and cardio rooms, racquetball and squash courts, a running track, water slides, and a canteen (not yet opened following renovations).

Clubs and events hosted

* Dartmouth Crusaders Swim Club * Dartmouth Whalers Masters Swim Club *

Canada Winter Games Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by total ...

- men's and women's ice hockey, February 11-27, 2011 * Dartmouth Major Midget 1982- * Dartmouth Whalers Major Bantam 2013- *

Dartmouth High School (Nova Scotia) Dartmouth High School is a Canadian public high school located in the Brightwood neighbourhood of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. Encompassing grades 9 through 12, Dartmouth High School has always had a wide variety of courses, ethnic groups ...

2017- * Metro Marauders Junior A hockey team, 2010–2013 (now

Valley Wildcats The Valley Wildcats are a Canadian junior ice hockey franchise from the Annapolis Valley region of Nova Scotia. The team is a member of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League and plays in the EastLink Division. They play their home games in the Kings ...

) * Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership convention, April 2007 *

Dartmouth Destroyers The Canadian Elite Hockey League (CEHL) was a semi-professional hockey league that played one season in 2005–2006. The CEHL was founded by Harold MacKay, a prominent member of the local hockey community. He previously brought the expansion Halifa ...

Canadian Elite Hockey League The Canadian Elite Hockey League (CEHL) was a semi-professional hockey league that played one season in 2005–2006. The CEHL was founded by Harold MacKay, a prominent member of the local hockey community. He previously brought the expansion Halifa ...

, 2005-2006 *

IIHF World Women's Championships The IIHF World Women's Championship (WW or WWC), officially the IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship, is the premier international tournament in women's ice hockey. It is governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The offi ...

, 2004 (co-hosted with

Halifax Metro Centre Scotiabank Centre (formerly known as Halifax Metro Centre) is the largest multi-purpose facility in Atlantic Canada, located in the heart of downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The main entrances to the building are located on Brunswick Str ...

) * Emergency shelter,

Operation Yellow Ribbon Operation Yellow Ribbon (french: Opération ruban jaune) was commenced by Canada to handle the diversion of civilian airline flights in response to the September 11 attacks in 2001 on the United States. Canada's goal was to ensure that potential ...

, 2001 * Dartmouth Oland Exports,

Maritime Junior Hockey League The Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It consists of five teams from New Brunswick and one team from Prince Edward Island, which make up the E ...

, 1995–1998 * Dartmouth Moosehead Mounties, 19??-???? *

Fred Page Cup The Fred Page Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by a tournament conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The award is given to the winner of a round-robin and playoff between the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Canada Hoc ...

, 1996, *

Air Canada Cup The Telus Cup is Canada's national under-18 ice hockey club championship. It is an annual event, held by Hockey Canada each April. From 1979 to 2003, the national championship was sponsored by Air Canada. The current champions are the Monc ...

, 1992 * Annual SEDHMA minor hockey tournament * Various Musical Concerts

Transportation

The facility is adjacent to the

Halifax Transit Halifax Transit is a Canadian public transport service operating buses and ferries in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Founded as Metro Transit in March 1981, the agency runs two ferry routes, 66 conventional bus routes (including corridor, local, and expre ...

Bridge Terminal, the busiest public transport hub in the city serving 24 different transit routes.

References

External links

* {{coord, 44, 40, 11.60, N, 63, 34, 31.10, W, region:CA-NS_type:landmark, display=title 1982 establishments in Nova Scotia 2011 Canada Winter Games Indoor arenas in Nova Scotia Indoor ice hockey venues in Canada Sports venues in Halifax, Nova Scotia Sport in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Sports venues completed in 1982 Swimming venues in Canada