Written by staff member, Vicky
♪♫♬
It's a brick.
House.
And it's been serving the people of HRM for nearly one hundred years! ♪♫♬
From hockey to boxing, exhibitions and craft shows to farmers' markets, famous musicians to royalty, there's hardly anyone or anything that hasn't at one point found a home at the Halifax Forum. Let's take a look at the history of this Halifax institution and the fascinating events that have graced its halls.
In the Beginning...
To talk about the history of the Forum, we really need to start the discussion by looking at two things: exhibitions and ice skating.
Exhibitions
Inspired by the 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition in London, UK, Nova Scotia hosted its first Industrial Exhibition on October 9, 1854. The event took place at Province House and had displays that attempted to showcase Nova Scotia's mineral deposits, fisheries, local manufacturers, fine and mechanical arts, and more. This first attempt at an exhibition was considered rather underwhelming - the display featuring a lump of coal under protective glass did not exactly inspire the masses, but this was merely the beginning. By 1860, perhaps in anticipation of a visit from the Prince of Wales, the production value of exhibitions really took off. New buildings were constructed to accommodate up to a thousand guests, balls were held in celebration; it was nothing if not an event. Over time, exhibitions became so much a part of life that they simply required a more dedicated space.
Ice Skating
Although the British citizens of Halifax had probably been skating since General Cornwallis came to town in 1749, and the Mi'kmaq had been doing it for generations before that, skating really began to take off as a popular hobby in the 1860s with the formation of the Halifax Skating Club. A favourite skating spot was Griffin's Pond, located in the Public Gardens. In fact, skating in the Public Gardens became so popular that in 1863, the Horticultural Society that maintained the Gardens built a covered rink to allow for more comfortable skating indoors. This is believed to have been the first of its kind in Canada. However, in order to use the covered rink, skaters had to be members of the Horticultural Society. This club not only had an associated cost, but was also extremely choosy in who they would admit. This meant that a large portion of the population was unable to use the facility.
Seeing a need for both a proper exhibition space and a demand for a public skating rink, the City came to the conclusion that two birds could be killed with one building. And so, the Royal Exhibition Building (REB) was born.
The REB (sometimes called the Empire Exhibit Hall, the Exhibition Building, the Old Exhibition Building, etc) was located on Tower Road (now Cathedral Lane). The grand structure stood across from Victoria Park, where the All Saints Catholic Cathedral stands today. The building opened in September 1879 after taking only three months to construct. This quick timeline was thanks to the more than seventy carpenters hired by the Halifax Skating Rink Company, which had been contracted to do the job. Its official grand opening took place on January 5, 1880 and was attended by Lt. Gov. Adams G. Archibald and a selection of other notable dignitaries. The REB was not only the largest exhibition building in the province at the time - around 18,000 square feet - but was also the first permanent exhibition building in Halifax.
The REB melded two worlds together. In the summer, the building served as an exhibition space and played the part of host for multiple community events, including masquerades, concerts, and grand balls (like the celebration of Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887). In the wintertime, the large exhibition space was used as an ice rink. A hydrant inside the building was used to flood the floor, and Mother Nature's plummeting winter temperatures took care of the rest. Ice hockey, skating carnivals, and ice waltzing (or valsing) were very popular winter activities at the REB. The construction of the REB - with its large ice surface and its open-to-all policy - ultimately contributed to the Horticultural Society tearing down the covered rink at the Public Gardens.
Despite its popularity, the REB would barely make it into the 20th Century. In the late 1890s, a different exhibition building was constructed - this one at the provincial level. With this new site in place, the city decided not to keep the REB and its surrounding property. They were sold in 1906, and the REB was torn down.
The Provincial Exhibition property ran along Windsor Street between Almon and Young Streets, with the main Provincial Exhibition Building (PEB) standing near the corner of Windsor and Almon Street. Like its predecessor, the PEC hosted a wide range of events.
There were, of course, exhibitions. Locals put on grange displays of fruit, vegetables, flowers, and livestock, as well as fine art, top-of-the-line machinery, and locally manufactured goods. And just like the REB, the space was used for dances and parties when the weather was fine, and featured a covered skating rink for the cold winter months. Tragically, the life of the PEB was short-lived.
On December 6, 1917, the ship Mont-Blanc - filled with wartime explosives - collided with the ship Imo in Halifax Harbour. The resulting explosion levelled much of the Richmond area of the city, and the PEB was one of the many buildings gutted by the accident. In the wake of the disaster, the Exhibition Grounds were used to build temporary housing for those who lived in the 1630 homes that had been destroyed in the blast. In the years that followed, Halifax began to rebuild. Life slowly returned to normal, and normality in Halifax meant having an exhibition space and a skating rink.
Wow, that was long. Get to the building, the Forum Part
When the dust had settled from the trauma of 1917, a covered ice rink was built on the Exhibition Grounds, but it was always intended to be temporary. It would take nearly ten years before the city council could discuss the construction of a new exhibition building in a serious way. At a council meeting on February 11, 1926, Alderman Louis Amable Gastonguay proposed a resolution that the city should agree to spending up to $150,000 for the construction of new Exhibition Buildings, subject to the Provincial Government contributing half of the cost. Eventually, an agreement was made, and the project went forward. When complete, the cost of the Forum totalled $373,804.
The new Exhibition Grounds would have several structures: an Industrial Building, a Cattle Shed, a Grandstand Building, and several Horse Barns to go with the accompanying racetrack. These were built, finished, and fenced by local companies like Frank G. Gillis Co. Limited, Martin and Moore, the Farquhar Brothers, Longards Limited, and W. H. Noonan. But the jewel in the crown was to be the exhibition hall/rink. Architect Andrew Randall Cobb - having already made a name for himself by designing multiple private homes and institutional buildings around Halifax like the Dalhousie University Science Building (1913-1915), the Strand Theatre (1915), the Green Lantern Restaurant (1917), and St. Thomas Aquinas Anglican Church (1919), to name a few - was hired to design the Halifax Forum.
Cobb fashioned the Forum in the Georgian style of architecture known for its low-pitched roofs, balanced proportions, and centralized doorways. The McDonald Construction Company was hired to complete the build. Although wood and concrete were used in the structure, the primary material was red brick with white granite decorating the building's outside walls. The exhibit space was around 16,000 square feet, and the stands could seat upwards of 5,500 people. However, what really made the Forum a marvel of its day was not the architecture, or the capacity: it was the rink. The Forum rink had a unique feature that had not yet been seen in Canada this side of Montreal: the ice surface was artificial.
Artificial ice surfaces had been under development for years. The first documented use in a skating rink was in London in 1876. This rink used a mechanical refrigeration system along with glycerin and water to create the icy surface. By the 1920s, however, refrigeration technology had not only improved but was more accessible, and an ammonia-based system had become the new standard.
To create the ice, ammonia gas was compressed to increase both its temperature and pressure. The heat was then removed, which allowed the ammonia to condense and turn into a liquid. The pressurized, liquid ammonia was then released through a valve. As soon as the liquid ammonia was released, it began to evaporate. The evaporation absorbed the surrounding ambient heat, dropping the temperature to a point where the environment was cold enough to freeze water. For the Forum, the compression and condensation system was kept in a separate engine room: "There are no gases used in the pipes on the staking surface" the Evening Mail reported, "only chloride of calcium being pumped through the pipes, chloride of calcium which is the same which road departments use for spraying dirt roads to keep down the dust." (Dec. 20, pg.10) The Linde Canadian Refrigeration Co. Ltd. of Montreal installed the ice plant for the Forum, a project that began on November 14 and finished on December 19; a full six weeks from start to end.
On December 20, 1927, approximately twenty players from the Wanderers', Crescents, and other local hockey teams tested the artificial ice for the first time. The Evening Mail reported that players "...found the ice the same as natural ice in the best of weather." (pg. 10) The first official public skate was held on December 27, and it is said that at least one thousand people were in attendance. The first full hockey game took place on December 30, where the Crescents beat the Canadian National Recreation Club 6-3. There were 1,660 people in attendance for that first game; seats cost 55 cents if bought in advance, and 35 cents for rush seating at the door.
The following summer, the first provincial exhibition since 1917 was held at the Forum and the new Exhibition Grounds. From August 25 - September 1, residents and visitors to Halifax could find a little bit of everything that makes Nova Scotia great:
Bigger, brighter and better, the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition has been reorganized on a more elaborate scale than before. Much thought and labor have been expended in getting together such a collection of exhibits as will best illustrate our natural resources and our manufacturing capacity. The Exhibition will be brightened by numerous sport attractions including Grand Stand Shows, Illuminations and Speed Tests. Nevertheless, the main idea behind the promotion of our Provincial Exhibition is that of instruction. Bring your children to this comprehensive exhibit covering all of Nova Scotia. Show them the flower of our flocks and herds and the prime factors of our farms, our mines, our forests and our factories. Let them see what Nova Scotia can produce and thus enable them to realize the contribution that Nova Scotia is making to the prosperity of Canada. - Department of Natural Resources, Minister J. A. Walker and Deputy Minister R. Innes, Evening Mail, August 23, 1928, pg. 20
The 1928 Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition was formally opened on August 25. Pictured above are Premier Rhodes, Lieut.-Governor Tory, Mayor L. A. Gastonguay, and Hon. W. A. Black, MP. Addressing the crowd is Hon. J.A. Walker, Minister of the Department of Natural Resources.
The Forum was filled with more than seventy booths featuring local businesses and manufacturers, including Canadian National Railways, Nova Scotia Textiles Ltd., Phinney's Ltd., Ben's Ltd., Malagash Salt Co., and Glube Bros. The Grandstand Building hosted another twenty-four booths where Starr Manufacturing, Acadia Gas Engines Ltd., the Lunenburg Foundry, and more shared the floor with exhibits promoting Nova Scotia's livestock, agriculture, and dairy sectors.
But let's not forget the entertainment!
The Exhibition hosted five days of horse races that really drew in the crowds. On August 28th alone, 7,000 people came to watch the horses fly down the track! Racers like Tarzan Grattan from Fort Fairfield, Maine, took first place in the free-for-all Trot and Pace on August 31. There was, of course, a cash prize. Tarzan earned his owner, Walter M. Reid $1,000 (approximately $17,600 today). Over the course of the five days, $6000 (approximately $105,800 today) in prizes were handed out. Over the course of the full Exhibition week, $26,000 (approximately $458,800 today) worth of prizes were handed out.
The Exhibition also featured a number of vaudeville acts to ensnare the senses. There was California Frank's Rodeo in which a number of colourful characters performed: Miss Mamie Francis, world's champion rifle shot; Renee Hafley, champion lady trick rider; Little Joe, "midget" comedian; and Apollo, a thoroughbred horse who could leap over an automobile full of people in a single jump. Acrobatics played a large role in the entertainment. There was the Jansley Troupe, a group of "Super-Sensational Rizzly Acrobats" from Europe; the Santiago Trio, a group from South America who specialized in contortion, but also did demonstrations of Spanish dancing; and the Billy Rice Trio, a group of comedic acrobats who had been a part of the Ringling Brothers circus for five years. And of course, there were fireworks. For the evening of August 30, the Hand Fireworks Co. promised to put on a display with more than fifty different types of rockets, bombshells, and set pieces that would make for a show "...that has not been equalled at our Exhibition in the past".
When all was said and done, it was estimated that 48,000 people attended the 1928 Provincial Exhibition at the Forum and the Exhibition Grounds. From a government perspective, the event was not only popular but profitable. It was the first time in Nova Scotia history that a Provincial Exhibition MADE money. According to the Evening Mail, "In all previous years there was a deficit in many cases a heavy one." (Sept 2, 1928, pg.1)
Without a doubt, the Forum and the new Exhibition Grounds were a hit. Sports, social events, exhibitions, races, and more graced the Forum and its adjoining spaces until...
The War Came a Knockin'
By the 1940's Britain and its allies were well into the throes of World War II. In mid-1940, the Federal Government approached Halifax City Council with an offer: they wanted to buy the Forum and Exhibition Grounds for use by the Department of National Defense. The council was willing to sell the land, but they wanted a reasonable price. At the time, the Forum and the Grounds were assessed at approximately $880,000. The Federal Government initially offered $150,000, but eventually upped the offer to $225,000. They argued that they would need to invest a great deal of money to repurpose the buildings and the land, and so they could not make an offer reflecting the site's actual worth. In a Council meeting on November 21, 1940, members considered the proposal. Mayor W. E. Donovan informed the Council that the Provincial Government wanted to go through with the sale: "I understand that the Provincial Government favours the sale at this price as does also the Exhibition Commission.... As to the difference between the amount of $225,000 and the original price of $880,000, it is the opinion of the Provincial Government as expressed by the Minister of Agriculture, that this can be considered as a donation to assist with Canada's war effort." (pg. 336) A vote was taken to accept the offer; it failed with eight for and ten against.
On November 27, a Special Meeting was called to once again discuss the Federal Government's offer. Mayor Donovan addressed the Council:
I rather hesitate again to emphasize the fact that due to the presence of war emergencies, times are not normal and, as you know, in any event, in two months' time this matter can again come before Council. ... It is also very possible - in fact probably - that the Government cannot wait for two months and may have to proceed to use the other two sites, namely: a) The Common, which is their first preference, or b) Point Pleasant Park, the use of either of which would in my opinion be a tragic loss to Halifax. ... I trust therefore that you will not permit technical rules to stand in your way to prevent a reconsideration of this matter... (pg. 339)
Another vote was taken. To pass, two-thirds of the Council Members had to vote in agreement. With nine votes for and nine votes against, it failed. On January 22, 1941, yet another special meeting was held, and votes were cast. There was another deadlock, but this time, Mayor Donovan was able to cast his own vote to break the tie: The Forum and the Exhibition Grounds would be sold.
With the Forum and the Exhibition Grounds in new hands, they soon took on new life. Temporary homes were built on the once active racetrack to accommodate soldiers and naval officers passing through the City. The Forum itself was used as a space for soldiers to exercise and train for battle.
But it wasn't all business at the former Exhibition Grounds. To keep up morale, dances were frequently held in halls across the city. The Forum was a particularly popular spot to dance the night away. The war also brought with it famous faces like Bobby Bauer, Joe Klukay, Gaye Stewart, and "Bingo" Kampman, all of whom left their NHL teams to join the war effort and spent some of their military tenure in Halifax.
The Forum and the Exhibition Grounds remained under the ownership of the Federal Government throughout World War II, but when the war was over, they no longer had a need for the property. Both were sold back to the City in late 1947. In time, the structures that had acted as homes for the military were moved or torn down; the racetrack was reconstructed; the atmosphere around the area moved from serious to more jovial.
But if history has taught us anything, it is that as time marches forward, the winds of change do blow.
The Modern Age
Through the mid-20th Century, all manner of talent and famous faces made their way to the Forum and the Exhibition Grounds. It was so popular that in 1961, the Civic Arena was constructed, which provided a secondary ice rink and exhibition space at a cost of $3.2 million. However, the time of plenty for the Forum was short-lived.
In time, the grandstand and race track were torn down. In 1976, the Industrial Building was also demolished; a new Canada Post Station was built in its place. For the Forum building itself, the arched windows that lined the outer walls were bricked over.
The construction of newer facilities - like the Halifax Metro Centre (now the Scotia Bank Centre) in 1978, and Exhibition Park in the 1980s also took a toll. These new spaces dwarfed the Forum in terms of capacity. High-profile acts, large events, and local sports teams moved to these newer, larger buildings in order to accommodate the sizable crowds that were now a part of the ever-growing city. With this shift, profits from Forum events began to dwindle, making it more of a financial burden than a blessing; the lack of funds made even improvements to the Forum difficult, and it began to fall into disrepair. By the 1980s, whispers of selling or repurposing the Forum turned into real talk. However, the Forum had its champions, and people like manager Al Driscoll and members of the Halifax Forum Commission wanted the Forum to have a future.
The first change was one in attitude and expectation. The Forum could not compete with venues like the Halifax Metro Centre in terms of bringing in big acts, but they could focus on attracting smaller performances and more community-based events. They could also look to offer more appealing amenities to their guests by offering things like alcohol sales, which had not been available prior to 1987.
In 1989, a capital improvement plan was put into action. A Multipurpose Centre was constructed, which allowed for year-round bingo games, expanded the space for events like Christmas at the Forum, and attracted other craft shows and smaller exhibitions. In 1994/1995, a new Civic Arena was constructed. The Old Arena was repurposed as a recycling centre until 2003, when it was given a major renovation to become the Bingo Hall we know today. Improvements were made to the Forum's ventilation and dehumidifying systems, and a pre-fabricated basketball floor was purchased; a marvel that could be installed in just a few hours. Slowly but surely, prospects for the Forum Complex began to improve. By 2003, the Forum Complex was hosting as many as 1,200 event days a year. In 2010-2011, 1040 children registered for the Forum's Learn to Skate program, and over four hundred more sat on a waitlist.
In 2003, an application was put forward to the HRM Council to designate the Forum (just the original building) a Municipal Heritage Property. The application noted not only the Forum's age and architectural features, but its importance to the community and the history of Halifax. On November 17, 2003, this designation was granted.
In the early 2010s, the HRM Council looked to address known issues with all of its ice rink properties. Many of the local rink properties were determined to be in need of repairs, and the discussion centred on whether to renovate or start fresh with brand new facilities. Once again, the idea of retiring the Forum came to the table. A 2012 document discussing the Long Term Arena Strategy describes the Forum as "an icon"; it outlines the benefits and historical value of the Forum Complex, but does note that repairs would need to be made to the refridgeration and mechanical systems, accessibility to the building would need to be improved, and that the brick shell of the building was in need of "significant repair" (pg. 32).
In 2022, the public, as well as the Halifax Forum Community Association, were consulted for input in a potential redevelopment process. After lengthy discussion and debate, it was decided that the Forum would remain and undergo serious renovations. Considering the complexity of renovating a designated heritage building, the Forum renovation will include two NHL-sized hockey rinks (the current rinks are not the standard size), as well as repairs to the building's brick exterior. It will also focus on making the building more accessible for guests:
Through this project we will create a more accessible facility for all ages and abilities. This will include spaces for wheelchair users to watch and roll, careful attention to grade changes, universal washrooms, updated locker rooms, more gender-neutral spaces and a rink fully equipped for sledge hockey. The renovated facility aims to be much more energy efficient by having on-site power generation, using state-of-the-art energy capture and storage equipment, along with utilizing new ice plant technology. It will also include better connection to local streets, biking and walking infrastructure.
- HRM
With an estimated price tag of $110 million, this is a true investment in the Forum and its future.
The project is still in the design phase and will take years to complete. HRM is hopeful that construction will begin in 2026 and will be completed by 2030.
Who's Who at the Halifax Forum
The Forum and Exhibition Grounds have been the home of craft shows, Bingo nights, farmers' markets, hockey games, wrestling matches, figure skating pageants, car shows, festivals, fairs (including the 1967 Atlantic Winter Fair that featured ostrich racing!), and MUCH more.
Many notable figures have also visited during its rich tenure. Here is a short list of some of the famous folks who have dropped by:
1951: Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh
1952 - Duke Ellington
1954 - The Ink Spots
1964 - Delmore "Buddy" Daye
1967 - Dave Downey
1967 - The New York Philharmonic Orchestra
1968 - The Beach Boys
1970 - Ray Charles and his 16 Piece Band
1971 - NHL Pre-Season Games
1974 - The Bee Gees
1974 - Rock-On-22
1975 - Blue Swede
1975 - Johnny Cash
1976 - Supertramp
1976 - KISS
1980 - Dr. Hook
1991 - The Tragically Hip
2002 - Sum 41
2009 - Modest Mouse
Click HERE to hear it!
2011 - The Dropkick Murphys
Click HERE to hear it!
2014 - The Charlie Daniels Band
2018 - John Mellencamp
The Finishing Lines
Dowager Queen of Canadian Rinks.
The Old Lady of Windsor Street.
The Old Barn.
The Grand Old Lady.
The Halifax Forum.
Whatever you call it, it's here to stay.
Library Sources
1952 Map of Halifax
Celebrating 75 Years at the Forum, 1927-2003
Halifax Chronicle Herald/Evening Mail, microfilm, various years
Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, City Directory
Vertical Files, Halifax Central Library, Various
Outside Sources
$110M Halifax Forum redevelopment plan moves forward after years of debate, Global News
1938 Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Official Bulletin-Program/Map, Nova Scotia Archives
1971 NHL Pre-Season, Hali Hockey
Andrew Randall Cobb, 1876-1943, Nova Scotia Museum
A Brief Overview of the Halifax Explosion of 1917, Discover Halifax
Charlie Daniels Band, Halifax Forum, Music Legends
Cobb, Andrew Randall, Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950
Colourized photos of the Halifax Explosions' Aftermath, CBC
Details on Historic Public Gardens Skating Rink To Be Revealed, Saltwire
Dropkick Murphys at the Halifax Forum, Hang Em High, Youtube
Exhibition Buildings, Halifax Public Libraries, Facebook
Exhibition Buildings, 1913, Halifax Nova Scotia, Halifax Public Libraries
Exhibition Grounds and Buildings, Halifax, Date Unknown, Halifax Public Libraries
The Fabulous Halifax Forum, International Ice Hockey Federation
Halifax Alderman, Halifax Municipal Archives
Halifax Forum Halifax Concert Setlists
Halifax Forum, 1950, Nova Scotia Archives
Halifax Forum, Historic Places
Halifax Forum Renovation, Halifax Regional Municipality
Halifax Forum, Revitalization Report, 2011, Halifax Municipal Archives, 725.8.A83
Halifax's Skating History (Part Two, The Exhibition Building Rink) Skate Guard Blog
The Halifax Skating Rink, Historic Nova Scotia
Historical Council Minutes, City of Halifax, various years, Halifax Municipal Archives
The History and Evolution of Artificial Ice Rinks, Ice-Magic Synthetic Rinks
Hockey at the Forum, 1930s, Nova Scotia Archives
Inflation Calculator, Bank of Canada
Luncheon at the Lord Nelson Hotel, Nova Scotia Archives
Memories of Old Time Halifax Covered Rinks, Fairview Historical Society Articles and Archives
Modest Mouse at the Forum, Blame It On The Tetons, Youtube
New Documentary Explores the Potential Mi'kmaq Origins of Hockey, CityNews
Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Postcard, 1928, Hip Stamp
Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Program, 1938, Nova Scotia Archives
Province House, Halifax Nova Scotia
Royal Exhibition Building, Tower Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia Archives
Royal Visit Arrangements, Nova Scotia Archives
Show Thoughts & Shots, Halifax Bloggers
They Don't Know What Was There: Halifax historian remembers popular harness racing track, CTV News
What is Ammonia Refrigeration? Everything You Need To Know, Araner
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