Nova Scotia

Millbrook not opposed to Shannon Park stadium proposal

The chief of the Millbrook First Nation is not opposed to a stadium being built in Shannon Park, but he says it needs to fit in with the band’s own development plans.

Chief Bob Gloade to meet soon with Maritime Football Ltd.

Chief Bob Gloade stands on Mi'kmaq land in Shannon Park in this 2016 photo. (CBC)

The Millbrook First Nation is expressing support for a football stadium at Shannon Park along Halifax harbour, providing the project fits in with the band's own development plans for the area.

Maritime Football Ltd. hopes to bring a CFL franchise to the Halifax area along with a 24,000-seat stadium at the former military community in Dartmouth at a cost of $170 million to $190 million.

"It doesn't have any negative impact on our development, what it does is it draws people to the area for a variety of reasons," said Millbrook Chief Bob Gloade. 

Gloade said he hasn't yet spoken with anyone from Maritime Football, but a meeting is expected to be held soon.

The stadium proposal is on the agenda for Tuesday's Halifax regional council meeting. Council is expected to direct the chief administrative officer to conduct a business case analysis.

Meanwhile, Millbrook wants to move forward with its own Shannon Park development plan in the next year or so.

Gloade said there is still a lot of work to do before construction begins on a mixed-use development plan, which will include residential buildings as well as retail and office space.

Unlike the stadium proposal, which could require funding from multiple levels of government, Gloade said Millbrook's development plan "is strictly ours."

"It's an investment development for Millbrook and doesn't require government funding for it to proceed," he said.