The Halifax Rugby Club and the Halifax Tars Rugby Club, in partnership with the Canadian Rugby Foundation, have joined forces in a project that will renovate and restore the vacant NAVY LEAGUE DRY CANTEEN at 5665 Sackville Street to active use to support the growth of the game of Rugby on Peninsular Halifax. The Newly renovated facility will be renamed the WANDERERS GROUNDS FIELD HOUSE.

This combined submission of a cost shared capital renovation and modernization of the existing facility and a subsequent management agreement with the Halifax Regional Municipality , will result in the restoration of a distinguished and Historic Landmark in downtown Halifax. For the purpose of the completion of this project, both member clubs have incorporated a management committee under the original ‘Wanderer’s Amateur Athletic Club’ name. (WAAC).

Adjacent to the historic Wanderer’s Grounds playing field, the facility sits on the site of the former HALIFAX WANDERERS AAC CLUBHOUSE. This project will increase the level and quality of athletic facilities available to the public and Rugby in particular, as it is planned to incorporate meeting rooms, athletic changing rooms and washroom facilities to support Rugby and other field sports in Peninsular Halifax.

The Original Halifax Wanderer’s AAC (1882-1957) founded in 1882, was one of the most celebrated clubs devoted to pure amateur sport in North America well into the 20^th century. With the growth of Rugby Football at the school, university and club level in Canada and in Atlantic Region and Halifax in particular, the combined effort of both Halifax men’s and women’s clubs as a partner with HRM will re-establish the game at its historic Halifax home.

The sole purpose of the project is to put Rugby in Halifax (and by extension, Nova Scotia) on a solid footing to develop and grow the game.

Completion of the project will give Rugby a base to develop our high school development program, women’s and men’s clubs and provide a base for training of all our young participants.

Funding:

The project had a significant boost on Monday, December 14, 2009 when the Hon. Peter MacKay, MP, on behalf of the Federal Recreation Infrastructure Canada Program (RInC), announce at a press conference in Halifax, support to the level of $300,000 as a funding partner of the project. This is in addition to confirmation on June of 2009 of $400,000 in the Halifax Regional Municipality’s 2009-2010 capital budget. The Wanderer’s AAC, is in the process of fundraising the remaining $200,000 of the total project cost of $900,000.

The project is slated for completion in late spring, early summer 2010.