Truro-area grandstand open after almost 3 years of delays

The newly renovated grandstand at the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition grounds in Bible Hill, N.S., is finally open to the public.

A dedication ceremony was held Sunday, almost three years after the remodelled grandstand was supposed to open in August 2021.

Department of Agriculture spokesperson Bruce Nunn said in December 2021 the project was delayed by impacts on the supply chain, material costs and labour because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The final cost of the project ended up at $13.7 million, according to the department — almost twice the original budget of $7.2 million.

Minister of Agriculture Greg Morrow was at the ceremony Sunday. He said he couldn't speak to specifics, but said fire safety and accessibility issues impacted the cost and timeline for the project.

'Honour for our family,' says son of namesake

At the ribbon cutting, it was announced the renovated venue would now be known as the Dr. Richard (Dick) Huggard Grandstand.

He was a lifelong supporter of agriculture in the province who worked for the province's Department of Agriculture for more than three decades and ended his career as the deputy minister.

"It's such a great honour for our family," said Richard Huggard Jr. "My dad was always very much a people person, so to have a place where people can meet, he would be so honoured."

Huggard graduated from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in 1956. He was inducted into the Atlantic Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2015. He died last year at the age of 87.

"He always had a love for the people and the agricultural community at whole," his son said.

Richard Huggard worked for the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture for more than 30 years and finished his career as the deputy minister. He was inducted into the Atlantic Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2015. (Celina Alders/CBC)

The new facility includes upgrades to the judges booth and public viewing areas, and improves accessibility on the grounds with a new wheelchair lift.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition grounds, which also hosts agricultural and community events, has one of the oldest harness racing tracks in Canada.

"We appreciate the investment in the newly renovated and modernized grandstand. It will be a great asset to the local harness racing community and the provincial harness racing industry overall," Debbie Francis, chair of the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association, said in a news release.

'There will be more people coming,' says spectator

Fans at the track on Sunday believe the new grandstand will attract more spectators to the grounds.

"I think that's probably one of the best moves they've done. There will be more people coming, for sure," said Doug Oulton, who comes to the racetrack every month from Sackville, N.B., with his wife, Nancy.

The renovations come as the grounds prepare for the 80th provincial exhibition in August and the province tries to make every public property accessible by 2030.