World Trade and Convention Centre facts for kids

The World Trade and Convention Centre (WTCC) was a big building in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was a place where large meetings and events, called conventions, were held. It also had office spaces. The WTCC was right next to the Scotiabank Centre, another important building in Halifax.

This centre had about 30,000 square feet of meeting space and a huge ballroom that was 20,000 square feet. The WTCC was replaced in 2017 by an even bigger building called the Halifax Convention Centre. After the new centre opened, the WTCC building was sold to a private company.

History of the WTCC

Why Was the WTCC Built?

The idea for the World Trade and Convention Centre came from John Buchanan, who was the Premier of Nova Scotia at the time. In 1981, he told reporters that the new centre would be like a smaller version of the famous World Trade Center in New York City. He hoped it would help Halifax become a major business hub for Atlantic Canada.

The WTCC officially opened on February 24, 1985. About 1,200 special guests attended the opening ceremony.

Challenges and Changes

When the WTCC opened, Premier Buchanan believed it would soon make money. However, the centre and the company that ran it, Trade Centre Limited, often lost money over the years.

The people running the convention centre later said that it wasn't big enough for the large conventions that wanted to come to Halifax. They pointed out that it didn't have a special room just for exhibitions, and other convention centres in Canada were much larger.

In 2008, Trade Centre Limited and the government department in charge of buildings started looking for ways to expand the facility. This led to plans for a brand new, larger convention centre.

The New Convention Centre

The new Halifax Convention Centre was built inside a large complex called the Nova Centre. It officially opened its doors in 2017.

In March 2016, the government announced that they had signed a 25-year agreement with the companies that built the Nova Centre. This meant the old WTCC building would be sold to private companies for $13.5 million.

The city of Halifax decided not to buy the old WTCC building from the province. In August 2016, it was announced that a Halifax developer named George Armoyan would buy the building for the same price of $13.5 million.

What Happened to the Old WTCC Building?

With money from the Canadian government, the province, and the city, the old WTCC building is being changed into a cultural centre. This new centre will have a large performance hall with 1,800 seats, a movie theatre, dance studios, and studios for making media. It will also have office spaces for groups that focus on culture and arts.

The outside of the building was also planned to be updated with new shops and restaurants to make the street more lively. However, the developer, Armco, instead signed a 10-year lease with the federal government. Now, the ground floor of the building will house offices for Service Canada, which helps people with government services.

Features of the WTCC

Meeting and Hotel Connections

The World Trade and Convention Centre was known for its 30,000 square feet of meeting space and its 20,000 square foot ballroom.

It was also connected to the Downtown Halifax Link, which is an indoor walkway system. This connection meant people could easily walk from the WTCC to over 1,000 fancy hotel rooms in nearby hotels like the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, the Delta Barrington, Prince George Hotel, and the Delta Halifax. There were also another 1,400 hotel rooms in the wider city area. This link also connected the centre to many shops, restaurants, and entertainment spots.

Management and Ownership

During its time, the WTCC was the top conference facility in the region. It was managed by Trade Centre Limited, a company owned by the Province of Nova Scotia. The province also owned the building itself.

The convention centre was also home to the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Below the office tower, which was part of the complex, were several provincial government departments and other Crown corporations, including Nova Scotia Business Inc..