March 25, 2026 Special Events Advisory Committee

Date:

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Location: Halifax Hall, 2nd Floor City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax

Minutes: March 25, 2026 Special Events Advisory Committee Minutes (PDF)

Agenda

1. CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – August 13, 2025, January 7, 2026 Special Meeting and January 15, 2026 Special Meeting

3. APPROVAL OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND APPROVAL OF ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS

4. BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES
5. CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
6. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS – NONE
    
7. CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
7.1 Correspondence 
7.2 Petitions
7.3 Presentations

The following presentations are a part of the 2026 Marketing Levy Special Events Reserve Grant report:

7.3.1 Halifax Music Fest – Halifax Music Fest Ltd 
- Presentation [PDF]

7.3.2 FIFA World Cup Canada Celebrates – Soccer Nova Scotia
- Presentation [PDF]

7.3.3 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour – Soccer Nova Scotia
- Presentation [PDF]

7.3.4 MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning Society – FamFest Atlantic
- Presentation [PDF]

7.3.5 City of Laughs Comedy Festival– City of Laughs Dartmouth
- Presentation [PDF]

8. INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD – NONE

9. REPORTS/DISCUSSION
9.1 STAFF
9.1.1 Halifax Regional Event Strategy Report [PDF]
Motion:
That the Special Events Advisory Committee recommend Halifax Regional Council:

1.    Endorse the Halifax Regional Event Strategy 2035, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated February 24, 2026.

2.    Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work in partnership with Discover Halifax and sector partners to implement the Halifax Regional Event Strategy 2035 through Annual Action Plans, using existing resources.

3.    Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to align municipal event-related policies, processes, and govenance structures, where appropriate, with the Halifax Regional Event Strategy 2035.

4.    Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with Discover Halifax to prepare and return to Council with:

a. Proposed detailed policy, program, governance, and measurement instruments, as required, to support implementation of the Halifax Regional Event Strategy 2035; and

b. Proposed amendments to Administrative Order 2014-020-GOV (Marketing Levy Special Event Reserve Grants) to align or replace existing relevant event-funding programs so they are governed by and consistent with the Halifax Regional Event Strategy 2035.

10. IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE) 
The Committee may rise and go into a private In Camera session, in accordance with Section 19 of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, for the purpose of dealing with the following:

10.1 In Camera (In Private) Minutes – January 15, 2026 Special Meeting
Motion:  
That the In Camera (In Private) minutes of January 15, 2026 Special Meeting be approved as circulated.

11. ADDED ITEMS

12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – April 8, 2026

13. ADJOURNMENT   

INFORMATION ITEMS

1. Memorandum from the Legislative Assistant dated March 19, 2026 re: Requests for Presentation to Special Events Advisory Committee [PDF]

For further information regarding this meeting, please contact Olawumi Odeyinka-Apantaku, Legislative Assistant, at Olawumi.Odeyinka-Apantaku@halifax.ca or 902-717-6035.

To submit correspondence, email clerks@halifax.ca
More information: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council/communicating-halifax-regional-council