The Power House Youth Centre

A photo of The Power House Youth Centre

The Power House Youth Centre serves as a place for youth to gather, learn, and connect with others. It is also a meeting place for Halifax Regional Council's Municipal Youth Advisory Committee.

Contact Information

If you have questions about programs and registration, inclusion and accessibility, or would like to arrange a first-time tour of the Power House, please contact Elyse using the email or phone numbers listed below.

Find us: 1606 Bell Road, Halifax
Power House Front Desk phone: 902.490.4309 
Call or text: 902-266-7451 
E-mail: powerhouseyouthcentre@halifax.ca 
Instagram: @hfxnextgen

Transit Routes

  • 1, 4, 8, 9A, 9B - 5 min. walk
  • 10, 123, 127, 182, 183, 185, 186, 194, 196 - under 10 min. walk
Drop-in programs at the Power House

Need a place to hang out? The Power House offers a welcoming and cozy atmosphere and a collection of video games, board games, art supplies, and musical instruments available for all youth to use! We also have WIFI, phone charging stations, free snacks, comfy chairs, and two all-gender washrooms located in a secure building with staff on site.

Please note: There are no drop-in programs on March Break or Holidays. 

Drop-in programs do not require registration, just come by! For support workers, please contact us ahead of time to discuss requirements for accompanying a youth during programs.  

Stormy weather and holidays may affect drop-in hours, please check our online calendar below, text, or call us for up-to-date information. If schools are closed, typically our programs are cancelled as well.

Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 Drop-in Hours (Starting September 16, 2024)

All Ages:: Mondays 3-7 p.m. (Open to all ages - 13-24)

Younger Youth Night: Tuesdays 3-7 p.m. (Open to ages 13-18) 

Older Youth Night: Wednesdays 3-7 p.m. (Open to ages 16-24)

 We do offer registered programs during March Break. Stay up to date on program schedules, holidays, and weather-related closures by checking out our online calendar below!

Cost: All drop-in programs are FREE!

Registered Programs at the Power House

Fall 2024-Spring 2025 Programming

Dungeons & Dragons - Pathfinder (Mondays)

Step forth into a fantastical world of adventure! We’re playing Pathfinder Second Edition, a roleplaying game much like Dungeons and Dragons. Players create their own characters and embark on a collaborative storytelling adventure, rolling dice to help determine the outcomes of their actions. In our first session, we’ll create characters together. No prior experience is required; this program is open to all skill levels.

Ages: 13-24
Mondays starting September 23 | 4:00 pm
Course code: 90510 | 9 Sessions
Cost: FREE

Dungeons & Dragons - 5e (Tuesdays)

Arm yourself for adventure and join our Dungeons & Dragons group! Player's handbooks (5th edition) will be available, and our Dungeon Master will help you to build a unique character or choose from a selection of pre-made ones. No prior experience is required; this program is open to all skill levels.

Ages: 13-18
Tuesdays, Starting September 24 | 4:00 pm
Course code: 90509 | 12 Sessions
Cost: FREE

Dungeons & Dragons - Pathfinder (Wednesdays)

Step forth into a fantastical world of adventure! We’re playing Pathfinder Second Edition, a roleplaying game much like Dungeons and Dragons. Players create their own characters and embark on a collaborative storytelling adventure, rolling dice to help determine the outcomes of their actions. In our first session, we’ll create characters together. No prior experience is required; this program is open to all skill levels.

Ages: 13-24
Wednesdays, starting September 25 | 4:00 pm
Course code: 90511 | 12 Sessions
Cost: FREE

Craft and Create (Thursdays)

Make things with your hands! This program is all about exploring a variety of hands-on creative projects. We’ll do some stamp-making, sculpt and paint miniature buildings and landscapes, transfer photos onto wood, and much more!

Ages: 13-24
Thursdays, starting October 3 | 4:30 pm
Course code: 92903 | 8 Classes
Cost: $80.00

How to register: 

To register, you'll need the course code listed under each program and an account with Halifax Recreation. Creating an account is easy but we recommend you do it before registration day. 

To make an account or register using an existing account click here or head to https://recreation.halifax.ca/enterprise/account/login

Text or call the Power House at 902-266-7451 or reach us by email at powerhouseyouthcentre@halifax.ca if you need help registering. 

Calendar of Events

Inclusion Support Information

Do you need support? 

Parks and Recreation invites youth of all abilities to participate in our recreation programs. We recognize that some youth will require assistance to participate via adapted equipment, program modification, and/or through the provision of one-to-one Inclusion support.

Please contact us in two weeks in advance of start date to explore options for additional supports to ensure a positive recreation experience for all.

Youth are welcome to bring their own support person but must provide centre staff with the following documents 2 weeks prior to the program starting:

  • Police Check including the Vulnerable Sector Check
  • Child Abuse Registry Screening
  • Signed One-on-one support person release form.

Access Information: 

The Power House is a partially-accessible heritage building located at the corner of Bell and Sackville streets across from the Public gardens in downtown Halifax.

  • The building is surrounded by dense, green, hedges and is constructed of red-brown bricks with green trim. It can be recognized by its unique circular turret room located directly above the front door. 
  • There are two sidewalks leading to the Power House from Sackville street only.
Building Access by Stairs
  • The sidewalk closest to the intersection leads to a set of 10 stairs which ascend to the front door.
  • There is a silver, metal, pad containing a round button at the top of the landing to the left of the door.
  • Press the round button on the pad and someone will unlock the door from inside. 
  • The front door is not power operated, if you need assistance opening the door or entering the building, please indicate after pressing the buzzer button by speaking, waving (into the camera), pressing the button more than once, or calling our front desk directly at 902-490-4309.
Building Access by Lift
  • The second sidewalk further from the intersection near a greenhouse provides access to the back entrance the building where there is an elevator style lift just past a set of stairs. 
  • There is a silver, metal, pad containing a round button on a post to the left of the lift. 
  • Press the round button on the pad and a staff member will come outside to turn the lift on and open the door.
  • Once inside the lift, the user or someone outside may operate it by pressing a black lever to go up or down.
  • There is a large, red, safety button that will stop the lift if needed.
  • If you need further assistance, please indicate after pressing the buzzer button by speaking, waving, pressing the button more than once, or calling our front desk directly at 902-490-4309.
  • The back door at the top of the lift is power operated and can be opened by pressing the silver button to the left of the door containing a wheelchair icon.
Additional Information
  • Two non-gendered washrooms (one is wheelchair accessible).
  • The first floor is level grade and made of smooth, laminate tiles.
  • The second floor is only accessible by stairs.
  • The space is well lit and both overhead and lamp lighting is available.
  • The space is well ventilated and has air conditioning/heating. Kitchen access. 
  • First Aid and Naloxone Kit on-site.
  • Support workers/persons and service animals welcome.

We aim to be a supportive and inclusive space for all youth. Discrimination will not be tolerated.

text says "Halifax Youth" with youth@halifax.ca email and @hfxnextgen Instagram account

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*)

Dungeons and Dragons/Tabletop RPG Feedback Form

We hope to encourage our players to communicate their wants and needs however is most comfortable and convenient for them. If you have questions or concerns that you would like to address, require additional support for any accessibility needs, or have an in-game scheme or theme/area you want to explore with your character(s), please feel free to speak to your GM, or make use of this form.

All out-of-game diabolical plots, such as planning to fill the centre with mimics or other such magical creatures should not be addressed with this form. We don’t know where you got that idea, and we would never encourage or endorse such impish rascality.

If you wish to remain anonymous, leave this field blank.

Regarding session(s) on - Please select one:

I'm giving feedback on (select all that apply):

I would like to have a follow-up chat about this with the GM (Participant name required):

In accordance with Section 485 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), any personal information collected in this survey will only be used by municipal staff and, if necessary, individuals and/or organizations under service contract with the Halifax Regional Municipality for purposes relating to communicating player feedback for the Power House Youth Center D&D/Tabletop RPG program.

If you have any questions about this form/survey, please call 311 or email contactus@311.halifax.ca

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.