Case Study
Modernizing the Kehoe Forum at Cape Breton University
- Client: Cape Breton University
- Location: Sydney, Nova Scotia
- Sector: Higher Education
- Scope: Full-Scope AV Integration
The Challenge
Originally built as the Canada Games Complex for the 1987 Jeux Canada Winter Games, the facility carried real historic and community value but no longer matched the needs of a modern university. Its infrastructure was outdated and underused, limiting what it could offer both on campus and in the wider community.
Cape Breton University set out to turn the space into a fully modern, accessible venue that could support varsity athletics, academic ceremonies, cultural events, and community programs, all under one roof. That vision depended on professional-grade audiovisual systems built to move easily between very different uses.
The Solution
Backman Vidcom began with a thorough needs assessment, working directly with the university’s design team, end users, and stakeholders to understand exactly how the space would be used day to day. That groundwork shaped an integrated AV system built to balance advanced functionality with genuine ease of use.
The audio design paired CODA and Sonnet speaker systems with LEA Professional amplifiers, with distributed zoning so the sound configuration can shift with the event. High-resolution Absen video wall scoreboards and LG digital signage throughout the facility handle everything from live game stats to campus-wide communication, all tied together through a centralized AV rack and intuitive control interfaces.
Retrofitting a nearly forty-year-old building while construction continued next door on new health and wellness facilities took careful coordination. The team worked alongside other trades throughout, and in at least one case improved on the original plan, swapping a tablet-based interface for a dedicated scoreboard controller to make day-to-day operation simpler and more reliable. The project stayed on schedule and within budget.
The Results
In 2025 the renovated facility was officially renamed the Kehoe Forum, honoring Jim and the late Roma Kehoe for the generosity that helped make the project possible. It has since become a hub of campus and community life, hosting varsity hockey, academic convocations, cultural performances, and accessible recreation, including sledge hockey.
The Capers Women’s Hockey Team, the Cape Breton Blizzard Female Hockey Association, and the Cape Breton Sledgehammers all call the Forum home. Its flexible AV systems let the venue move between athletic competition, academic ceremony, and community programming without missing a beat, aligning the technology with the university’s broader vision for inclusivity, sustainability, and community wellbeing.
This project is one of several university and community venues we’ve modernized across Atlantic Canada, explore our other case studies or browse our full AV projects portfolio to see more of our work.
Cape Breton University’s official announcement and the Kehoe Forum’s community page share more on the venue’s history and its role today.
“At Backman Vidcom, we take great pride in projects that serve communities while embracing sustainable design. Cape Breton University’s commitment to modern, energy-efficient infrastructure reflects the kind of long-term thinking that aligns with our values. As someone with deep ties to the island, seeing a space like the Kehoe Forum reimagined so thoughtfully was truly rewarding.”
Laurie MacKeigan, President, Backman Vidcom
FAQ
What AV systems were installed at the Kehoe Forum?
CODA and Sonnet speaker systems powered by LEA Professional amplifiers, Absen video wall scoreboards, LG digital signage, and a centralized AV rack with intuitive control interfaces.
Was the AV retrofit completed on schedule?
Yes. Despite retrofitting a nearly forty-year-old building while adjacent health and wellness construction was underway, the project stayed on schedule and within budget.
What organizations use the Kehoe Forum?
The Capers Women’s Hockey Team, the Cape Breton Blizzard Female Hockey Association, and the Cape Breton Sledgehammers, alongside varsity sports, academic ceremonies, cultural events, and community programs.
Why was the venue renamed the Kehoe Forum?
In 2025, Cape Breton University renamed the former Canada Games Complex the Kehoe Forum in honor of Jim and the late Roma Kehoe, recognizing their generosity and commitment to the university and the Cape Breton community.