HALIFAX - Quebec-born diva Celine Dion has cancelled a concert next summer in a Halifax park that once played host to the Pope, with her promoter saying the venue can't meet the singer's "elaborate production needs."
Montreal-based Gillett Entertainment Group issued a brief statement Friday saying the Halifax Common is not a suitable location.
"Following discussions with various professionals and experts, it was agreed that the venue is not appropriate for the concert's elaborate production needs and would not satisfy the best interests of Celine Dion's public," the promoter said.
"For all of the above reasons, Gillett Entertainment Group thanks fans for their understanding of the unfortunate situation."
The Halifax show was scheduled for Aug. 23, 2008.
Halifax regional council had already agreed to spend up to $150,000 to bring Dion to the port city.
Last September, the Rolling Stones attracted about 50,000 people to the first major rock concert held at the Common. Until then, the largest event there was a mass held by Pope John Paul II in 1984, which drew 30,000.
Dion's surprise move marks a major setback for Mayor Peter Kelly's bid to make the Common a premier venue for major concerts.
In recent years, Halifax and Moncton, N.B., have been competing to host larger shows, making the rivalry a matter of civic pride.
"It is unfortunate, but that sometimes is the nature of the entertainment business," Kelly said in a statement, noting the city is working on bringing two other big-ticket concerts to the Common.
"We are not always privy to the reasoning behind the decisions of entertainers ... We believe we have one of the finest outdoor concert venues in the country, and I am confident there will be concerts on the Commons next summer."
Dion is planning to kick off a 45-date, North American tour in August. Halifax was among six Canadian cities - including Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg - on the "Taking Chances World Tour."
The shows will follow Dion's five-year run of sold-out performances at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. Dion is also set to tour Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe.
"I'm ready to hit the road again, with my husband and son by my side," Dion said in a statement last week. "It's going to be so exciting to tour the U.S. and Canada."
