News Release
Construction Well Underway for Halifax’s New Central Library
May 2, 2014 – Halifax, Nova Scotia
Residents of the Halifax Regional Municipality are eagerly anticipating the grand opening of the new Halifax Central Library. Officials of all levels of government gathered today to witness progress at the library’s construction site.
Located on the corner of Spring Garden Road and Queen Street, the state-of-the-art Halifax Central Library will serve as a social and learning space for Halifax Regional Municipality residents and attract new visitors, helping drive the economic revitalization of the downtown area.
The new library, which will replace the current Spring Garden Road Memorial Library, will be a 108,000-square-foot facility, and will include a larger book collection, additional meeting and study rooms, a 300-seat auditorium, and technology areas for computers - better reflecting the needs of the residents of today and of tomorrow.
Quick Facts
• The Government of Canada is contributing up to $18.3 million through the Major Infrastructure Component of the Building Canada Fund.
• The Government of Nova Scotia is contributing $13 million to this project.
• The Halifax Regional Municipality is providing the remaining funding of the total estimated project cost of $57.6 million.
Quotes
“This significant investment will provide the residents of Halifax and visitors to our great region, with resources for knowledge, learning and personal growth that better reflect modern realities. Along with our key support for the Convention Centre and the Discovery Centre, our Government is committed to investing in projects that bring the community together and that share a common vision for an improved quality of life for everyone. We are therefore proud to invest in significant infrastructure like the Halifax Central Library, as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada.”
The Honourable Peter MacKay
Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
“The new Halifax Central Library will be a valuable asset and distinctive landmark for the downtown area, providing an exceptional community space for residents. The Province is pleased to partner with the federal and municipal governments in this important infrastructure project.”
The Honourable Mark Furey
Minister of Municipal Affairs
“The design of this beautiful library was heavily influenced by the people who will use the spaces and make it an educational, social, and cultural hub for our municipality. This library makes an important statement about investment in well-designed public spaces by all three levels of government.”
His Worship Mike Savage
Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality
Associated Links
To learn more about the Building Canada Fund — Major Infrastructure Component visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/bcf-fcc-eng.html#mic-vgi.
For more information on the Halifax Central Library: http://www.halifaxcentrallibrary.ca/.
For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/plan-eng.html.
To learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada’s Economic Action Plan at http://actionplan.gc.ca/en/blog/economic-action-plan-2014.
-30-
Contacts:
Vincent Rabault
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
Tracy Barron
Media Relations Advisor
Department of Municipal Affairs
902-424-2733
E-mail: barrontb@gov.ns.ca
Shaune MacKinlay
Office of Mayor Mike Savage
Halifax Regional Municipality
902-490-6531
Kasia Morrison
Communications Officer
Halifax Public Libraries
902-490-5852
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media@infc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter at @INFC_eng
