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December 13, 2014 (Halifax, Nova Scotia) - The stunning new Halifax Central Library officially opened its doors to the public today and the Governments of Canada, Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional Municipality were there to celebrate the significant event. This showcase civic landmark was made possible thanks to federal, provincial, and municipal funding and is a source of pride and inspiration for residents and everyone involved in the project.
The new Halifax Central Library is a 129,000-square-foot facility. It replaces the Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library and offers a larger collection of books, DVDs and e-books, additional meeting and study rooms, a 300-seat auditorium, and technology areas for computers.
The library is a new centrepiece of the Halifax Regional Municipality and will not only serve as a resource centre for local residents, it will help drive the economic revitalization of the downtown area and be a major attraction for visiting tourists for years to come.
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
“Our Government is pleased to invest in significant infrastructure projects like the Halifax Central Library. This new municipal icon will provide residents and visitors alike with opportunities for civic and social gatherings and will be a great resource for lifelong learning, professional development and personal growth. This magnificent Library will have a tremendous impact on this community for decades to come. Federal investments like this one demonstrate our Government's continued support to improve infrastructure and create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity across Canada."
- Peter MacKay, Member of Parliament for Central Nova, Regional Minister for Nova Scotia and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
"The new Halifax Central Library is a remarkable facility that will provide long term benefits for residents and visitors to Halifax. The Government of Nova Scotia was pleased to work with our federal and municipal partners to support the building of this key piece of infrastructure that will showcase Halifax and Nova Scotia to the rest of the world. Partnerships like this project are essential to enhancing community and social well-being and will help create the climate for economic growth in our municipalities.”
- Labi Kousoulis, Minister of the Public Service Commission and Minister of Internal Services
“Our new Central Library demonstrates that we can be bold in our ambitions, reach higher and build something that is greater than the sum of our parts. This is a powerful and positive statement about our city’s aspirations and values. It is a very significant day in the history of Halifax that shows how three levels of government can effectively collaborate.”
- Mike Savage, Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality
Associated Links
For additional information about the federal Building Canada Fund — Major Infrastructure Component, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/bcf-fcc-eng.html.
For more information on the Halifax Central Library: http://halifaxpubliclibraries.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://www.eap.gc.ca.
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