Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre construction nearing completion, Grand Opening scheduled for February 28, 2026

The wait is almost over! In January, Haldimand County staff provided Council with an update about the construction and planned operations of the new $15.5 million Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre (HL+ALC), Haldimand County’s first non-arena indoor recreation and community facility.

Finishing touches are now underway on the accessible and inclusive co-located facility, and a Grand Opening celebration to welcome the public is planned for Saturday, February 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The day will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, tours, opportunities to experience new programs and services, contests, prizes and light refreshments.

The HL+ALC is in Hagersville’s Grant Kett Park, a large, downtown green space which already includes the Hagersville Arena, three ball diamonds, a new rentable pavilion, playground and a natural amphitheatre for community events.

Designed following extensive community consultation and research over a two-year period (2021-2023), the HL+ALC will serve as a hub for social connection, cultural experiences and learning, physical recreation and mental well-being for residents and visitors. Among the key features of the new facility are:

• The welcoming, sun-lit Clark Companies Atrium with seating areas for playing games, working, reading or relaxing
• An on-site café operated by The Carolinian Café
• Hagersville’s public library branch with new spaces for youth and children, study and work
• The Empire Homes Active Living Centre, a multi-functional space for recreation programming and community centre activities and rentals
• The spacious L + L McKeen Program Room for programs and rentals for all ages and abilities;
• A rentable commercial kitchen
• Arts and cultural exhibit and programming areas

During the first few months of operation, a diverse range of programs will be coordinated and offered (either by County staff or community partners) as user interest is gauged, as well as demand for third-party rentals. All programs will be posted at link.haldimandcounty.ca, and visitors are encouraged to share ideas for future activities.

Programs will initially be a mix of pre-registered and drop-in. Annual memberships will be available for adults, seniors, youth and families, offering a 40 per cent price reduction for drop-in programming, reduced self-directed research fees at Haldimand Museums and early registration notice for popular programs, including recreation and museum camps.

As with all Haldimand County programs, an ActiveNet account is required to register for programming. Staff will be on site at the Grand Opening and in the weeks afterwards to assist with setting up user accounts; however, everyone is encouraged to visit link.haldimandcounty.ca to create or update their account before the HALC program schedule is released and registration opens March 9. Regular programming at the new facility will begin Monday, March 30.

For more information about the Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre, including the most up-to-date programming and rental information, visit www.haldimandcounty.ca/hagersvilleALC.

Quick facts

• Council approved the Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre project in the 2021 Tax-Supported Capital Budget.
  
  
• Hagersville is Haldimand’s second fastest-growing urban community. An increase in population and shortage of accessible public buildings for recreation, leisure and community socialization, paired with the need to replace the existing Hagersville Public Library (built in 1945) and the Hagersville Community Centre (built in the early 1900s), were major factors in approving the project and determining the HL+ALC’s location.
  
  
• The initiative to build the co-located facility aligns with and supports several recent Haldimand County Council-approved strategic initiatives, including the Community & Recreation Facilities Strategy (2024), the 2025-2045 Strategic Plan, the Public Arts & Culture Strategy (2025), the Population, Household & Employment Forecast (2024) and the Parks & Recreation Service Plan (2018).
  
  
• A Community Fund-Raising Committee was created to raise $1.5 million towards the $15.5 million project budget. To date, the Committee has raised almost $1.8 million.
  
  
• Extensive in-person and online community consultation about the design and uses of the facility occurred from 2021 to 2023.
  
  
• The Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre features the 2,000 sq. ft. atrium, 3,900 sq. ft. library, the rentable, multi-functional 4,855 sq. ft. Active Living Centre and 840 sq. ft. McKeen Program Room.
  
  
• Community partnerships and collaboration are key to the Centre’s operations. The Hagersville Lions will work with County staff to manage community rentals in the facility, while local community and service groups will be engaged to provide a diverse range of programs.