Haldimand County celebrates Grand Opening of Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre

On Saturday, February 28, 2026, Haldimand County Council, staff, community partners and residents of all ages celebrated the Grand Opening of the Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre. The new, state-of-the-art dual-purpose facility at 11 Athens Street is now open to the public, with programming set to begin on April 7. 

Attendees enjoyed tours, refreshments and activities in the Centre’s many programming areas, and were able to take part in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Visitors also had the opportunity meet with staff and receive assistance setting up their ActiveNet accounts, which will be required when registering for programs.

Regular programming at the Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre will begin Tuesday, April 7 and will initially be a mix of drop-in and registered activities. Programs will be viewable online the week of March 16. Until April 7, the Centre will be open the same hours as the Library but without scheduled programming. Residents are encouraged to share what kinds of programs they’d like to see offered by completing the online feedback form at www.haldimandcounty.ca/hagersvilleALC.

Annual memberships will soon be available to purchase, though they aren’t required to utilize the Centre. Annual membership benefits include 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 camps.

“This space was truly built with the community in mind and reflects the many voices who helped shape it, from residents who shared ideas to the staff and community volunteers who worked so hard to bring this vision to life. I extend my sincere thanks to the staff and project team who worked tirelessly to get where we are today, the Community Fundraising Committee for their incredible efforts, and the community partners who generously stepped up to support this important project,” said Haldimand County Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley.

Individuals who want to stay informed about Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre events and activities can subscribe to receive Haldimand County news, follow along on Facebook and Instagram, or check www.haldimandcounty.ca/hagersvilleALC for updates and program details.

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 and Culture Strategy (2025), the Population, Household and 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. L + L 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.