Ground broken for Hagersville Library and Active Living Centre

HAGERSVILLE—There was a groundbreaking held on August 28, 2024 for the new Hagersville Library and Active Living Centre. —Haldimand Press photos by Tamara Botting.

HAGERSVILLE – If everything goes as planned, the new Hagersville Library and Active Living Centre will be opening its doors to the public in the fourth quarter of 2025.

            “It was about four years ago that I introduced this project to council as the previous Ward 4 councillor. I’m really excited to be where we are here today,” Tony Dalimonte told The Press on August 28, 2024 at the official groundbreaking.

            He noted that at the time, he took on the role of the chair of the community fundraising committee for the project, a position he continues to hold today.

            The fundraising efforts have been going well, Dalimonte reported. Over $1.7 million has been brought in so far; of that, $1.5 million has to be given to the County as part of the 10% community contribution toward the whole capital cost of the project, which is around $15 million.

            However, “I’m trying to raise in excess of $2 million, to respond to the requests that were made by the general public at the public open houses that we had a couple years ago now in regards to this project,” Dalimonte said. “There are items that the community has asked for in this complex that will not be paid for by Haldimand County.”

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            These ‘extras’ include things like a portable stage, similar to what was in the town’s old community centre, and an enhanced acoustic system; these features would help make the space more attractive for events like weddings, banquets, and auctions.

            “We want to have all those materials here in the building to make it more rentable and more appealing to the general public,” Dalimonte said. That’s because the rental income the building generates will help to pay it off. It’s also just making it a more flexible, multi-purpose space for the community.

            “You should be able to play basketball in it on Thursday night and on Saturday … set it up (as) a wedding venue with all the trimmings that you want,” Dalimonte said.

            He noted that so far, the bulk of the donations that have come in have been corporate contributions, but at the start of the summer, the committee began the community fundraising portion of their efforts, asking local businesses and individuals to contribute, which has also been getting some good response. He said, “I’m really pleased to see that, because it shows buy-in from the general public.”

            The committee will be having discussions with County staff in the fall to figure out how donors will be recognized, such as naming rooms in the new facility, plaques, or something else. However it’s done, Dalimonte said, “I think that’s really important, that we recognize the major contributions and the smaller ones that have come in from the general public.”

            At the groundbreaking, Haldimand Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley noted that it was “a huge milestone for the county as we celebrate the start of construction on the Hagersville Library and Active Living Centre, a project that has been years in the making and is greatly anticipated by the community.”

            She said the facility will be “a functional, accessible, and inclusive space that will serve our community for years to come.”

            Bentley offered her thanks to the staff, members of the fundraising committee, and the community members who helped to get the project off the ground; she also thanked CGS Architects and the general contracting firm Gateman-Milloy.

            Ward 4 Councillor Marie Trainer also shared her thoughts on the project with The Press, noting that the residents of the Jackson Condos “have a bird’s eye view and have already shared what they have seen happening already and will have lots of clear access to watch this wonderful project progress.”

            She, too, noted that the community is eagerly anticipating the opening of the new facility, and thanked everyone who had contributed to the project, with their finances and their volunteering efforts: “We hope that you will all continue to help Haldimand County make this a place for all to enjoy. Thank you for your support and loyalty.”

            With the project advancing during the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs’ moratorium on construction in the Haldimand Tract (announced 2021), The Press requested comment on this project. Todd Williams, Director of Haudenosaunee Inherit Rights Team at Haudenosaunee Development Institute, responded, “The moratorium on development is still in place and this project could trigger the moratorium if it requires removing more green space. The development is in the Haldimand Tract and subsequently within areas of issuing jurisdiction. We have no record of Haldimand County consulting. At this time, we have no position on the construction or steps that need to be taken to protect Haudenosaunee insights and interests.”