The Halifax Memorial Library is under threat of demolition!
The building is a cenotaph to those who fought for freedom and a place to remember the poor of Halifax. The building in the history of Halifax is viewed as the most significant public building built in the history of the city. The time is now to use this civic building to create a community centre space where in the downtown we can have concerts, lectures and gather as a community and even do historical research. I worked vigilantly with heritage societies to have the property, including the building, registered.
On July 9, 2024, HRM Council voted to proceed to a consultation report on the future of the Halifax Memorial Library. The report for this: https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/240709rc1515.pdf
In approving this report, the Council is studying on how to best demolish the building and also approved in 2025 spending $100,000.00 for a phase 1 of issuing a private consultant to study this matter. Furthermore, approved spending up to $300,000.00 for consultation work in future budget towards this review. The report is now scheduled to go before council in the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2026.
The city must adhere to the Heritage Property Act. To demolish would set a precedent that would say demolition by neglect and demolition of registered properties is okay. It’s not okay!
Available to read is the archaeological report.
As noted in the September 2021 declassified staff report the risk to HRM:
“RISK CONSIDERATION – The building envelope and its interior systems are at the end of their life cycle. Continued deferral of maintenance and recapitalization work increases the liability and risk of holding a vacant building. Demolition or deconstruction of the building without fully considering any possible alternatives that would retain the property’s heritage value will bring into question the Municipality’s role and interest in heritage conservation, which would cause some reputational damage to the municipal Heritage Property Program, especially when dealing with other private owners of registered or potential heritage properties.
However, on balance—as taken against the heritage risks—potentially more profound risks relate to matters of factual or perceived desecration of [held-sacred] Mi’kmaw remains if the building was to be recapitalized for adaptive reuse, since any building rehabilitation would require interference with the surrounding grounds. Any options considered by the CAO in response to recommendation #3 will consider this risk.”
There is majority public support to save the building from this fate as demonstrated in the public presentation held on Jan. 12, 2026 at the Halifax Central Library. A recording of this presentation is coming soon.
Please see my interview on Global News Morning regarding the Jan 12th meeting click here.
Any future adaptive reuse of the site has to include these aspects of the building:
The History, The Community and The Cenotaph
What you can do to support saving the Halifax Memorial Library?
I urge you to contact your current Councillor and the Municipal Clerk’s Office with your objections to this shameful neglect and demolition of a critically important heritage building.
Contact me and see how you can get involved in a working committee to save the building and re-imagine Grafton Park.
Spread the word and let us get positive energy going in Halifax about saving the building!