Historian shares story of Halifax Memorial Library amid uncertain future

Halifax library has been empty for more than a decade

Historian William Breckenridge walks past the Halifax Memorial Library every day on his way to work and he often has the same thought when he looks at the vacant building on Spring Garden Road: “This is ridiculous.”

Breckenridge served on the municipality’s heritage advisory committee from 2015 to 2019. He wants to see the building, which has sat empty since 2014, resume its role as a community site.

“I hope to see an adaptive reuse of the building as a community space,” Breckenridge said. “We need this kind of venue. The old library could provide that. There’s an affordability crisis with housing, but also with non-profits looking for spaces.”

Breckenridge will be educating the public about the history of the old library at the Paul O’Regan Hall in the Halifax Central Library on Monday. The free event is also an opportunity for people to discuss the possible future for the structure.

“The building has a lot of meaning beyond its bricks and mortar,” Breckenridge said. “There’s so much to it.”

In July 2024, Halifax council approved a motion to direct the chief of staff to design a plan, along with a consultant, that included “substantial and/or full removal of the building.”

Brynn Budden, public affairs advisor with the Halifax Regional Municipality, says they are still reviewing the potential for the site and they will have a public consultation.

“An update report to Regional Council to further identify the scope of the project and its intended consultation program is being considered and could be submitted within the next few months,” Budden said in a news release.

Emma Lang, executive director of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia, said they want the municipality to consider all ideas for the future of the library, including the creation of a multi-use space.

“The building in general is in pretty good shape,” Lang said. “It was built to last, built for heavy use. It’s a solid structure. It has a lot of life left to give.

“As a cultural site, it’s really important. The library was built when the city going through incredible population growth.”

Construction of the library started in 1949, making it the first post-war public building in Halifax. It officially opened in 1951 and received an addition in 1974.

Lang noted Halifax has lost many buildings from the 20^th century, which creates a gap that risks obscuring history. The old library is one of the few remaining buildings from that century left in the city.

“It’s visibly jarring,” she said. “We have buildings from 19^th century and 2010s and nothing in between. What does that tell the coming generation? It sends a bad message.

“This isn’t about preserving the building for 2025, it’s about thinking how it can serve the community for 50 years, 100 years. This building gives us the opportunity to make something great and serve as an example to other communities.”

The event on the Halifax Memorial Library starts at 6 p.m. on Monday.

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