Officials broke ground on Calgary’s first combined fire station and public library on Wednesday. The Walden Fire Station and Library brings two important public services together under one roof, in a city-owned site in the 900 block of Walden Drive S.E. “We’re creating something that will serve as a cornerstone of this community for generations to come,” Mayor Jeromy Farkas said. “As our city grows, we need to make sure that the services and infrastructure Calgarians rely on is growing alongside us.” Farkas said the facility is an example of the city “building smarter.” “We know that Calgarians expect us to make the best use of every single taxpayer dollar. By bringing these two services together in one location, we’re making very efficient use of public land and resources, while delivering lasting value for residents.” The $34.2-million facility will support not only Walden, but also the communities of Legacy, Chaparral and Wolf Willow. “This facility will become an important part of everyday life for thousands and thousands of Calgarians,” Farkas said. The new Walden Fire Station and Library is expected to open in 2028. “I’m hoping that this will be the start of a lot more projects like this in Calgary,” said Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnston. While the new two-bay fire station is being built, the community will continue to be served by the existing fire station — a temporary one that has been in use since 2020. Calgary Fire Department Chief Steve Dongworth says the Walden Fire Station and Library is more than a shared building — it’s a symbol of a longstanding partnership between the Calgary Fire Department and Calgary Public Library, which goes back nearly a decade. “It’s evolved from simple firefighter story times, into a broader community safety and education partnership.” “We’ve combined with a number of types of buildings over the years, but this is a first — and I’m excited about that,” Dongworth said. “This building will be a place where safety, learning and community all come together.” Growing demand in south Calgary Dongworth says the fire station will help respond to the growing demand for emergency services in south Calgary. “It should be noted that CFD is on track to see its greatest-ever number of incidents in 2026,” he said. “Over 94,000 calls for help are expected by the end of the year.” “After 141 years, our fire service continues to grow and evolve with the communities they serve. We’re seeing geographic growth, population growth and increases in the complexity of calls, risks and social issues in our city.” The new fire station will be 15,000 square feet. ‘Population growth is real’ The library is the first for Ward 14. “In 2023, we opened the Walden Micro Library in a greenhouse,” said Calgary Public Library (CPL) CEO Sarah Meilleur. “This mini greenhouse space has been filled with books for multiple years for patrons to borrow and return at their convenience.” Meilleur says they’ll keep the micro library in place as long as they can during construction. “While it’s been a hit with residents, with more than 200 books circulated each week, we know this community deserves more.” The new library will be 11,000 square feet — about the same size as the Quarry Park Library — and significantly more than the 64-square feet currently in use at the micro library. Meilleur says it’s been a busy year for the CPL, which continues to expand to meet demand. “Population growth is real,” she said. “Today marks the third groundbreaking for a new library in the last 18 months.” More than 20,000 people visit Calgary public libraries every single day, Meilleur said. “That’s seven million visitors every single year.” Next week, the CPL will launch its four-year strategic plan to help map out future growth.
