Carlisle Branch - Exterior Filming

From Tuesday, March 3, to Wednesday, March 4, filming will take place from 7am to 11pm at 1464 Centre Road. This may impact traffic flow in the surrounding area.

Published:
Friday, February 20, 2026 - 2:15pm
Terryberry Branch Elevator Out of Order

The Terryberry branch parking lot elevator is out of order. The branch is still accessible via the ramp to the Mohawk doors and then the elevator in the middle of the building. We're working to get it fixed quickly.

Published:
Thursday, February 19, 2026 - 5:00pm
Carlisle Branch Accessible Door Out of Order

The accessibility door at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.

Published:
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - 2:30pm
Concession Branch - Upcoming Renovations

Renovation preparations are underway in anticipation of the March 2 start. Computer availability may be limited.  Living Room and Makerspace areas are closed. (The next nearest Makerspaces are Sherwood and Terryberry Branches). Renovations are expected to wrap up by late Spring. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Sherwood Branch - Upcoming Renovations

Renovation preparations are underway in anticipation of the March 2 start. Starting the week of February 23, the 2nd Floor will be closed. The Children's collection will be temporarily available on the 1st Floor. Renovations are expected to wrap up by late Spring. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Central Library - Living Room Renovation Preparation

Starting Tuesday, February 10, the First Floor Living Room will be unavailable due to renovation preparations. Study and work spaces are available on Floors 2-3. 

Please note the Noon Hour Concert on Friday, February 13, will be held at Terryberry Branch instead. 

Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Friday, February 6, 2026 - 9:00am
Bookmobile Service Modification

Please note the following Bookmobile visit updates.

Thursday, February 19
Rockton (10:30am-11:30am) - Cancelled
Bennetto 5-5:30pm (instead of 4-5:30pm)

Wednesday, February 25
Swansea 10:00-10:30am - Cancelled
Helen Detwiler 11:00am-12:00pm - Cancelled
Warplane Museum 3:00-4:00pm - Cancelled

Friday, February 27
Winona 11:00am-12:00pm - Cancelled
Maplewood 2:30-4:00pm - Cancelled

Published:
Monday, February 2, 2026 - 3:15pm
Carlisle Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order

The accessible washroom at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.

Published:
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 12:30pm
Central Library - Sunday Hours Paused

Effective Sunday, February 1, Sunday service hours at Central Library will be paused. 

Sunday Hours will continue at Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown Branches from 1-5pm.

www.hpl.ca/hours 

Published:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 11:00am

History of City Hall

Mayor Alexander McKay (1843-1912)
Mayor Alexander McKay (1843-1912)

The decision was made to build a new city hall. Plans were called for and the winning plan, selected on January 11, 1886, was by C.W. Mulligan. However, when the plan arrived at the tendering stage the winning design was by James Balfour (28). A plebiscite was held on the by-law to build the new City Hall on May 11, 1887, and passed 1,203 to 348. "The building will occupy part of the site of the old one, but will extend further north, covering the space between the old building and the White Elephant saloon. It is likely also, that the latter building will be pulled down to make room for the new municipal building" (29). On October 10, 1887 the bulk tender of M.A. Pigott of $126,000 with $1,000 off for the old building was accepted (30). The old city hall was photographed on November 4, 1887 with the aldermen, city officials and general public in the foreground. Mayor McKay and Adam Brown, M.P., occupied the positions of honour. The photograph was to be framed and hung in the council chamber of the new city hall (31). On October 31 the last council meeting was held in the old building (32). 

Adam Brown (1826-1926)
Adam Brown (1826-1926)

In order to build the new city hall, the old one had to be removed and the city fathers had to move to another location for the duration. On November 28, they had approved a resolution that "[t]he building situated on James Street, formerly occupied as a Post Office, shall be used until the new City Hall be finished" (33). In November, they began to move over to the old post office. The Spectator noted that "[t]he arrangement of the old post office building is not quite completed, and has been delayed by the extremely dirty condition of the interior, which has needed to be washed three or four times before it could be made habitable. When handed over to the city it looked as if it had never been cleaned since the post office people first moved in. As an official remarked, it is to be hoped that the new post officers are taking better care of their new building" (34). Demolition began the following week.