The Bookmobile visit to the Helen Detwiler location on Wed Jul 29 is cancelled.
Bookmobile Service Modification
Published:
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 - 9:00am
Express Items via OverDrive - Partner Libraries Update
As of July 1, Partner Library Members can no longer borrow HPL Express items via OverDrive. More to Borrow partner libraries offer Lucky Express (Skip the Line) titles to their cardholders only. This helps manage wait times for popular titles. Lucky Express is a collection of in-demand titles with a seven-day loan and no wait time.
Partner Library Members can borrow titles from the main collection.
hpl.ca/more-to-borrow
Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 10:00am
What's Happening Guide Changes
The What's Happening Guide has been retired and replaced with different communications channels and tactics. You can find the new Summer Reading Flyer here. Watch for future communications updates.
Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 3:00pm
Sunday Hours Return to Central Library
Sunday hours return to Central Library. Beginning July 5, Central is open Noon to 5pm. Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown branches are also open Sundays, 1 to 5pm. hpl.ca/hours
Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 1:00pm
Study Halls Pause for Summer Break
After Hours Study Hall is not available in July and August. Hours will resume Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls
Published:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:00pm
History of City Hall
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)
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.
