Federal funding announced for library infrastructure projects

March 22, 2025

The Government of Canada this week announced support under the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program for 70 projects, including three library infrastructure projects:

The Next Chapter – Vineland Library

Location: Beamsville, Ontario
Federal contribution: $2,000,000
Project details:

The Town of Lincoln will retrofit and expand the public library in Vineland. The branch, built in 1996, is showing signs of wear and aging. It is the only public space on the East side of Lincoln and is currently visited by over 38,000 each year.  Lincoln is experiencing significant planned residential growth, and the increased population will include newcomers, seniors and children at risk, who require space to meet and connect.
This project will include a 6000 sq foot addition, including new study and community spaces and a place for the local archives, a green retrofit complying with the zero-carbon building design standard v4, and will improve the accessibility of the branch to 2024 AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) standards.

The upgraded library will provide inclusive space for residents to access library programs and services and be a model of Net Zero design and construction in the Niagara Region.

Isabel Turner Library Renovation

Location: Kingston, Ontario
Federal contribution: $1,000,000
Project details:

Isabel Turner Library is a 32,000 sq. ft public library constructed in 1997 and serves as a critical community hub in the west-end of Kingston. The retrofit project will involve aggressive decarbonization measures, energy efficiency upgrades, and site-wide accessibility improvements, including:

• Extensive building mechanical upgrades (i.e. new high efficiency heat pumps)
• Full lighting replacement from fluorescent to LEDs
• Modifications to public and staff entrances to make them fully accessible
• Washroom renovations to make them accessible and a new universal washroom
• General accessibility improvements, including: colour contrasting floors and walls, improved circulation, elevator repairs, low reach shelving, integrated assistive devices, and wayfinding
• Building envelope improvements (water sealing).

Fuel Electrification and Solar Net Metering at NEMI Municipal Library

Location: Little Current, Ontario
Federal contribution: $97,362
Project details:

Offset existing propane and heating oil fuel consumption through installation of cold temperature air-source heat pumps as the new primary heating source, while retaining some of the existing heating system for backup and peak heating demand during extreme cold weather. Other ventilation, HVAC control and building envelope improvements are planned to increase occupant comfort and reduce issues around shoulder season heating with existing heating systems.

(Via Government of Canada)