KITCHENER, ON — Kitchener Public Library celebrated a historic milestone today as staff and officials took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the new community library in southwest Kitchener. The event took place at the site of new location at 100 Rosenberg Way in Kitchener.
This new community library will be Kitchener Public Library’s sixth location and is expected to open in early 2025. It will be the first Net-Zero, carbon neutral municipality facility in the Waterloo region, and will feature a green roof as a way of teaching sustainability. Furthermore, the new space will allow for creators to grow, by providing the community with recording studios, professional audio recording spaces along with digital learning labs for coding and technology. This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada.
Kitchener Public Library staff and board members, elected officials and stakeholders all participated in the historic groundbreaking.
“Investing in green infrastructure is important for the well-being and growth of our communities. The KPL Southwest Community Library is an extraordinary example of environmentally friendly infrastructure that meets the net zero carbon building standards, exceeds accessibility standards, and will continue to create a safe and sustainable place for residents. Green community buildings, including the new KPL Southwest Public Library, will provide a place for people to gather, work, and play for generations to come” said MP for Kitchener-Conestoga, Tim Louis, on behalf of the Honorable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
“This is an important milestone for the project and we are looking forward to welcoming our community to their new library,” said Mary Chevreau, Kitchener Public Library’s Chief Executive Officer. “This library will be a true community destination with space for gathering and connecting.”
“Libraries are consistently one of the most valued services by Kitchener residents and this new KPL branch will serve southwest Kitchener’s fast-growing and diverse population with access to valuable resources, learning tools and technology,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “I am especially excited that this new building will become Kitchener’s and this region’s first Net-Zero, carbon neutral municipal facility, demonstrating our shared objective of meeting Canada’s and our local climate action commitments towards reduced GHG emissions.”
Quick facts
- The Government of Canada is contributing $5,952,060 to this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program (GICB) with additional funding from the City of Kitchener. The expected total project costs are over $14 million.
- The GICB program aims to improve the places Canadians work, learn, play, live and gather by cutting pollution, making life more affordable, and supporting thousands of good jobs. Through green and other upgrades to existing public community buildings and new builds in underserved communities, the GICB program helps ensure community facilities are inclusive, accessible, and have a long service life, while also helping Canada move towards its net-zero objectives by 2050.
- At least 10 percent of funding is allocated to projects serving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, including Indigenous populations in urban centres.
- The GICB program was created in support of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: a Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, supporting the Plan’s first pillar through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the increase of energy efficiency, and higher resilience to climate change. It is providing $1.5 billion over five years towards green and accessible retrofits, repairs or upgrades.
Associated links
- Green and Inclusive Community Buildings
- Strengthened Climate Plan
- Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario
- 30 -
Media Contacts
Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
Web: Infrastructure Canada
Kerri Hutchinson
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Kitchener Public Library
kerri.hutchinson@kpl.org
85 Queen Street North, Kitchener, ON