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New Central Library, Where Art Thou?

Lorna MacNeil Follow Me

Posted this 2024-10-06 12:49 PM ADT (updated 2024-10-06 1:17 PM ADT)

On October 19, 2024, we, the citizens of CBRM who vote, will elect a new mayor.

Many of us fervently hope that this new mayor will prioritize the building of a new central library for CBRM.

I have done some research, trying to understand why it is that so little progress has been made on this project.

Holy dysfunction, Batman.

I have titled my findings as New Central Library, Where Art Thou?

New Central Library, Where Art Thou?

The new mayor we elect should be the character in New Central Library, Where Art Thou? who finally gives CBRM citizens and the languishing employees of the McConnell library downtown the new central library they deserve.

Several communities in Nova Scotia have opened new libraries in recent years. (Click on any town name to learn more.)

Pugwash opened its new library in July of 2023.

Antigonish opened its new library. The People's Place, in 2011.

New Glasgow is transforming its library into a community hub this year.

Halifax opened its amazing central library in 2014.

Let's look at the town of Pictou.

CBRM received its first consultants report around the need for a new central library about three years before Pictou started its planning.

On April 3, 2023, Pictou sent out a press release reporting that after 8 years of planning, they selected Iron Maple to build the Pictou Culture Hub. You can read it here.
A website detailing the progress of the building of the Pictou Culture Hub was made available to residents, featuring various views of the site from drones, a detailed business plan, and a look at the modern skylights that were installed. You can look at it here.
On September 23, 2024, the new Pictou Library opened.

I am excited to show you a photo of our new central library. To be fair to Pictou, we did start our project a few years earlier then they did.

The New Central CBRM Library

How the Sam Hill did this happen?

In 2012, CBRM conducted a feasibility study around replacing the James McConnell Memorial Library in 2012. This study revealed that, “the building has deficient environmental conditions, poor accessibility for patrons, occupational health and safety issues facing staff, and a lack of safe passenger drop off accommodations.”

2012 - 2016

Weirdly, it seems that the then mayor and council did nothing or little for 4 years after reviewing the 2012 study.

March of 2016

In March of 2016, a second report around replacing the McConnell Library is presented to Council, concluding that:

“The proposed development (the new library) will not only correct the limitations of current library services, it will support the future economic, social, and cultural objectives of the CBRM and other community organizations.”

This report identified three possible sites for the new library: The retails space that once housed Target, the CBRM-owned lot opposite the Joan Harris Cruise Pavilion, and the space where Mercer fuels used to be (the NCSS campus sits there now).

CBC reported that then Mayor Cecil Clark, “indicated he'll discuss the report with both the federal and provincial governments and make a pitch for funding. An issue paper will be prepared by municipal staff for presentation to regional council in the fall.”

Whew we collectively exhaled. The wheels of our municipality were turning at last.

(I could find no evidence of an issue paper on the library being presented to Council in the fall of 2016.)

(If there were a request for funding for a new central library made to our provincial and federal governments in 2016, there is no record of it that I could find.)

(And being curious about funding requests, in 2020, I emailed then minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Catherine McKenna to ask if funding for a new library in Sydney had been applied for and rejected, a member of her team kindly wrote me back:

"I can confirm that Infrastructure Canada has not received a funding application for the proposed project."

December of 2016

9 months after the second consultant’s report was presented to Council, CBC reports that Mayor Clarke, in a plot twist, stated that a proposal to build the new as part of Centre 200 would be presented to Council in the new year - so, in 2017. The idea was that this plan would save a cash-poor CBRM money.

(A review of CBRM Council meeting agendas for 2017 does not show a proposal to build a new library as part of Centre 200.)

June of 2019

In June of 2019, at a CBRM Council meeting, we were introduced to a new character in New Central Library, Where Art Thou?

Harbour Royal Development Ltd.

This flashy new character advised CBRM to get its funding for the new central library in order, stating that federal funding was in place but not yet the provincial funding. Harbour Royal Development Ltd. had a plan to develop the CBRM-owned land next to the Joan Harris Cruise Pavilion and the new central library could be part of this plan.

(Logic, sadly, is not a character in New Central Library, Where Art Thou? If Centre 200 was put forward as a project location because CBRM was not flush, where was the money for this fancy waterfront library at a cost of about 32 million dollars coming from?)

March of 2021

(There is a new mayor in town, Amanda McDougall has replaced Cecil Clark, who reigned from 2012 - 2020.)

As I noted before the character named Harbour Royal Development Ltd. was on the flashy side. In March of 2021, they asked Council for 1.5 million dollars to pay for its part of a design study for the 32 million dollar library that would be part of its waterfront development. Council shuddered at the price tag, well, most of them did, and they refused to pay up.

July 2021

In July of 2021, in a spasm of frugality, Council voted against extending its 3-year deal with Harbour Royal Development Ltd. that allowed the company to develop CBRM's waterfront land. The proposed library was thought too costly by a majority of Council.

(Harbour Royal Development Ltd. thought that they were treated very shabbily indeed and publicly vowed never to work with CBRM again. Ever.)

January 2023

On January 31, 2023, the issue of the CBRM new central library was raised once again at a meeting of Council, as what can be categorized as a new start. Unfortunately, some councillors, even at this point in our saga, were suggesting things like:

Splitting up the new central library in different buildings across town (I am paraphrasing).
Throwing out all plans and looking at new cities within the CBRM for a location.

It was decided, in the end, to have the experts that be review the feasibility of location the new central library in the old courthouse build by Wentworth Park.

January 2024

On January 31, Council is informed that it will cost about 30 million dollars to renovate the old court house building into a new central library. The Library Committee wants input, is keen to get this project right. Council agrees to meet with the committee in the near future.

New Sydney Library Survey – Cape Breton Regional Library (cbrl.ca)

So, after twelve long years, we are at at the starting point again.

CBRM has thus far let down the stakeholders of the new central CBRM project: The Cape Breton Regional Library Board, the languishing yet highly professional and creative library employees, schools, newcomers, tourists, the people who live in CBRM, and others.

I took at look at the platforms of the candidates for CBRM mayor, to get a sense of whether they understand why we need a new central library and if they are truly committed to this project. (Why are there so many candidates? Why?)

(If any candidate reads this and has an accessible platform that I did not find, please let me know.)

In alphabetical order.

Donnie Bacich

I could not find a platform for Mr. Bacich's campaign online.

CBC posted an article briefly outlining the stated priorities of each mayoral candidate. You can read it here.

The article reports that "He said he's (Bacich) running to get CBRM's finances and tax rates under control."

Cecil Clarke

Mr. Clarke's campaign site. (Click to access.)

Mr. Clarke lists his priorities but does not mention a new central library for CBRM.

Mr. Clarke was mayor of CBRM between 2012 and 2020 when the proverbial ball was, I think it is fair to say, dropped.

James Edwards

Mr. Edwards Facebook page titled James Edwards for Mayor. (Click to access.)

Mr. Edwards, who was deputy mayor before beginning his campaign, has a series of posts on different positions he holds on the Facebook page linked above.

No mention of a new central library.

Carla George

I could not find a platform for Mr. George's campaign online. He does mention some priorities on his personal Facebook page.

You can listen to a CBC interview with Mr. George here.

Mr. George does not mention a new central library in the interview.

Vince Hall

I could not find a platform for Mr. Hall's campaign online.

You can listen to a CBC interview with Mr. Hall here.

Mr. Hall does not mention a new central library in the interview.

Kevin MacEachern

I could not find a platform for Mr. MacEachern's campaign online.

You can listen to a CBC interview with Kevin MacEachern here.

Mr. MacEachern does not mention a new central library in the interview.

Archie MacKinnon

There is a public Facebook Page titled Archie MacKinnon for Mayor, though there is no platform presented.

You can listen to a CBC interview with Archie MacKinnon here.

Mr. MacKinnon does not mention a new central library in the interview.

Rankin MacSween

Rankin MacSween for Mayor | CBRM 2024 | A new path forward (Click to access.)

Mr. MacSween is committed to a new central library for CBRM being constructed. "Set out a clear and reasonable process for the construction of a new central library. The first study on the need for a new central library was published in 2007 – 17 years ago. In this time, Halifax, Truro, Antigonish, New Glasgow, and Pictou have all built new libraries. Building a new library does not need to be this hard."

Joe Ward

Home | Elect Joe Ward, CBRM (Click to access.)

Joe Ward is committed to a new central library for CBRM being constructed.

Click here to watch Joe explain his plan for a new central library in CBRM.

If you want a new central library for CBRM, why not vote for someone who wants the same thing?

Posted by Lorna MacNeil
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Joe Ward Follow Me 2024-10-06 1:09 PM ADT Reply 1 0 GREAT article, Lorna. I know from my own articles how many hours it takes to put something like this together. It's painfully enduring to locate and validate all of the historical information and to present it concisely without error. For those interested, Lorna has linked to my video on the topic, and I'll include it here so you don't have to scroll back up: https://www.facebook.com/electjoeward/videos/937274998217966 Basically, I've suggested that it's simply been a matter of not making decisions when they were necessary—and that allows funding partners at other levels of government to wait us out until we do. So, we just have to decide. My recommendation is a new library, and that the proposed location would be in or near Open Hearth Park. I'll show a plot of land that would work in the video. I believe the key advocates and council will support it, so we just have to lock in our plan and go get the money from the province/feds to do it. BTW, Lorna, if voters had the luxury of this kind of report on all issues, it would make their job so much easier to figure out who to support. Kudos for putting the time in and structuring it for us to follow the timeline. Lorna MacNeil My Post Follow Me 2024-10-06 1:22 PM ADT Reply 1 0 Hi, Joe. Painful it was. I hope that the post helps to shed light on how tortured the process of replacing the McConnell has been thus far. Your campaign website is impressive. Joe Ward Follow Me 2024-10-06 1:58 PM ADT Reply 0 0 Thank you, Lorna. This is not on-topic, but just a note that should be of interest to you. A part of my transparency push is going to be very practical. I'm sure, like me, you've gone through hours of council videos in your research (once you could find the right ones) to get the history on who is saying what. And that is only done because we care—certainly not because it's fun or entertaining. Ouch. In any event, I don't want citizen support and advocacy to only be limited to rare birds like myself, you, Mary Campbell (from the journalism end)—who are crazy enough to go through this process. There's been the technology to do this better for a long time, but given my background and the advances we've made in related technology even in the last year, we can fix this within the CBRM. * Full diarized transcripts of all meetings (speaker labels) / searchable * Full meeting summaries (more comprehensive "minutes") * AI-powered Q&A tools so citizens can ask questions about what happened, including interpretation that goes beyond the text * Meetings cut into segments so that people can share a particular component of a meeting that raises concern, or they would like to share for discussion of any nature. The end result should be a scenario where we could ask "Please give a complete historical timeline of all CBRM Council discussion of a proposed new central library, of key events and decisions, and evaluate areas of both progress or setbacks" and essentially generate an approximate equivalent of your article, which took hours of your commitment, in 30 seconds. Then the game changes, and citizens will be better informed than ever before. And transparency and accountability becomes more than a buzz word. And just think of the astronomical new efficiency of staff who are doing this internally, with issue papers, reports to council, etc. Major advantages.
Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2024-10-07 7:44 AM ADT Reply 0 0 This is not rocket science.This does not need a pile of research.If we continue the same trend of electing the same o same o folks who try to be heroes at the coffee shops and taverns,looking for that high five or handshake from the public because they bashed our bankers in Halifax and Ottawa at a council meeting or in the media then there won't be a new library.Even the fools amongst the elected 13 gotta learn the art of holding their nose when negotiating with people they don't always agree with.It's just that simple. Joe Ward Follow Me 2024-10-07 11:51 AM ADT Reply 0 0 This isn’t complex. It just needs Council to make a decision. The key hurdle with finance is that the province can stall due to referencing the healthcare and NSCC. But, they aren’t stalling if we aren’t ready to ask. New / location / design / ask. If we’re very clear and focused, we can get it done. Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2024-10-07 5:09 PM ADT Reply 0 0 THE PROBLEM: CBRM needs to come up with a new way to conduct business which is gonna be difficult with the number of councillors getting in by acclamation and the fact that the same old senior administration is still in place. Mike Johnson Follow Me 2024-10-08 8:21 AM ADT Reply 2 0 Although you can make the case that 'acclamation' skirts the best principles of democracy, at least 3 of the Councilors who were acclaimed, deserved it, as they had high recognition within the community for hard work and good representation. And if you check their voting record and input to Council issues, you will agree with nearly all of it. They were not the problem! So let's hope we get a few more with enough critical thinking, independence and pragmatism to join them and move this Municipality forward, Of course, a Mayor with similar skills along with some leadership ability and integrity would be helpful as well, though i only see two candidates that meet both of those criteria.
Lyn Ballam Follow Me 2024-10-07 10:38 AM ADT Reply 1 0 Excellent article, Lorna and so nice to see it broken down like this and how this has been handled for so long. Kudos to you for taking the time to simplify it for the general Public.
Pauline MacLellan Follow Me 2024-10-07 6:42 PM ADT Reply 2 0 Terrific article! It needs to be seen by EVERY voter in Cape Breton!! Explains very well what should always be a priority but has purposely been ignored by the previously elected mayors and councils since the proposal went forward. Thank you for your time and effort bringing this forward.