The ambitious project to transform Town Hall and Market Square is moving forward following council approval of 2025 priorities. The plan aims to create a vibrant, multi-use community space while preserving key historic elements.
Chris Brown, Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture, shared with council the vision for town hall, which includes removing hazardous materials and demolishing interior walls to create an open activity area on the first floor and install at least two washrooms on the floor.
For Market Square, a new covered area is envisioned for the west end of the building facing Centre Street, to host events like farmers markets
To ensure progress, the report laid out their top priorities for 2025. That includes establishing a Market Square Task Force to aid in decision making and recommendations to council.
Other priorities include applying two protective coats to the Town Hall roof using a durable epoxy urethane system, redesign Town Hall’s front steps, adding raised garden beds on both sides, removing hazardous materials from Town Hall’s first floor to prepare for construction, to hire a design architect via public tender to create project-aligned design concepts, and select a general contractor through public tender to complete the approved renovations.
The $460,000 reserve fund will cover essential upgrades like roof coating ($37,000), step redesign ($60,000), and asbestos removal ($75,000). Costs for design architects and renovations remain uncertain.
Plans for the plaza and covered Market Square area will resume in 2026, with a focus on securing additional funding through grants and partnerships.
This transformative project promises to enhance Town Hall and Market Square into a hub of community activity while balancing fiscal responsibility.
Written by Emily Chatwood
