North Huron Council to consider moving Blyth library to arena
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
On Monday, Sept. 16, North Huron Council considered a proposal that could see the Blyth Public Library relocated to the second floor of the Blyth and District Community Centre. The proposal aims to revitalize the underutilized space of the centre while addressing the library’s space needs.
Director of Recreation and Children’s Services Kelly Steiss outlined the report’s key points, emphasizing that the Blyth Community Centre, once a vibrant hub for events such as weddings and sports tournaments, has seen a marked decline in use for event rentals. With local venues like the Four Winds Barn in Brussels and Maple Lane Haven in Huron East now popular for large gatherings, and operations like Cowbell Brewing Co. drawing attention for family and business events, the Centre’s large space remains largely empty.
“The Blyth Community Hall is largely supported by North Huron taxpayers and significantly underutilized. We see an opportunity to better align this space with community needs,” Steiss stated. She proposed that the second floor, which had been considered for a daycare expansion in 2020, could be repurposed for the Blyth Library.
Councillor Mitch Wright raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the facility and questioned whether its reduced usage could be a result of insufficient investment. “I’d hate to see this not to be a gathering place for Blyth. I also think it would be very informative to understand what it would cost to update that hall,” he remarked.
Councillor Chris Palmer also voiced concerns, particularly about the potential loss of a community gathering space and the suitability of the second floor for library use. “I wonder if the size of the space under consideration might be too large for the library’s needs,” Palmer noted. Steiss responded by detailing how the larger space could be beneficial, allowing for a coffee bar, a children’s area, and a multi-use meeting room, potentially addressing the library’s current limitations.
Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer highlighted additional issues, questioning whether prominent user groups like the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association (HPTHA) had been consulted. “I wonder if that’s been talked through with [the HPTHA] because I imagine that would be the biggest loss, for the user group,” he said. Falconer also expressed concerns about the noise from the centre’s HVAC system, suggesting it might not be suitable for a library setting. Steiss assured that consultations with user groups and assessments of the space’s suitability, including the noise concerns, would be part of the feasibility study.
Council decided to receive the report for information and approved a motion to explore both the feasibility of relocating the Blyth Library to the community centre’s second floor and the costs of refurbishing the second floor of the centre. Funding for these investigations will be included in the draft 2025 budget for consideration, with further details and decisions expected in future reports.