Concerns continue over $2.5M Bracebridge Carnagie Library transformation

The former library building will be home the town's planning and development department

Concerns over the $2.5 million Carnagie Library transformation continued during the September 9, 2026, Bracebridge Council meeting.

According to the staff report, the project will transform the historic building at 94 Manitoba Street to accommodate the Town's Planning and Development Department and establish the Bracebridge Business Development Centre.

The report added that the Town awarded the interior renovation contract to W.S. Morgan Construction Limited for $1.805 million plus HST. The amount includes a base tender price of $1.567 million and $238,000 in optional mechanical work.

The total project budget, including contingencies and non-recoverable HST, has an upset limit of $2.5 million.

They continued that built in 1908, the Carnegie Library is a municipal heritage building that served as the Bracebridge Library until it relocated to the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre in 2024.

In the last General Committee meeting, Councillor, Don Smith, said he couldn’t support the endeavour at this time “in relation to the neighbouring post office and I guess things we just don’t know related to it,” including timing regarding “financial concerns I have.”

Today he said he expressed his points “and vote against it.”

In Wednesday's Council meeting, Councillor, Barb McMurray also disagreed with it. She said, “I’m really concerned with this…starting at $350,000 one year, now $2.5 million. I don’t think this is something we should be spending money on in that form.”

CAO, Stephen Rettie, expressed the importance of providing clarity regarding the budget. He said, “It was a complete scope change,” with the initial cost to freshen the building to a “complete interior renovation.”

McMurray indicated, “I believed the $350,000 was to make it a more useful space.” She added, “You got to weigh the left hand with the right hand and look at a better way.”

Rettie, said it was Council’s decision to use the property for a business development centre, and “the design is when it came to $2.5 million.” He added, “It was a completely different project.”

Council agreed to approve the project.

Construction is anticipated to begin before the end of 2026 and take approximately 20 weeks. Following substantial completion, inspections and occupancy approvals, the facility is expected to be available for occupancy in 2027.