The Town of Smithers announced the acquisition of 3761 3rd Avenue in May 2025. The building has been home to Heartstrings Home Decor & Gifts for many years. This building will become the future home of the Smithers Public Library and will include additional public spaces shaped through community consultation.
The project is largely funded through the Northwest B.C. Regional Funding Agreement, a five-year, $250 million initiative led by the Northwest Resource Benefits Alliance (RBA) to support infrastructure and quality of life in the region. The Town of Smithers will receive over $21.9 million through this agreement. More than $500,000 raised by the Friends of the Smithers Library will also contribute to the building purchase.
Heartstrings has been a valued part of the Smithers community for over 22 years. While the business will be relocating to 1207 Main Street in 2026, the Town is pleased that Heartstrings will continue operating in Smithers.
The new Library building offers more than double the space of the current facility, providing expanded opportunities to support community needs. The Town will take possession of the building in 2026, followed by renovations to adapt the space for Library use and additional community access.
Design Options
In September 2025, the Town issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek qualified consulting firms to prepare a Library and Community Space Development Plan. The project was awarded to Faulkner Browns on October 28, 2025, by Council resolution. The project included extensive public engagement, a detailed review of existing building conditions, and the development of a functional program for the Smithers Public Library. Faulkner Browns is presented the three options for redevelopment as a delegation at the April 28th Regular Meeting of Council.
View the full presentation in the documents on the right-hand side.
The selected design was Option 2. This option represents a balanced, mid-level approach. It includes the critical base build, along with key enhancements identified as priorities through engagement with the Library and the broader community. These enhancements include features such as a glass wall separating the children’s area to improve functionality and noise control, upgrades to the mezzanine stair to enable the space to be used for storage, and the construction of an after-hours meeting room with accessible washroom access. This option captures the most important “want” items while maintaining overall financial feasibility. Option 2 has an estimated cost of $2,838,500.
| Through the 2026 budget process, Town Council has allocated $1,500,000 from Resource Benefit Alliance Funding and $1,500,000 in long-term borrowing. The total New Smithers Public Library renovation budget is $3,000,000. The Class D cost estimates place the costs of Option 2 at $2,838,500, which includes a 10% contingency to account for design development and construction escalation.
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