The annual Fernie Heritage library volunteer appreciation dinner was held on Monday, June 2 in the Fireside room of the Park Place Lodge restaurant.

Board chair Camilla Merritt thanked everyone for their continued support especially the City of Fernie and Council members.

Camilla will be finalizing her 8th year on the board and so will be stepping down but will continue her involvement on a different volunteer basis.

She spoke of moving to Fernie with her family 11 years ago and “not knowing a soul, went into the Library and was immediately welcomed by staff members Marilyn, Heather, Tina and Jeanette” . She added that “the realization that a library is not just an endless supply of reading material but an access point for the community as it has been for so many other people who for a variety of reasons find themselves isolated in Fernie. The community demonstrated its love for the library by offering up the beautiful building and carefully restoring it. In return the library takes care of each and every member of its community from the youngest at MOM’s group to those too sick to make it to the building.”

Camilla then went on to thank the board members, volunteer and staff specifically Emma Dressler the Library Director who has shown exemplary commitment to the library and is someone who continuously strives for excellence in providing service to the patrons.

Emma thanked everyone and then mentioned each volunteer by name stating that “our volunteers are our community, they represent the community and bring the needs of the community to us”.

She told of how Betty Johnson had spoken about the needs of the visually impaired that resulted in an increased and enhanced large print collection.

Micheline Picard noticed kids in the French language school programs were struggling; a new program resulted with Micheline helping them. Board member Sylvia Ayers arranged to bring the Fernie Cadets so now a new group of young people is using the Library in a useful and positive way.

Lynda Bird, Mary Elson, Ben Gilmet, Annette Harrison, Lorrie Kremer, Kevin McIsaac, Randal Macnair, Mary Martin, John Merritt, Cindy Pace, Micheline Picard, Meg Prentice, Stephanie Saumur, Terry Tombasso, Ingrid Weisenback and Betty Johnson are volunteers helping with shelving books, keeping 80 print magazines in order, sorting out computer problems, organizing special events and anything else that needs doing.

Library Trustees are Camilla Merritt, Angie Abdou, Anna Piney, Sylvia Ayers, Todd Fyfe, Adam Macdonald, Charlotte Ezaki, Mark lento and Stephen Gort.

City representative is Joe Warshwasky and staff includes Marilyn Razzo, Heather Gordon, Tina Hayes, Jeanette Sedgwick, Sindella Sugden, Mary Gronellweg, Anie Hepher and Jayden Lloyd.

As Mayor I Congratulated volunteers, board members and staff for another successful year at the library.
It seems that with each passing year more is added to the many services and events conceived that make that building not only a place for books but a place where people feel welcome and at home.

Last month I spent time with several grade two classes, the kids asked what my favorite building in Fernie was.
My immediate response was the Library. The class broke out in cheers and were so interested that I told them the story of how I discovered the library at age eight. How it was two rooms upstairs of what is now our present beautiful library.

And I told them of what it meant to me to find those rooms filled from top to bottom with more books than I had ever seen in my life.

I think what is marvelous is that I still hold that same amazement when I step into the Library so many decades later.

Even in this age of technology nothing replaces the written word on paper, there is a thrill to picking up a book, feeling it, holding it and turning each page.

I hope to never lose this feeling for books and libraries especially our library.

So on behalf of Council and staff I want to thank Emma, Camilla, Board members and specifically all the volunteers.

The Library wouldn’t be the inviting space it is if it weren’t for the individuals who volunteer the time to make it so and the excellent staff that work there.

As Emma said the Library is a “Welcoming place for discovery, inspiration and recreation.”