“I aim to cultivate safe spaces for hard conversations in our community. I believe our library is a gateway for folks to engage in important discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
“Planning and hosting library programs around Truth and Reconciliation is a particularly rewarding part of my work at Whistler Public Library. I’ve had the pleasure of learning along with our community through a wide variety of programs, including the University of Alberta’s Massive Open Online Course, Indigenous Canada, which I’ve hosted a number of times in partnership with the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC), and which included the SLCC’s Indigenous Youth Ambassadors and other staff members as participants.
I’ve co-facilitated the Sea to Sky Book Club’s discussion of Bob Joseph’s 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act twice during the pandemic, culminating in a virtual author event with Bob Joseph. Pre-COVID, I hosted smudging workshops and Indigenous language classes facilitated by local experts (both of which we hope to offer again in 2022).
Through programs like these, I aim to cultivate safe spaces for hard conversations in our community. I believe our library is a gateway for folks to engage in important discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
I’m also incredibly lucky to share two of my passions with the community through library programming: my love of reading when hosting our Grade 5-6-7, Teen, and Adult Book Clubs, and my love of music when hosting the Whistler Children’s Chorus and Barbed Choir. How many libraries can say they host not one, but two choirs?!”
Got an idea for Library programming or a Book Club recommendation? Contact jbruce@whistlerlibrary.ca. Please direct all other inquiries to publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca.
About the Whistler Public Library:
The Whistler Public Library was formed in December of 1985 by a dedicated group of community-minded citizens in the basement of the Whistler Municipal Hall. Through the generosity of the Rotary Club of Whistler, materials and labour were provided to finish the interior of the 1400 square foot space which opened to the public on August 27, 1986. The library was open 4 days per week for a total of 16 hours. The collection consisted of 4,600 brand new books and by the end of 1986, the library had 380 cardholders.
In December of 1994, the library moved to a new 2800 square foot location in Village North and in 1999 became part of the Resort Municipality of Whistler as a tax-supported municipal facility. By 2005, the library was open 51 hours per week, employed 10 staff members, and loaned almost 150,000 items to 5,670 cardholders.
In January 2008, the library opened the doors on the LEED Gold-certified 12,000 square foot facility it currently calls home. Since moving to this facility the library has continued to evolve in accordance with its moniker as “Whistler’s Living Room”. On average the library receives over 250,000 visitors per year serving locals, second homeowners, and tourists from around the globe.
Visit the Library’s website at www.whistlerlibrary.ca
