Library facelift gets royal treatment
Expansion brings twice the space, more resources for youth
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, September 24, 2015
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
One year after expansions to the John Tsetso Memorial Library were announced, community members gathered for the grand opening.
Bompas Elementary School's Class 3 sings a song for Education Minister Jackson Lafferty during the grand opening of the John Tsetso Memorial Library on Sept. 15. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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The addition and renovations to the original library building were initially expected to be complete in March but summer delays stretched the project through to September.
On Sept. 15, dignitaries from the village and around the territory gave speeches at the building's official grand opening. Speakers included Liidlii Kue First Nation Chief Jerry Antoine, Education Minister Jackson Lafferty, Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche and Mayor Sean Whelly.
"This has been long in the making," said Lafferty, joking that the library was the second-highest profile project in the Deh Cho aside from the highway to Fort Liard.
He and his entourage were welcomed by a song from Bompas Elementary School's Class 4 before speeches began. Lafferty said the event marks the 20th library grand opening across the territory and is to be closely followed by a 21st library opening scheduled in Behchoko on Sept. 25.
"Education is a lifelong journey. Libraries guide us in that journey," he said.
"Planning, organizing and opening an institution like this is a significant undertaking."
Thomas Simpson Secondary School student Charles Blondin spoke on behalf of his fellow students during the opening.
"(Students) thank you for the funds to make this facility possible for both schools to have a place to work after school hours," he said.
Chief Antoine related a story about reading a book authored by John Tsetso when he was growing up, describing how he was able to relate to that book as a youth.
"He talked about friendship and communication. The things he was talking about was what we were experiencing," Antoine said.
That book and others reinforced for him the value of his First Nation's traditional lands and way of life.
The library's expansion added approximately 135 square metres to the original building and was constructed with funding from the Department of Education.
The original library only had room for a few small shelves of adult books and a children's collection, the new library has additional racks of books as well as two iPads with language applications and learning resources for children, youth and adults.
