A literacy centre at the new Powell River Public Library location will bear the name of esteemed Tla’amin Nation elder Elsie Paul.
The naming of the Elsie Paul Literacy Centre at the new library, announced on Saturday, March 5, at the An Evening for Elsie recognition event, was the idea of chief librarian Terry Noreault and the library’s board of trustees.
“Elsie has been instrumental in rejuvenating the Tla’amin language and contributing to local literacy,” said Noreault, “so in addition to all of the other things she has done for our whole community, that’s a special thing that fits well in the mission of the library.”
Noreault suggested the naming to library board trustee Linda Rosen, who was also part of the planning committee for the recent recognition event at Dwight Hall honouring the Tla’amin elder for decades of service to the community.
Rosen and Noreault agreed it was important to recognize Paul’s literacy efforts within the community.
“It was a brilliant idea with a really great connection for the literacy program,” said Rosen.
Run by Powell River Employment Program Society (PREP), the centre will provide adult-literacy services for the public and is a valuable partnership for the library, according to Noreault.
“We already do programs in cooperation with PREP and they have so many goals in common that having an office in the library works out nicely for our cooperation,” said Noreault. “It will serve as a great place for adults to find out about literacy services.”
PREP adult literacy coordinator Megan Dill just began the new position and has been doing volunteer literacy tutoring services one-on-one with adults since September.
Dill said the library location will be much more visible and accessible than its current Marine Avenue location, which has a flight of stairs.
Dill added she is looking forward to staffing the new literacy centre named after Paul.
“I’m really honoured,” said Dill, “and I’m excited to be part of the new space.”
Noreault explained that PREP has already donated $5,000 toward the literacy centre.
PREP and those who make additional donations will be recognized as donors toward the centre, as part of the library board’s campaign to raise $1.4 million toward the cost of the new library.
Those wishing to donate in the centre’s name can drop off cheques at the library made out to Powell River Public Library with Elsie Paul Literacy Centre noted on the cheque.
