Thunder Bay, ON - Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario - FedNor
Shared spaces help connect communities by providing opportunities to engage and learn alongside our neighbours, and to Build Canada Strong, we need robust public cultural facilities that allow Canadians to come together in sharing cultures, knowledge, and art. That is why the Government of Canada launched the Build Communities Strong Fund to build the infrastructure that Canadians rely on in order to strengthen the places we call home.
To that end, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for FedNor, and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North, today announced $1 million investment in the Thunder Bay Public Library.
FedNor funds will support the modernization of the Waverley Library into an accessible, multi-use space. The planned transformation of the 75-year-old branch includes a number of ambitious upgrades, including the addition of accessibility improvements, such as a new elevator, redesigned floorplan, and improved accessibility ramp; the addition of new co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and innovation and computer labs; the creation of a new Indigenous Knowledge Centre; and many infrastructure repairs and improvements.
This project will allow Thunder Bay Public Library to serve residents at the Waverley Library branch, including families, seniors, newcomers, students, and entrepreneurs and job seekers. The Indigenous Knowledge Centre will provide a welcoming gathering place for Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and youth, supporting cultural and language programming and offering a dedicated space for Indigenous children's learning and cultural activities. The expanded co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and innovation and computer labs will help meet the increasing use of library services by local businesses, while also helping to equip local youth with future workforce skills for the modern economy. Finally, the repairs and improvements of the structure will help lower operating costs by reducing the facility's carbon footprint through the addition of energy-efficient systems and technology.
