St. Albert’s public library has received a provincial award for serving up tea, bannock, and Indigenous history.
The St. Albert Public Library announced Sept. 25 that it had received a Minister’s Award for Municipal and Public Library Excellence from Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver.
The award recognizes accomplishments in the provision of municipal services in Alberta. The St. Albert library board was one of this year’s two winners in the Public Library Services Serving Over 10,000 Population category. (The other was the City of Edmonton library board.)
The St. Albert Public Library received the award for its community tea and bannock program.
Launched last Jan. 30 in partnership with the St. Albert–Sturgeon County Métis Local #1904, the program sees the library host members of the public in the downstairs reading area of its downtown location to have tea, bannock, and conversation. It is meant to help Métis seniors connect with youths and spread awareness of Indigenous culture.
Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver congratulated the library in a letter to the library board.
“I commend you on your efforts to bring people together, facilitate conversations, and support all community members in their Truth and Reconciliation journeys,” he wrote.
The Gazette has reached out to the library and Municipal Affairs for comment and will update this story in the coming days.
