CENTRAL LIBRARY 2022 – MEDIA COVERAGE
July 26, 2022 – RPL Board meeting. When directly asked, the RPL tells FRPL that Central Library is not on the Board’s agenda for that day, so no public presentations or questions about Central Library would be allowed at that meeting. FRPL’s previous requests for consultant reports since 2019 have gone unanswered. The RPL makes no mention of Central Library at the public portion of its Board meeting.
Aug. 5, 2022 – City of Regina Executive Committee. The RPL proposal on the future of Central Library is quietly added to the City of Regina Executive Committee agenda for Aug. 10, 2022. The proposal does not actually state that the RPL wants to demolish the Central Library Building and build a new library on that site.
Aug. 7, 2022 – CBC News “Keeping Regina Central Library’s ‘doors open’ estimated at $50M” Article by Alexander Quon https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-public-library-renovation-costs-1.6543284
Aug. 10, 2022 – Time runs out at City of Regina Executive Committee meeting and RPL presentation is put forward to the Committee’s Sept. 7, 2022 agenda.
Aug. 10, 2022 – CTV News “Catalyst projects, library renovations discussed at executive committee” https://regina.ctvnews.ca/catalyst-projects-library-renovations-discussed-at-executive-committee-1.6021930
Aug. 11, 2022 – CBC News “Guidelines approved for new Regina committee that will help shape city’s downtown” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/catalyst-committee-takes-shape-1.6547814
(Note that subsequent to this article, it has been confirmed that the RPL will have a representative on the Catalyst Committee. However the CC will start its main work in October, after the RPL Board voted on Sept. 27 to tear down Central Library and build on the same site.)
Sept. 7, 2022 – Regina Leader Post “Regina Public Library proposing rebuild of central branch on current site “The evidence is clear, the best way to renew central library is to replace it with a new one.”” Author of the article: Jennifer Ackerman https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/city-hall/regina-public-library-proposing-rebuild-of-central-branch-on-current-site/
(Comments on this article: At the Executive Committee meeting on Sept. 7 The RPL Board representative gave wrong information saying that RPL Board reports are usually available to the public before Board meetings with the Agenda; and after Board meetings with the Minutes. In fact, the reports being considered at the RPL Board meetings are NOT posted online or available before RPL Board meetings. Nor are they available afterwards. On its website the RPL only provides brief summary minutes with no detail and no attached reports. The RPL posted reports on Central Library Sept 16. The public only had 4 days to read them and submit a presentation to the Library Board by noon Tuesday the 20th. In the Executive Committee meeting the RPL Board representatives said the Board considered 7 options before the teardown one was selected – why was the public not informed about the options?”
Sept. 7, 2022 – CKRM “RPL to vote on new central library this month” https://www.620ckrm.com/2022/09/07/302066/
Sept. 8, 2022 – CBC half hour Sask news referred to the RPL decision and has a quote from Joanne Havelock of FRPL speaking about the need to preserve heritage value of Central Library.
Sept. 8, 2022 – CBC News “Regina library board wants new branch built downtown on site of existing building” Article author: Alexander Quon https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-library-board-downtown-branch-1.6575400
Sept. 9, 2022 – CBC News “Regina library board wants new branch built downtown on site of existing building” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-library-board-downtown-branch-1.6575400
Sept. 9, 2022 – CTV News “Regina Public Library board recommends complete rebuild of central branch” https://regina.ctvnews.ca/regina-public-library-board-recommends-complete-rebuild-of-central-branch-1.6062902 Video from 15:00 to17:12 https://regina.ctvnews.ca/video?binId=1.1165857
Sept. 9, 2022 – CBC Radio Morning Edition interview with Jeff Barber, Library Director and CEO. “Regina public library board proposes new building for downtown. Regina Public Library says it’s time to close the book on its old central library building – and write a new chapter. The library’s board and executives are pitching the idea of building a new downtown building to city council. We hear why.” https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-66-the-morning-edition-sask/clip/15935593-regina-public-library-board-proposes-building-downtown
Sept. 13, 2022 – Regina Leader Post Opinion piece “Rebuild irresponsible for Regina’s downtown library” Bernadette Wagner https://leaderpost.com/opinion/bernadette-wagner-rebuild-irresponsible-for-reginas-downtown-library
Sept. 14, 2022 – CBC Morning Edition interview with Joanne Havelock, Chair of the Friends of the Regina Public Library. ‘Friends of the Regina Public Library concerned about board transparency. Joanne Havelock is chair of Friends of the Regina Public Library, which has concerns about the Regina Public Library board’s pitch to demolish the central branch building and build new.” https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-66-the-morning-edition-sask/clip/15936507-friends-regina-public-library-concerned-board-transparency From start to time 4:13. Includes mention of Bernadette Wagner’s letter to the Leader Post.
Sept. 15, 2022 – CBC Morning Edition interviewed Mayor Sandra Masters. “Sandra Masters joins us after yesterday’s council meeting to talk about the future of the city’s red light cameras, the central library and what will happen with a city councillor who has a history of making controversial remarks.” https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-66-the-morning-edition-sask/clip/15936754-regina-mayor-talks-future-red-light-cameras-central Library issue from time 2:00 to 7:06 Excerpts from an email by Jeannie Mah were also read (but not available in this recording.
Sept. 20, 2022 – Regina Leader Post Letter to the Editor “Time to build a new downtown library branch” Petra Seyffarth. https://leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/your-letters-for-sept-20-2022-time-to-build-a-new-downtown-library-branch
Sept. 22, 2022 – Regina Leader Post Letter to the Editor “Where do we go with the Regina Public Library Central Branch?” Loanne Myrah, Regina. https://leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/your-letters-for-sept-22-2022-where-do-we-go-with-the-regina-public-library-central-branch
Sept. 24, 2022 – Regina Leader Post Letter of the day “Regina needs to invest more in its downtown In 30 years, will Regina have a downtown to be proud of or one with parking lots, deserted streets and mega-projects?” Harv Weidner. https://leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/letter-of-the-day-regina-needs-to-invest-more-in-its-downtown
Sept. 26, 2022 – Regina Leader Post “Friends of Regina Public Library repeat call to delay vote on demolishing and rebuilding central branch. Members of the public are looking for the Regina Public Library to delay voting on a plan to demolish and rebuild the downtown branch.” Author of the article: Larissa Kurz. https://leaderpost.com/news/friends-of-regina-public-library-repeat-call-to-delay-vote-on-demolishing-and-rebuilding-central-branch
Sept. 27, 2022 – Regina Leader Post “Regina Public Library votes yes on rebuilding central branch. Despite pushback from the public, Regina Public Library board members voted yes to move forward with plans for the central branch.” Author of the article: Larissa Kurz. https://leaderpost.com/news/regina-public-library-votes-yes-on-rebuilding-central-branch
Sept. 28, 2022 – Regina Leader Post “Regina Public Library chair says vote only ‘first step’ in rebuild process. “We have to look down the road a few generations. We can’t just maintain status quo,” said RPL board chair Sean Quinlan.” Author of the article: Larissa Kurz. https://leaderpost.com/news/regina-public-library-chair-says-vote-only-first-step-in-rebuild-process
Sept. 28, 2022 – CBC Morning Edition interview with Joanne Havelock, Chair of Friends of the Regina Public Library and Sean Quinlan, Chair of the Regina Public Library Board. “Regina Public Library board votes to tear down and build new building downtown. We hear from Joanne Havelock with the Friends of the Regina Public Library, who wanted this vote delayed. We also hear from chair Sean Quinlan who voted in favour of demolishing the old building and constructing new.” https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-66-the-morning-edition-sask/clip/15939301-regina-public-library-board-votes-tear-build-building The interview runs from the start to time 12:25
Sept. 29, 2022 – CBC Morning Edition interviewed Mayor Sandra Masters. “Regina’s mayor talks about the future of the library, entertainment tax and parking minimums. Sandra Masters joins us to discuss phasing out the entertainment tax on movie tickets, parking in the suburbs and the next steps for the future of the central branch of the Regina Public Library.” https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-66-the-morning-edition-sask/clip/15939569-reginas-mayor-talks-future-library-entertainment-tax-parking Talk about the library goes from start of interview to time 4:33.
Sept. 29, 2022 = Prairie Dog “Catalysts Vs Libraries” Article by Paul Dechene https://prairiedogmag.com/2022-09-29/catalysts-vs-libraries/
Oct. 1, 2022 – Regina Leader Post Letter to the Editor “Central library just needs an update” Murray Munn, Whitehorse, Yukon (Formerly from Regina) Central library just needs update
Paul Dechene’s Oct. 6th interview “Catalyst Committee Interview With Councillor Hawkins” where the goals of the Committee are explained. Queen City Improvement Bureau Podcasts http://queencityib.com/podcasts/2022/10/7/oct-07-2022-catalyst-committee-interview-with-councillor-hawkins
Oct. 7, 2022 “Regina’s Central Library looks for next chapter in its evolution” “This property is the jewel in the city’s downtown and it should be an iconic civic building,” Kevin Saunderson, executive director of service innovation for the Regina Public Library told the Leader-Post. “That’s what we’re after.” Author of the article: Alec Salloum. https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/reginas-central-library-looks-for-next-chapter-in-its-evolution
Oct. 08, 2022 “Letter: Keep Regina’s central library branch exterior intact, renovate the interior” The most prudent course would be a hybrid approach — keep the best of the past, and add an exciting addition on the west, writes Lorne Beug. https://leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/letter-keep-reginas-central-library-branch-exterior-intact-renovate-the-interior
Oct. 10, 2022 “Letter: Demolition of Regina’s central library branch is short sighted” The board must develop a plan for a rejuvenated branch that is environmentally and fiscally responsible, writes Mark Wihak. https://leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/letter-demolition-of-reginas-central-library-branch-is-short-sighted
Oct. 16, 2022 “Letter: Regina central library rebuild is too much cost all at once / Library rebuild is costly and rash” Library clientele were given no choice, and will have to live with (and pay for) that selection in the decades ahead, writes Shawne Arzab. https://leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/letter-regina-central-library-rebuild-is-too-much-cost-all-at-once
Friends of the Regina Public Library 