qathet Regional District’s committee of the whole received correspondence from Powell River Public Library regarding a letter requesting support from Tla’amin Nation hegus John Hackett.
At the November 10 committee meeting, directors voted to receive correspondence from library board chair Rod Wiebe, indicating the library appreciates the request from Hackett to provide public engagement and learning opportunities on the topics of truth, justice and place naming.
City director George Doubt asked for clarity on what the library board is proposing to do. Doubt said he thinks that reference was being made regarding Tla’amin’s request to City of Powell River to change the city’s name, and that the nation is inviting the regional district and city to participate in something, but he was not sure what.
“I was wondering if we could get some elucidation from the library board representative about exactly what the library board plans,” said Doubt.
Electoral Area C director and library board representative Clay Brander said his understanding is that the library board discussed Hackett’s letter but it had not come down on one side or the other about the name change issue.
“It’s to support the process that they are going through in any way they can,” said Brander. “The library wants to be an inclusive place for people to exchange ideas.”
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said in hearing from the library board representative, if the city chooses to change its name, does it mean that it will no longer be the Powell River Public Library, or will it change to match the name of the municipality, or to be that of the regional district.
“I see the Powell River Public Library being supportive of the process but I’m wondering, is the Powell River Public Library going to change its name?” asked Gisborne.
Committee chair and Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said the question wasn’t in order for the motion to receive the correspondence and that it was a matter for debate at the public library board, not for regional directors to debate at its table.
The committee unanimously voted to receive the correspondence.
Wiebe, in his correspondence, said the library board would like to express both a commitment to lifelong learning, as well as a desire to support the public engagement process involved with the name change work.
