Statement: Mayor Bevilacqua congratulates Vaughan Public Libraries on two awards

March 20, 2019 2:00 p.m.
VPL recognized for customer service, high-performance Library Board

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement to congratulate Vaughan Public Libraries on receiving two prestigious awards:
 
“It is always with a great sense of pride that I recognize the exceptional level of dedication being undertaken across our city.
 
“Today is no different.
 
“Vaughan Public Libraries CEO Margie Singleton, members of our library board and all our dedicated front-line staff are to be congratulated for receiving two awards:
 
  • The Angus Mowat Award of Excellence; and
  • The Joyce Cunningham Award for Public Library Board of the Year
 
“These awards, in many ways, validate Vaughan’s ongoing commitment to ensure our library branches continue to be a critical component of the city-building efforts taking us to new heights.
 
“We are a diverse city and our libraries reflect our commitment to providing a welcoming and comfortable place for everyone.
 
“Vaughan Public Libraries offer resources to newcomers, such as English as a second language (ESL) as well as material in Chinese, Farsi, Hebrew, Hindi, Korean, Russian and Spanish, to name a few.
 
“Our branches are also gathering places for families and neighbours to spend quality time and absorb the volumes of reading material carefully arranged for our entertainment, comfort and enlightenment.
 
“Vaughan supports learning as a lifelong pursuit, which is reflected in our efforts to foster and enhance the library experience.
 
“Earlier this year we celebrated the re-opening of the new-and-improved Bathurst Clark Resource Library
and last summer we welcomed the new Vellore Village branch as the final piece to an already impressive community centre.
 
“Our Civic Centre Resource Library, right next door to City Hall, has captured attention beyond our borders for an inspiring design, a focus on innovation and its ability to successfully challenge traditional notions of what libraries can be.
 
“Later this year, the doors will open to Vaughan’s eleventh library location right in the heart of our dynamic new downtown – the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.
 
“I want to acknowledge the exceptional work of Vaughan Public Libraries CEO Margie Singleton who has overseen the largest capital expansion in VPL history.
 
“Under her leadership, we have fostered digital literacy in Vaughan, as well as embraced accessible and affordable educational resources.
 
“But this is not the final chapter in all the good work being undertaken.
 
“As Margie and her Board continue their mission to deliver service excellence at the library, I would like to acknowledge the dedicated work of the outgoing board chair Devender Sandhu and welcome the incoming Chair, Rose Savage.
 
“Your efforts have helped ensure our libraries remain among our City’s most valuable resources.
 
“Once again, on behalf of Council, please accept my sincere congratulations for these important awards and for the ongoing work that is making a meaningful impact in the lives of our citizens.”
   
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