Amongst sunlit books and colourful, interactive stations many people sat anxiously awaiting the grand opening of the sx史e艐x史蓹艐 t蓹艐蓹x史 James Bay Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library.
Since the soft launch in late April, over 14,000 people have visited the new location, checking out over 13,000 items.
B次元官网网址淚 was here the day it opened, and IB次元官网网址檝e been in here two or three times a week ever since,B次元官网网址� said library patron Karen Gallagher. B次元官网网址淚 really love this library, and all the staff are very great and happy.B次元官网网址�
While the libraryB次元官网网址檚 popularity was happily acknowledged, SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 grand opening was focused on recognizing the namesake of the building, and its meeting rooms.
Dr. Elmer Seniemten George is a Songhees elder famous for translating the Douglas Treaty into the Lekwungen language. One of the rooms at the new library bears his name.
B次元官网网址淵ou know, all my life growing up I never thought one day people would call me doctor,B次元官网网址� he laughed. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 thankful today for those that asked us to come here, because itB次元官网网址檚 part of our culture to open a place like this with a prayer.B次元官网网址�
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George was joined by Esquimalt elder Mary Anne Thomas as well as Hereditary Chief Ed Thomas.
B次元官网网址淭his is a great opportunity for the James Bay community, but also to the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations to share who we are, and to keep that connection alive,B次元官网网址� Ed Thomas said.
The name sx史e艐x史蓹艐 t蓹艐蓹x史 is Lekwungen for the territory now known as James Bay.
Songhees Chief Ron Sam echoed ThomasB次元官网网址� words, saying that recognizing the Lekwungen language was a step towards reconciliation, even when many people didnB次元官网网址檛 agree with the name initially.
B次元官网网址淛ust to see the controversy that it starts amongst people B次元官网网址� I see that as reconciliation in this day-and-age, to have those people that donB次元官网网址檛 really agree with the traditional name, a language of this land before contact,B次元官网网址� Sam said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about recognizing our ancestors, our people B次元官网网址� but also members of our community now.B次元官网网址�
Another room in the library was named after Mifflin Wistar Gibbs B次元官网网址� the first black man to be elected to Victoria council B次元官网网址� who took his seat in the 1860s. He also became the first black judge in the United States. His great-great-grand-niece, Dr. Verna Gibbs, spoke on his behalf.
B次元官网网址淚 want to tell you how honoured I am to have my Uncle Mifflin, [that] his study room is in a library, because he actually wrote his autobiography and itB次元官网网址檚 a book,B次元官网网址� she said, holding it up in her hand. B次元官网网址淚 really appreciate more than or equal to the study room, the fact that there is a book that he wrote, and another that a Canadian wrote about him.B次元官网网址�
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Mayor Lisa Helps joined the guest speakers and staff of the GVPL in cutting the ribbon for the new branch, to the sound of applause.
B次元官网网址淟ibraries are a draw to many, many people,B次元官网网址� Sam said. B次元官网网址淲ith all the modern day-and-age technology and phones, itB次元官网网址檚 good to see people still getting in here and still getting books.B次元官网网址�
For more information on the library you can head to
