Mayor Bowman & Winnipeg City Council: Save the West Kildonan Public Library

The City of Winnipeg is (again) proposing to close the West Kildonan Library. Back in 2019, we fought hard to save our library and keep library services accessible to the community. Now, City Hall has made a new deal to hand our library and $6.5m of taxpayer money over to private developers. They have also said this plan will be a template to close other neighbourhood library branches throughout the city. 

We agree that Northwest Winnipeg is growing and needs new library services, but they should not be at the expense of our community. We must let City Hall know that their plan is flawed and unacceptable for our community. 

Part of the City's proposal includes opening an experimental branch within Garden City Shopping Centre—without a single window or source of natural light. The proposed space is wedged behind Bulk Barn and other retailers, making it unattractive for businesses, having been vacant for over 5 years since the mall redevelopment. There will not be a dedicated exterior entrance and relegates our community library to a space completely controlled by for-profit private enterprises. How can any enjoyable library exist without proper entrances, windows, daylight or greenspace?

West Kildonan Library is a pillar of our communities and provides valuable services to families, young professionals and seniors throughout the neighbourhoods. The library building is also an architectural jewel, opened in 1967 as a gift to our community in celebration of Canada's 100th birthday. Our community should not be forced to trade the beautiful West Kildonan Library for an inaccessible second-class mall branch. 

City council cannot balance the budget by slashing the very core services they are responsible for providing. There are many other ways to balance the budget without shuttering important local services for our community. If this plan is approved, the Westwood and Fort Garry branches could be next for closure.

Ensure your voice is heard. Email City Council and let them know they cannot close West Kildonan Library. They also must understand that library services should remain accessible and taxpayer dollars should not be handed to private, for-profit developers. Together we can once again save the West Kildonan Library!

Committee Members:

Committee Chair: cgilroy@winnipeg.ca

Councillor Klein: kklein@winnipeg.ca

Councillor Lukes: jlukes@winnipeg.ca 

Councillor Santos: vsantos@winnipeg.ca 

Area Councillors: 

Councillor Devi Sharma: devi@winnipeg.ca

Councillor Ross Eadie: readie@winnipeg.ca