THUNDER BAY – Ontario is supporting life-long learning and literacy in Thunder Bay. The Government is turning the page to support investment in public libraries, to help build their collection and provide programs to strengthen community services. Providing free, reliable and consistent access to information supports literacy, skills development, research and many other learning needs of Ontarians and helps to build Ontario’s knowledge economy.
This year, additional one-time funding will go to support northern libraries that have met the requirements for the Public Library Operating Grant (PLOG):
Atikokan Township Public Library
Conmee Township Public Library
Dorion Township Public Library Board
Township of Gillies Library
Greenstone Public Library Board
Hurkett Local Service Board
Marathon Public Library
Municipality of Neebing Library
Nipigon Township Public Library
Township of O’Connor Library
Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation Public Library
Oliver Paipoonge Township Public Library
Red Rock Township Public Library Board
Rossport Local Service Board
Schreiber Township Public Library Board
Terrace Bay Township Public Library Board
Thunder Bay Public Library Board
The original base funding of $330,175 for our local public libraries will be increased by an additional $56,332. The Thunder Bay Public Library will receive a supplementary investment of over $18,500; ten communities within the riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North will receive an additional $23,427; and six communities within the riding of Thunder Bay-Atikokan will receive an additional $14,246.
Helping Ontarians develop the skills they need to succeed is part of the province’s Open Ontario Plan to help the economy in Turning The Corner and create more jobs for Ontarians.
“These libraries are a vital part of each of these communities within Northwestern Ontario. This provincial support will mean that residents within my riding of Thunder Bay-Atikokan, which includes Atikokan, Conmee, Gillies, Neebing, O’Connor, Oliver Paipoonge and Thunder Bay, will have more access to information and resources that will foster knowledge and new ideas,” commented Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan.
“These one-time grants, over and above the regular operating funding from the province, are fantastic news for our libraries here in Northwestern Ontario. I’m so pleased to see that, in addition to the significant boost for the Thunder Bay Public Library, ten other communities in Thunder Bay-Superior North will benefit from over $23,000 to build their collections and expand their programs,” shared Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North, and Minister for Northern Development, Mines and Forestry.