Past Award Winners

This award is given to an individual or organization that demonstrates significant advancement of intellectual freedom in the public realm for the benefit of British Columbians. The BCLA Board recognizes that our members have a diversity of opinions on the application of intellectual freedom principles. Further, we recognize there are many more conversations to be had, many more voices to hear, and many more debates ahead. As a Board, we commit to working with members to evolve our statements and awards to reflect intersecting interests and values. This is an award for librarians and library staff that champion intellectual freedom issues in their libraries, their communities, their province or their country. The winner could also be a journalist, or media outlet, an organization dedicated to free speech and challenging expected norms, a lawyer, policy maker, or community leader. The BCLA Champion of Intellectual Freedom Award grows out of the Association’s commitment to uphold the principles and tenets of intellectual freedom including the right to seek, receive, hold and disseminate information from all points of view—a foundation of a democratic society. Recognizing that it takes significant time for many projects to mature and for those involved to demonstrate the impact of the work or the success of the idea, the BCLA Champion of Intellectual Freedom Award will consider submissions based on work done in the two years prior to the date of the award application.

 

2022	British Columbia Historical Textbooks Project Team
2021	Allison Jones and Karen Ng (Organizing Ideas Podcast)
2020	Ashley Machum and Christopher Stephenson, Okanagan Regional Library
2019	Baharak Yousefi
2018	no award presented
2017	OpenMedia

This award is given to an individual or organization that has created an innovative approach to address a barrier, solve a problem, provide a powerful new insight, or introduce an original idea in the library field. This is an award for thinkers, analysers, innovators, dreamers, and doers. An individual winner may have completely solved a problem or fully developed a new idea, or may have been a significant contributor to a larger team project. The winner may be an organization responsible for a considerable contribution to the library community, a contribution that helps the library community as a whole and strengthens the “idea” of library in our society–or the recipient may not be from the library community, but has made a notable contribution to the relevance of libraries. The BCLA Eureka Award grows out of BCLA’s commitment to analyzing, supporting, and participating in the ongoing evolution of libraries and library services. It is linked to BCLA’s stated core value to support and encourage creativity and innovation. It takes time and commitment to build an idea up from a concept into a project or program through assessment, modifications, and evaluation. With this in mind, the BCLA Eureka Award will consider submissions based on work begun in the five years prior to the date of the award application.

 

2023	Climate Future Initiative, West Vancouver Memorial Library
2022	Robbyn Lanning, Camosun College Library
2021	Steering Committee, Making Research Accessible in the Downtown Eastside Initiative
2020	Community Scholars Program, Simon Fraser University
2019	Thompson-Nicola Regional Library
2018	Tim Atkinson
2017	Arca Collaborative Digital Repository / Vancouver Public Library’s Inspiration Lab

In 2013 BCLA, introduced the BC SRC Community Story Award in order to recognize and honour those stories that described the impact of BC SRC on participants and library staff. Each year the BC SRC presents the award to an individual whose story best demonstrates how important BC SRC is to children and community members.

 

2023	No award presented this year
2022	Mel Edgar (Powell River Public Library)
2021	Kate Longley (North Vancouver City Library) and Danielle Wing (North Vancouver District Public Library)
2020	Kate Inman (Squamish Public Library)
2019	Genevieve Carmody (Pemberton)
2018	Ardie Burnham (Okanagan Regional Library)
2017	Selina Powszedny (Squamish)
2016	Lise Kreps (Burnaby Public Library)
2015	Miranda Mallinson (Vancouver Public Library)
2014	Beverley Rintoul (Rossland Public Library)

Honorary Life Memberships are conferred upon members of the Association at or within five years of normal retirement age. Individuals must have made substantial and recognizable long standing contributions to BCLA and to library service in the province. The award consists of a plaque and honourary life membership in the Association.

• Anita Cocchia and Michael Burris
• Melanie Houlden
• Maureen Allen
• Alice Bacon
• Lois M. Bewley
• Margaret Brunette
• Margaret Burke
• Brian Campbell
• Maryann Cantillon
• Ross Carter
• Sylvia Crooks
• Enid Dearing
• Sheila Egoff
• Mary Anne Epp
• Colin William Fraser
• Margaret Friesen
• Percilla Groves
• Nancy Hannum
• Robert Harris
• Ken Haycock
• Mary Leask
• Jim Looney
• Bob MacDonald
• Eleanor Mercer
• Jack Mounce
• Judy O’Mara
• Daphne Parr
• Samuel Rothstein
• Keith Sacre
• Basil Stuart-Stubbs
• Aileen Tufts
• Flora Watson
• Diana Wilimovsky
• Alan Woodland

This award is given infrequently to recognize an outstanding or important career in librarianship involving a visible or readily identifiable achievement that brings honour to the entire profession.  A nominee must be a resident of B.C. during the period of accomplishment leading to the honour. The award consists of a plaque and honorary life membership in the Association.

2010-2011	Marnie Swanson & Paul Whitney
2009-2010	Lynn Copeland
2008-2009	Greg Buss
2005-2006	Brian Campbell & Jim Looney
2004-2005	Ken Haycock
2002-2003	Nancy Hannum
1992-1993	C. William Fraser
1991-1992	Basil Stuart-Stubbs
1988-1989	Harry Newsom
1987-1988	Lois Bewley
1985-1986	Margaret Burke

 

1996-1997

Greater Victoria Public Library

 

This award will be presented to an individual, organization or business who/that has a record of support of libraries, literacy, public access to information and the overall aims and objectives of libraries. The award is intended for non-library personnel. Winner must have a demonstrated record of support to libraries and/or library aims and objectives that is regional or provincial in scope. Support is defined as significant financial support or, in-kind contribution or, library advocate in the public arena.The award will consist of a plaque. 

 

2014-2015	Micheal Vonn (BCCLA)
2010-2011	Dave Obee (Author, The Library Book)
2009-2010	Law Foundation of BC for LawMatters
2008-2009	Darrell Evans (BC FIPA)
2007-2008	Larry Moore (OLA)
2005-2006	Yosef Wosk (LAB)
2004-2005	Irving K. Barber (UBC)
2003-2004	Ben Dayson (RPL)
2002-2003	Don Hoglund (Fund Development Committee)
2001-2002	Andrea Deakin (OUC)
2000-2001	Kwok-Chu Lee (RPL)
1999-2000	Prince George Spruce Kings (PGPL)
1998-1999	Canfor Corporation (Houston PL)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These institutional awards recognize outstanding achievement during the preceding year in the following categories:

1. Building Projects: this may be either a new building or a substantial renovation of facilities completed since April of the previous year.
2. Programs or Services: this may be a new or an on-going service, a special  event or a series of events, or a special project.
3. Advocacy or Marketing: this may be a new or ongoing advocacy or marketing program, a special event or series of events with a focus on advocacy or marketing, or a special advocacy or marketing project.

All types of libraries are eligible for these awards.  Normally, one award is given in each category. A plaque is presented to the recipient.

2015-2016

Building Project
Burnaby Public Library for Bob Prittie Metrotown Branch First Floor Renovations

Program or Service
Public Library InterLINK for NewToBC

Advocacy or Marketing
Surrey Libraries for their Literacy Day Report

2014-2015

Building Project
SFU-WAC Bennett Library
Creston Valley Public Library

Program or Service
BC ELN for WriteAway online collaborative tutoring service

Advocacy or Marketing
Vancouver Island Regional Library for Librarians on the Radio

2013-2014

Building Project
Vancouver Island Regional Library: Cumberland Library and Cowichan Lake Library

Programs & Services
Prince George Public Library – Library Gay-Straight Alliance

Advocacy or Marketing
Prince George Public Library for their “Don’t Read These Books” advocacy campaign

2012-2013

Building Project
Salt Spring Island Public Library

Programs & Services
Burnaby Public Library – “Embracing Diversity: Sharing Our Stories and Rhymes.”

Advocacy or Marketing
Nelson Public Library for their campaign “A Taste of Nelson.”

2011-2012

Building Project
Brown Family House of Learning, Thompson Rivers University

Programs & Services
Vancouver Public Library – First Nations Storyteller in Residence program

Advocacy or Marketing
Prince George Public Library for their campaign “CKPG Commercials.”

2010-2011

Building Project
Camosun College Libraries – Lansdowne and Interurban Libraries

Programs & Services
Fraser Valley Regional Library and Surrey Libraries for Festival of Aboriginal Arts
Richmond Public Library – International Living Room at the O Zone

Advocacy or Marketing
Richmond Public Library – Weekly Book Review in Richmond Review Newspaper

2009-2010

Building Project
Burnaby Public Library – Tommy Douglas Branch

Programs & Services
Surrey Public Library for Storytimes to help learn English

Advocacy or Marketing
Richmond Public Library – Health Literacy Project

2008-2009

Building Project
North Vancouver City Library

Programs & Services
Fraser Valley Regional Library for Aboriginal Outreach Services
Irving K. Barber Learning Center, UBC for BC History Digitization Project

2007-2008

Building Project
North Vancouver District Library – Lynn Valley Library

Programs & Services
Richmond Public Library – “Ralphy Card Campaign”
Electronic Health Library of BC – “e-HLbc”

2006-2007

Building Project
no award

Programs
AskAway Reference Service

2005-2006

Building Project
New Westminster Public Library

Programs
Richmond Public Library – “Healthy Living Series”
Coquitlam Public Library / Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) Reading Link Challenge”

2004-2005

Building Project
North Vancouver City Library

Programs
Richmond Public Library – “Read for Success” ESL Book Club

2003-2004

Building Project
Surrey Public Library, Semiahmoo Branch

Programs
North Shore Public Libraries – “North Shore Writers Festival”

2002-2003

Building Project
no award

Programs
Vancouver Public Library – “One Book, One Vancouver”

2001-2002

Building Project
Vancouver Island Regional Library, Courtenay Branch

Programs
Prince Rupert Public Library – “New First Nations Library Card”

2000-2001

Building Project
Merritt Library

Programs
New Westminster Public Library, “125 Years of Serving the Public”

1999-2000

Building Project
Fernie Heritage Library

Programs
Trail and District Public Library, “Winning the Referendum”

1998-1999

Building Project
Richmond Public Library – Ironwood Branch

Programs
BCLA First Nations Interest Group

1997-1998

Building Project
Squamish Public Library

Programs
Richmond Public Library – Internet Training

1996-1997

Building Project
UBC- Walter C. Koerner Library

Program
Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) – Reading Express Service
Library Services Branch – Internet Access Training for Public Libraries

1993-1994

Building Project
Capilano College Library

Program or Service
GVPL for its founding role in the Victoria Freenet

1992-1993

Building Project
Richmond Public Library for its Information Kiosk

Programs
Fernie Public Library for its Canada 125 Sister City initiative with Knowlton Quebec
Coquitlam Public Library for its “Culture Through Music” program

1991-1992

Building Project 
Burnaby Public Library – new main branch building

Programs
Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) – First Nations series of programs

1990-1991

Programs
New Westminster Public Library – 125th Anniversary Celebrations
Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) – 60th Anniversary Celebrations

1987-1988

Building Projects
Castlegar and District Public Library
Penticton Public Library

Programs
GVLF – Prize winning series of video tapes (Connections)

1986-1987

Building Project
Okanagan College for their business information centre

Programs
Friends of the Fort St. John Public Library for their book on Peace River Trivia
Legal Services Society – services to the community

1985-1986

Building Project
UBC – Library Literacy Program – Library Skills Lab

Programs
Vancouver Community College Library for its service: CILS
BC College & Institute Library Services Clearinghouse for the Print Impaired
GVLF for its Videotape Program: Access: serving disabled persons in the library

The President’s Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the British Columbia Library Association. Recipients are selected annually by the current BCLA President and are recognized for their tireless efforts on behalf of BCLA and the library community at large (nominations are not taken from the membership).

2015-2016	Anita Cocchia
2014-2015	Leanna Jantzi
2013-2014	Ben Hyman
2012-2013	Christopher Kevlahan
2011-2012	Debbie Schachter
2010-2011	Christina de Castell
2009-2010	Deb Thomas
2008-2009	Mary Anne Epp, Michael Burris
2007-2008	Rita Avigdor, Colleen Smith
2006-2007	Rob Golbeck
2005-2006	Barbara Jo May
2004-2005	Ann Curry
2003-2004	Ron Clancy
2002-2003	Chris Peppler
2001-2002	Paul Whitney
2000-20001	Information Policy Committee, Sylvia Crooks
1999-2000	Brian Campbell
1998-1999	Ted Benson, Jim Looney
1997-1998	Christian Kruse
1996-1997	Catherine Whitely
1995-1996	Miriam Moses