The city’s 21st library branch will open early next year inside Garden City Shopping Centre, with the goal of serving a growing population.
Construction is underway at part of the former Sears department store location at the mall, which the city will lease.
“We’re placing this resource at the heart of an already-vibrant community hub, making it easier for families, for students and lifelong learners to access the services they rely on,” said Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan).
Artist’s rendering
Construction is underway on the city’s 21st library branch slated to open early next year inside part of the former Sears department store at Garden City Shopping Centre.
The Mike O’Shaughnessy Library will be named after the former city councillor, who served on council from 1974 to 1980 and 1986 to 2010. He represented the Kildonan Park, Jefferson and Old Kildonan Wards.
The 14,000-square-foot site will feature a garden theme, with natural colours and materials. It will include public art, program and tutorial rooms, computer stations, seating areas, electronic device charging stations and public washrooms.
The province will contribute $2.5 million toward the $4.7-million project; the city is covering the rest.
“This new library will help meet the needs of a rapidly growing area,” said Mintu Sandhu, Manitoba Minister of Public Service Delivery.
Mayor Scott Gillingham said there has been substantial population growth in northwest Winnipeg in recent years, and citywide library visits have increased by 28 per cent since 2022. The mayor said that has created plenty of demand for the additional library branch.
“Winnipeggers are using libraries. They value them,” he said.
Sharma said it will be the city’s first public library within an enclosed shopping centre. Some library branches are in leased spaces in strip malls.
Back in 2022, one city proposal aimed to both add the leased space at Garden City and close the city’s existing stand-alone West Kildonan library at 365 Jefferson Ave.
Artist’s rendering
The Cit of Winnipeg will lease space for its new library branch at the mall.
Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter
Following public backlash to the branch closure, city council promised to also keep that branch open.
“The West Kildonan Library will stay. That’s an important hub in the community as well, a place that residents enjoy going to. And it’s not closing,” said Sharma.
While past city reports suggest the older library branch on Jefferson needs a new roof and millions of dollars of additional repairs, the councillor said there’s no set time line for renovations.
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Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter
Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.
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