Library will Nearly Double in Size, Adding a New Children’s Area: Kinew
SUBMITTED
SELKIRK—The Manitoba government is investing $600,000 through the Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities (Manitoba GRO) program to support the expansion of the Gaynor Family Regional Library in Selkirk, Premier Wab Kinew and Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard announced here today.
“Expanding the youth section at the Gaynor Family Regional Library will give kids a safe place to learn, read and spend time after school for free,” said Kinew. “Investments like this support affordability for parents while helping keep young people connected to positive spaces in their community, which keeps them on a positive path.”
The project will nearly double the regional library’s fully usable space, to a total of 22,500 sq. ft., including a new children’s area, community meeting and study spaces and shelving for 20,000 additional volumes.
“Libraries are community hubs that support literacy and lifelong learning and serve as a safe, inclusive public space,” said Simard. “Our government is pleased to support this expansion project so the library can better serve the region’s residents now and into the future.”
The library is one of the busiest in Manitoba, having welcomed nearly 150,000 visitors in 2024. It is an active partner supporting tourism, heritage, arts and recreation in the region and is used by the health authority and school division for community meetings.
“The Gaynor Family Regional Library is a shining example of voluntary collaboration and true regional partnership in action,” said Mayor Larry Johannson, City of Selkirk. “It is the vibrant hub of the Triple S region serving residents of four great communities. We are proud of the great work done by the library board and staff whose creativity, vision and passion provide exceptional programming and services and we appreciate the Manitoba government’s investment into this critical community-building asset.”
The project will expand to 22,500 sq. ft. of dedicated library space from what was 12,000 sq. ft. of library and 5,000 sq. ft. of shared space.
“The Gaynor Library has long been a cornerstone of life in our region, serving residents across St. Clements and our neighbouring municipalities for generations,” said Debbie Fiebelkorn, mayor, Rural Municipality (RM) of St. Clements. “Today’s announcement is a testament to what we can accomplish when communities work together toward a shared goal. Nearly doubling the usable space means more room for children to read and learn, more space for community gatherings and more resources for everyone. I’m incredibly proud of the collaboration that has brought us to this moment and I look forward to the continued impact this library will have for years to come.”
The expansion is needed to meet increasing demands for early learning and children’s programming, with more than 5,400 children attending library programming in 2024. The additional space will allow the library to improve services in all areas, the minister noted.
“This project will enhance the children’s area, creating a welcoming space where young readers and families can learn, explore and grow together.” said Joy Sul, mayor, RM of St Andrews. “We appreciate Premier Wab Kinew and the Manitoba government’s commitment to investing in community infrastructure that supports families and education. The RM of St. Andrews recognizes that regional partnerships deliver strong results for communities and we are grateful for these important partnerships”.
The library expansion project is a joint venture between the City of Selkirk, the RM of St. Andrews, the RM of St. Clements and the Village of Dunnottar.
This year, the Manitoba GRO program encouraged municipalities to work collaboratively by submitting joint applications with neighbouring communities, allowing them to pool resources and advance shared regional priorities.
Manitoba GRO is an application-based program designed to help municipalities located outside Winnipeg advance critical infrastructure projects that will support growing and sustainable communities. The 2025-26 program will provide up to $42 million in grants.
