The Mill is an ongoing multimedia investigation into the forestry industry in British Columbia by artist Russell Gendron. The project uses sound-art and quilting to highlight first hand accounts of workers’ experiences in forestry on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh territory and around the province.
Visitors to the exhibit will hear sounds and stories associated with working in forestry including, environmental soundscapes, music made from machine noises and voices talking about daily tasks, industry closures, first experiences at work and much more.
Also on display are quilts made from forestry worker’s clothing. These quilts are made from donated materials and help bring the personal and intimate nature of the voices and sounds into the physical realm.
Find more detailed information about this project, and listen to the sound piece here.
On display now until November 16, 2024.
About the Artist:
Russell Gendron is an artist whose practice includes music, quilting, sound mapping and photography. He enjoys wandering around and chatting with others and then trying to translate this subtle and serene material into art.
Born in Vancouver, from ages eleven to sixteen Russell worked at a sawmill during the summers and on weekends. This was a formative period for him and inspired his project The Mill. He lives in Montreal.
BC born multi-disciplinary artist and author Laurence Ramsay, creates surrealist hope-punk, solar-punk, and neo-futurist inspired works that seek to blend the line between where the urban and natural meet.
Believing as an artist that we as a society won’t move forward until we can find a peaceful merger between technological advancement and living in rhythm with the natural cycles of our planet, his work is inspired by aspects drawn from the beauty of the natural world, geometry, urban cityscapes, street art and urban movement practices, pagan spirituality and witchcraft, death, fringe subcultures, and the queer experience of living on the edges of society.
Ramsay uses spray paint, utilizing street art techniques drawn from graffiti and street art, as well as improvisational flow techniques, and general controlled chaos to bring his vibrantly coloured canvases to life.
Laurence Ramsay’s debut novel KYN is on sale now wherever books are sold.
July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the strength and diversity of individuals with disabilities.
Over 1 billion people comprise the global disability community, the most expansive and diverse minority group globally. People with disabilities are represented by all ages, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and socio-economic brackets.
Did you know that 27% of Canadians over the age of 15 have a disability, and that over 50% are expected to experience a disability at some point in their lives?
At our library, we invite you to learn more about disabilities through our dedicated book display and by taking our quiz. Test your knowledge and discover new insights!
Explore our diverse booklists:
Accessibility at the Library
Accessibility at the library is a priority for us. We strive to ensure that our space and services are accessible to everyone, including those with print disabilities. Learn more about our accessibility features and specialized services.
Celebrate with us!
Visit us to explore a diverse collection of books, films, and resources that promote pride, understanding, and inclusion. Join us in honoring Disability Pride Month as we strive to build a more inclusive community together!
BC Summer Reading Club is a free literacy program designed to engage children who’ve completed Kindergarten with libraries and reading, throughout the summer.
This year’s BC Summer Reading Club theme is World of Curiosities! It features artwork by Victoria-based children’s illustrator and teacher Meneka Repka.
How to participate?
Pick up your reading record any time after June 27, 2024 and start reading!
Record your reading every day to become eligible to win prizes at our weekly draw. Prizes include toys, games, books, food coupons, and much more.
Read all summer and receive a medal at our award ceremony in August.
EVENTs: WOrld of Curiosities
Every Wednesday in July and August between 1:00 – 2:00 pm there are free drop-in events in the Community Meeting Room.
Daily activities like crafts, puzzles, scavenger hunts in the children’s area. There will always be something happening there!
Special events throughout the summer.
Stay tuned to our event calendar for more information!
The Squamish Public Library has materials for all ages to learn about Indigenous history, including the Indian Residential School experience and the ongoing Truth & Reconciliation process.
Below you will find suggested resources, both from the library and elsewhere.
Resources that highlight national and local Indigenous-settler relations, both historic and contemporary. These resources explore key issues facing Indigenous peoples from an Indigenous perspective
Library materials relating to the Residential School experience in Canada, including first person accounts from survivors, books for children, and the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Children’s books that reflect on the residential school experience in different ways. These have all been identified as age-appropriate for children under 12 by reputable organizations, like FNESC and Project of Heart. Adapted from CBC’s reading list.
Explore and contribute to the interactive map of the Indigenous Languages, Arts and Heritage in B.C.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: 94 Calls to Action
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) published its final report detailing the experiences and impacts of the residential school systems.
One outcome of the report was a document detailing 94 calls to action across a wide range of areas.
Indigenous Canada Open Online Course is a 12-lesson free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.
Indigenous Podcasts
Vancouver Public Library Indigenous Storyteller in Residence Kung Jaadee shares this list of top podcasts by Indigenous creators keeping the storytelling tradition alive.
Squamish Nation Stories from the Heart
This six-part Squamish Historical Society documentary, Stories from the Heart, opens a window on the Squamish Nation from the early 20th century to the present, through original video footage, archival and family photos and personal reminiscences.
First People of the Pacific Northwest: The Photography of Edward S. Curtis
This Squamish Historical Society video documentary is based on selected images of Indigenous People from the State of Washington, British Columbia, and the coast of Alaska, captured by frontier photographer Edward S. Curtis between 1896 and 1930, during his journey across North America.
In June, Canadians celebrate National Indigenous History Month to honour the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. It is also an opportunity to recognize the strength of present-day Indigenous communities. (Source: rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca)
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
NAtional Day for truth and REconciliation
September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The federal statutory holiday, established in 2021, honours those who survived residential schools, those whose lives were lost and those whose suffering and trauma is ongoing. September 30 is also known asOrange Shirt Day, a day for Canadians to raise awareness of the history, harm and legacies of the Canadian residential school system by wearing the colour orange.
This holiday was established in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: “We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
PAST EVENTS
In 2021, the library honoured the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, by listening to Squamish Nation Elders. You can watch the recording of Honouring Residential School Survivors online:
Namwayut – An Evening with Chief Robert Joseph (recording) On April 12, 2023, we had the honor of hosting Chief Robert Joseph in Squamish to speak about his new book Namwayut: A Pathway to Reconciliation. Chief Joseph spoke about his experience at St. Michael’s Indian Residential School, his own immense work towards Reconciliation, and his vision for Canada and the world if we all take part in Reconciliation work. You can watch the recording of the event online:
June is Indigenous History Month! To celebrate, the Library will be hosting Tsawaysia Spukwus of the Squamish Nation for a series of hands-on workshops including wool weaving and drum making.
All workshops will be free and online, and all materials will be provided for participants! Everyone is welcome to attend, and registration is required.
Squamish Nation member and educator Tsawaysia Spukwus (Alice Guss) is masterful at bringing innovative learning opportunities to all people through workshops, drumming, singing, dancing and storytelling.
There are three different dates for each workshop. Choose the one that’s best for you!
To register for a workshop, click the date and time you want.Please only register for each program once.
Our Visiting Library Service provides free home delivery of library materials and resources for home-bound members of the community. Through this program, volunteer library ambassadors provide personal phone calls and connections to patrons, reserve and deliver library materials and resources.
If you are a senior or Elder in Squamish who would benefit from home delivery of library materials, please complete our Visiting Library Service Patron Registration Form below. If you aren’t able to apply on the computer, you can call the library (604-892-3110) to register over the phone or request a paper form.
If you are interested in volunteering for our Visiting Library Service, please review the Volunteer Position Description, and complete the Volunteer Application below.
Volunteer applications are currently closed. Sign up for our newsletter to hear about future opportunities.
The Squamish Public Library is located within the Squamish Nation Traditional Territory Ha7lh en skwálwen Kwis tl’iknúmut tl’a Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw.
Our library system will be undergoing upgrades that will affect access to services on Sunday, October 20th and Monday, October 21st 2024. Click here for more details.
