Library renamed to honour Harvey Smith

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This article was published 7/8/2018 (705 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

 

 

The West End Library has a new moniker that many in the area will recognize. The Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex is now home to the Harvey Smith Library — named for former Winnipeg city councillor and NDP MLA Harvey Smith, who died in March 2017. 

Prior to entering civic politics in 1980, Smith worked as a teacher and librarian at Technical Vocational High School in the Weston neighbourhood. He was also the driving force behind the relocation of the West End Library from Ellice Avenue to its current home on Sargent Avenue. 

"As soon as I got elected, I started the process of connecting with his friends…to figure out what was the best way to remember him," Daniel McIntyre councillor Cindy Gilroy said during the renaming event on July 31. "We thought it was really fitting for someone who loved books and loved the community, to remember him in this way."

The motion to rename the West End Library was introduced to city council in June 2017 and was supported by former Canadian Union of Public Employees leader and longtime friend of Smith’s, Paul Moist. 

"Having a library named in his honour, I don’t think there’s more you could have done to please Harvey — it’s a tremendous honour to an interesting character," Moist said.

During the event, a portrait of Smith created by students at Art City was unveiled — it will permanently hang in the library.