Over 200 people showed up to take part in the grand reopening of Steinbach’s Jake Epp Library yesterday afternoon.
Flor Marcelino, Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, and Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen were joined by Library Board Chair, Jon Sawatzky, Councillor John Fehr, Loraine Trudeau (Head Librarian), and Jake Epp to celebrate the official reopening of the Jake Epp Library with a ceremony at the new facility.
“Libraries offer opportunities for families to share the joy of reading, researching interesting topics and learning about our world,” said Marcelino. “By providing $600,000 we were pleased to participate in this important project that enhances library services for the growing population in and around Steinbach.”
“The excitement for the reopening of the Jake Epp Library has been exceptional,” said Mayor Chris Goertzen, “which indicates the extensive use of and appreciation for this regional facility. This expansion will serve our community and the region for many years to come.”
“The Board is extremely pleased with both the new addition and the updates to the existing facility at the library,” said Library Board Chair, Jon Sawatzky. “The architect, contractor, and tradespeople were extremely accommodating and helped make this a better project. The new services, expanded collection, and program growth will benefit the city for years to come. We would like to express our gratitude to the Mayor, City Council, and all of the staff at the City who contributed to this project. We also want to send our heartfelt appreciation to our patrons for their patience and understanding.”
“What an exciting time this has been for my staff and I,” said Loraine Trudeau. “We have dreamed of this moment for many years. The residents of Steinbach will be very proud of their new and expanded library. We have missed serving our patrons and we look forward to them coming back. We know that they will appreciate the updated new facility and all its amenities. It has been a long haul but opening day has finally arrived. Thank you ALL for your support and patience throughout this process.”
Boretta Construction, contractor for the project, released the following statement:
“Boretta would like to thank the City of Steinbach for the opportunity to fulfill the dream of a larger Library facility. The project was a pleasure to work on together with the consultants, the City of Steinbach, and our subcontractors. The expanded Library will serve the growing community well and increase the community’s opportunity to learn and grow together with the rest of the world. We wish you all the best.”
The contract was awarded to Boretta Construction 2002 Ltd. in August of last year for the bid of $1,682,091. The project was scaled down to a budget of $1.9 million and approved by City Council in December 2010. Funding for the project included a $600,000 provincial grant, $400,000 in City funds, with the remaining costs coming from debt creation.
The initial library was constructed in 1996 at a size of 800 square meters. The new expansion saw an addition of 590 square meters, for a total size of 1390 square meters. Demolition began the week of September 12th, with construction beginning the week of September 26th. Restoration of the existing landscaping is almost complete and new plantings and mulching will be completed by City staff throughout the summer.
