Future library’s ‘teen zone’ gets boost

The new Fort Frances Library Public Library and Technology Centre received another funding boost last week thanks to the Royal Bank of Canada.
“On behalf of the RBC, I’m proud to present this gift of $25,000 in support of the new library and technology centre,” local branch manager Heather Johnson announced last Thursday.

The donation—made on behalf of the RBC Foundation—will go towards the area of the future library set aside as a space for the community’s teenagers, and now will be known as the “RBC Teen Zone.”
“Today, we are here to celebrate our new library and technology centre—a cause that many Royal Bank employees and community members feel strongly about,” said Johnson, noting the RBC is proud to partner with the town and library board to support the project.
“We are excited to help the town and the public library fundraising committee to make a difference in the lives of the residents of Fort Frances,” she enthused, adding this new facility will provide development and growth opportunities for both businesses and individuals in the region, along with programs and services for people of all ages.
“One of the areas in the new facility that is very exciting is the teen area,” Johnson remarked. “The new library will offer a safe environment for youth to meet, to study and learn.
“We truly believe that an investment in education and youth is one of the best investments a company can make to ensure the future prosperity of our communities,” she stressed.
“The teens of our community and our district certainly form that link between all the pre-school programs that we offer [and] pre-teen ones that we offer, now on to the adult programs,” said Mark Kowalchuk, chair of the library’s “Building for the Future” fundraising campaign, as he thanked the RBC for its support.
“Recently I had to find out how to put some pictures on the Internet and I was advised to ‘ask a teenager,’” noted Kowalchuk, adding they envision the “RBC Teen Zone” probably will evolve as the library is used over the years to come.
“The fact that it’s now a technology centre, as well as a library, we will see many wonderful things and opportunities taking place, not only just for teens but for pre-schoolers, pre-teens, and certainly for the adult community,” he remarked, pointing to both the RBC and other businesses and groups that will be able to run training out of the library and tech centre.
Located next to the fireplace lounge area within the library, the “RBC Teen Zone” will house the literature and resources for youth, as well as provide comfy sitting areas, space to work on laptops, and access to the Internet.
“We have had to change the way that we are looking at the library and tech centre over the past few years, and it’s now these enhancements that additional donations will allow us to bring back into the project to make it more than we could ever hope it could be,” Kowalchuk enthused.
“Relationships are what make this world go around,” Johnson noted. “They are how we achieve success together and often where we find the most value in our lives.
“We are proud of our relationships in the community, with charitable organizations that share our goal to help make a difference in local communities and regions where we do business,” she added.
Thursday’s funding announcement came as part of RBC’s “Community Week,” where the various organizations which it supports and donates funds to were highlighted.