Lt Governor offically opens library in Bella Bella

BC Lt. Governor Judith Guichon was on hand March 26 to officially open the new library in Bella Bella. There is quite a story involved. Last year the library burned down under mysterious circumstances. It was housed in the town’s grocery store and cafe, which were forced to close as well. This forced island residents to take the ferry to Port Hardy just to buy groceries.

As the long process of restoration commenced, the Write to Read team went straight into action. Project coordinator Bob Blacker, along with RCMP Chief Superintendent
Dave Critchley, BritCo Structures Christoph Neufeld, and Brian Van Sickle of TLD Computers (London Drugs) flew to the community and made urgent arrangements to get a new library opened as soon as possible. The local champion in Bella Bella is Jess Housty, who coordinator the procedures. But how to get a library built?

Once again, BritCo stepped up to the plate and delivered. Yes indeed, BritCo donated yet another modular trailer to the cause! But there remained the issue of getting a 40-foot building from their Langley construction to Bella Bella, which is halfway up the BC Coast. This is where BC Ferries came in, offering to deliver the structure aboard one of their ferries at no charge. So Write to Read welcomes aboard a new partner in the project, BC Ferries.

There remained the issue of getting new books selected and sorted, which was done by the always reliable Write to Read Library Team. The final piece to put into place was the official opening by the senior partner in the entire campaign, the Lt. Governor. Her honour flew into Bella Bella this week and attended the official
library opening. Look for more good news on more library openings this spring and summer.