Quebec Says No to Library Expansion Project

Francine Bastien

Six years of hard work by a team of volunteers and thousands of dollars invested to meet the requirements of the Department of Culture — only to receive the following response:

“The Department cannot follow up on financial assistance request 531724…”

The Pettes Library expansion and modernization project has thus been cut by more than $2 million, leaving the Board of Directors stunned.

In a letter sent to project donors, Board Chair Jane Livingston wrote:

“Yet, in the weeks leading up to this unexpected announcement, we were clearly given to believe that our project was among those prioritized by the Ministry’s officials.”

Since the beginning of the project planning, Isabelle Charest, MNA for Brome-Missisquoi, has lent her support. In an email sent to Tempo in response to an interview request, Ms. Charest explained the Ministry of Culture and Communications’ decision as follows:

“In the current context, the government had to make the responsible decision to focus its investments on maintaining existing cultural infrastructure rather than on expansion projects.”

She also added:

“The library team has already taken important steps in structuring its financial package. I remain fully committed to supporting it in the realization of this flagship project for the Brome Lake community.”

As for the reimbursement of the tens of thousands of dollars spent by the library to meet the government program’s requirements, Ms. Charest said it is too early to say, but that she continues to follow the issue closely.

A Reimagined Project Will Move Forward

Despite this painful setback, the Pettes Library management team and Board of Directors are not giving up:

“Maintaining the status quo is not an option.”

According to Library Director Jana Valasek, the new situation will allow for greater flexibility in executing a reimagined project, without the constraints imposed by the government program.

The Brome Lake community, with the unwavering support of the Town of Brome Lake, has already raised over $4 million toward the expansion. The library’s team and Board are now reviewing, reevaluating, and consulting with professionals to build the new annex and refresh and modernize the historic 1894 building to today’s standards.