Latest news with #CalgaryPublicLibrary
Calgary Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
'Pride and patriotism': 73 new Canadians take oath of citizenship on Canada Day
For new Canadian citizen Zainab Malik, being Canadian means valuing diversity and making sure residents are united in working to build a better country. Article content 'I think it's important, considering how Alberta politics is going and the wide expanse of politics that we're experiencing globally,' said the 32-year-old, who moved to Canada in 2015 from her native Pakistan. 'I think it's very important for us to carve our own space. Article content Article content Malik, who works in fashion but previously worked in medicine while living in Pakistan, was one of dozens of Calgarians who celebrated obtaining their citizenship on Tuesday, at a Canada Day ceremony hosted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at the central library's amphitheatre. Article content In total, 73 Canadians from 24 countries took their oath of citizenship, pledging to protect and honour their new country's institutions. Article content The new citizens raised their right hands as they repeated the oath — first in English, then in French, to symbolize embracing Canada's two official languages. Article content 'On this Canada Day, we celebrate not only our country's birthday, but also you — our newest citizens,' said honorary Lt.-Col. Carolyn Patton, who presided over the ceremony. Article content Article content 'Canada is stronger, Canada is richer and more vibrant because of the many cultures, new stories and experiences that bring each of you together. As you take this important step, know you're now a part of a national family built on respect and equality.' Article content The ceremony also included a bagpipe performance, opening remarks and a video presentation highlighting the country's Indigenous peoples and the importance of reconciliation. Adrian Wolfleg, a Siksika Nation elder, provided the opening remarks. Article content Other speakers included Alberta Senator Scott Tannas, Calgary-Buffalo MLA Joe Ceci, Calgary-Centre MP Greg McLean, Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Calgary Public Library executive Barb Gillard.
Calgary Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Public Library receives $300,000 from TD to support Indigenous artists
The Calgary Public Library has received a $300,000 donation from TD Bank Group to support its Indigenous newcomer artist-in-residence and elder-in-residence programs. Article content Article content The funding, announced on Tuesday, will support the programs through the next three years, according to Tracy Johnson, CEO of the Calgary Public Library Foundation. Article content The programs will offer paid opportunities for artists to 'engage with community through art, storytelling and mentorship,' she said, by leading programs, hosting workshops and engaging with library visitors in one-on-one meets. Article content Article content 'These residencies play a vital role in fostering cross-cultural understanding and amplifying diverse perspectives across the city,' Johnson added. Article content Article content The residencies, according to Johnson, have been ongoing for a number of years, although in different iterations. This one, she said, will support burgeoning artists and offer workshops to the public on the teachings of the medicine wheel, residential school legacies, smudge training and the difference between appreciation and appropriation. Article content Calgary Public Library CEO Sarah Meilleur said that with the help of TD, the library can create 'opportunities and give voices to historically underrepresented communities.' Article content One of the newcomer artists-in-residence for this year is Morgan Black, a member of Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation, who since March has already offered a number of public workshops and one-on-one meets. Article content Her work 'incorporates scenes of reconnecting to traditional storytelling practices colonization and decolonization and taking a critical look at truth and reconciliation,' said Meilleur, inspired by her own childhood memories of living on her ancestral land before moving away to Treaty Seven. Article content Robert Ghazal, senior vice-president and Alberta region head for TD Bank Group, said the donation comes as a result of a longtime relationship with the library foundation and is part of the bank's commitment to their corporate citizen platform, which will see the bank donating up to one billion to 'support change, nurture progress and contribute to making the world a better place.'
CBC
21-05-2025
- CBC
'Your call for action turned on you,' says judge in rejecting appeal of convicted pastor
Social Sharing Calgary pastor Derek Reimer used a "dangerous and clumsy tool" when he incited his followers to harass a librarian ahead of a drag storytime reading event, a judge ruled in rejecting both the protester's conviction and sentence appeal. On Wednesday, Court of King's Bench Justice Shane Parker upheld Reimer's convictions for criminal harassment and bail breaches as well as his one-year conditional sentence order, which includes 24-hour house arrest followed by three years probation. In arguing his sentence appeal, Reimer wanted a reduced sentence, claiming he and his wife had been harassed in the wake of the media attention following his arrests and trials. Parker rejected the suggestion that should be given any weight when considering sentence. 'Invite the mob to act, you lose control' The judge pointed out that Reimer was the one who decided to "invite the public in," intending for them to "turn on the librarian." "The lesson here is once you invite the mob to act you lose control," said Parker. "Your call for action turned on you … this is why inciting the public to intimidate and harass is a dangerous and clumsy tool; once unleashed, you lose control." Reimer faced several sets of charges after he was arrested three times in five weeks in the spring of 2023, protesting Reading With Royalty events hosted at Calgary Public Library branches across the city. The events involved drag queens reading stories to children. The harassment Reimer and his supporters have called the drag queens "perverts" and described the events as "pervert grooming sessions." In December, Justice Karen Molle sentenced Reimer for harassing the Saddletown librarian on March 27, 2023, when he attended the library ahead of a Reading With Royalty event. Strapped with a GoPro camera, Reimer confronted the manager about the event and recorded the interaction, accusing her of "corrupting kids" and told her if she followed through on the planned reading event, he would return. He told her "we're going to make this public and your name's going to be out there.… I don't think you want that kind of attention." Reimer then posted the video to his followers on Facebook, included the woman's name, title, a phone number and gave details of the time and location of the library event. He encouraged followers to contact the woman and to "take action." 'His conduct was dangerous' The woman reported receiving a message that read "shame on you." In her testimony, the woman said the post caused her anxiety. She said she warned colleagues and locked down her social media accounts. In his appeal, defence lawyer Andrew MacKenzie argued that Reimer's conduct was not serious enough to cause fear in a reasonable person. Parker rejected this argument, finding that Reimer labelled the woman as a child abuser and provided her contact information, "citing the mob to take it from there." "His conduct was dangerous and would cause anyone to fear for their safety," said Parker. "This label has led to beatings and death." Reimer's conditional sentence order means he is permitted to serve his sentence at home. However, he was arrested on May 8 after showing up at court 90 minutes early to participate in a protest on the courthouse steps. Although he is allowed to attend court while on house arrest, the allegation is that he exploited the exemption by attending much earlier than required for the purpose of protesting. Last week, Reimer was denied bail following his arrest. He is back in court on Thursday for a hearing on a charge of breaching his conditional sentence order. In September 2024, a judge acquitted Reimer on charges of mischief and causing a disturbance connected to an incident at the Seton Library in February 2023. The Crown has appealed those acquittals.
