News and Stories

Community of Masset Breaks Ground at Site of New Masset Library and Haida Language Immersion Lab

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nanaimo, BC – Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) and partners from the Village of Masset, and X̱aad Kíl Née (Haida Language Office), officially break ground on the new Masset Library and Haida Language Immersion Lab on Tuesday, April 30 at 1:30pm.  

The shovels hit the ground at 1740 Hodges Avenue, the site of the new Library and Language Immersion Lab. Once complete, Haida Gwaii’s residents and visitors will have access to 3,870 square-feet of space to connect, learn, and grow in the Village of Masset. 

“On behalf of the VIRL Board and staff, we are grateful to everyone who has made this project possible in partnership with the VIRL Board — the Village of Masset, Old Massett Village Council and Xaad Kíl Née (Haida Language Office), the North Coast Regional District (NCRD), the Gwaii Trust Society, Northern Development Initiatives Trust (NDIT), CityWest, Connected Coast, the Masset Project Team, and all of our community library advocates. We also gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. We look forward to celebrating this exciting milestone with you,” says Erin Hemmens, VIRL Board Chair. “We are truly honoured –  Haaw’aa.” 

Features and amenities of the new facility: 

• Roof pitch, timber beams, and vertical cedar siding honouring Haida culture and the Masset community. 
• A learning space focusing on knowledge transfer through technology and language preservation. 
• An open library space featuring comfortable reading and study areas for all ages. 
• A shared / bookable meeting room. 
• A cozy fireplace lounge area with comfortable seating for reading and connecting. 
• A bright and inviting children’s area with a variety of interactive activities. 
• Expanded hours of operation and increased programming to facilitate access and strengthen community engagement activities and partnerships. 

For more information about the Masset Library Branch and Haida Language Immersion Lab project, visit https://virl.bc.ca/new-masset-library.  

About VIRL 

VIRL delivers tremendous economies of scale and significant returns on investment, by working with 38 local governments across a 42,000 km2 service area. Our collective services are a demonstrable commitment to livability and affordability and are enjoyed by nearly a third of residents overall. These services include free access to dynamic programming and events, bookable meeting rooms, and 39 branches that are essential Third Spaces in communities large and small. VIRL has the third-largest public library collection in BC, featuring downloadable e-books, audiobooks, digital news, streaming services, children’s materials, and much more. 

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Media Contact
Natasha Bartlett, Divisional Manager, Marketing & Communications
250.327.3114
nbartlett@virl.bc.ca