Winnipeg, MB – Today, the City officially revealed the location of the future River Heights Library, renamed the Bill & Helen Norrie Library. The new library will be situated northwest of the Pan Am Pool, near the intersection of Poseidon Bay and Cambridge Street, within the Grant Park Campus area. This is a high-visibility, easily-accessible location for the library that provides street access and available parking for library visitors.
“It’s a pleasure to rename the future River Heights library in honour of Bill and Helen Norrie in recognition of their commitment to libraries and to our city,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “The new Bill & Helen Norrie Library will be an accessible, modern place for people to meet, learn, grow, and build community for many years to come.”
“Libraries offer significant benefits to our communities,” said Councillor Mike Pagtakhan, Chair, Standing Policy Committee on Protection, Community Services, and Parks. “The Bill & Helen Norrie Library will encourage learning, provide leadership, and rejuvenate the neighbourhood.”
“The new Bill & Helen Norrie Library builds on the momentum of record investments we are seeing in our neighbourhood,” said Councillor John Orlikow, River Heights-Fort Garry Ward. “This accessible new library will offer a valuable literacy service that reflects the needs of residents today and tomorrow with an expanded book collection, technology centers, an outdoor reading garden and community programming space for the whole community to enjoy. I look forward to using the facility and know it will be an exciting addition to the Grant Park campus and our neighbourhood.”
“I am pleased to have a library mentioning Bill's name,” said Helen Norrie. “He was a strong supporter of libraries and of all facilities that helped members of the community.”
On June 21, 2017, City Council voted to rename the River Heights Library the Bill & Helen Norrie Library. Bill Norrie was Winnipeg’s Mayor from 1979 -1992. His wife, Helen Norrie, worked as a teacher/librarian in public schools in Winnipeg and was the Honourary Campaign Chair for the Cornish and St. John’s Centennial Renewal Campaign.
The new Bill & Helen Norrie Library will replace the existing River Heights Library, 1520 Corydon Ave. The new library will be 14,000 sq. ft. and will feature accessible program rooms and multi-use space for community groups, an outdoor reading garden, accessible parking, and proximity to public transportation. Construction of the new library is expected to start in 2019.
Funding for this renovation was provided by the City of Winnipeg through capital budgets as part of Winnipeg Public Library’s Library Redevelopment Strategy.
For more information on Winnipeg Public Library, including hours, locations, and online services, please visit winnipeg.ca/library.