Edmonton Public Library - Stanley A. Milner (Downtown) — Attraction in Edmonton

Last year a ceremony was interrupted at the Stanley A Milner library in Edmonton. A staff had come to complain that they could smell the sweet grass we were burning (the one tiny braid that you could barely see the smoke coming off of). I was at this ceremony and…was shocked that a library staff would come in to the space designated as an Indigenous ceremony space…which had special ventilation to accommodate the burning of our medicines…and tell us that it was a problem. What was more shocking is that she felt justified and empowered in doing so.

A short while later, our group was gathering again, and the upper management of the library came to formally apologize and she was indeed full of sorrys.

She was asked to sit and hear the impact of what her staff had been permitted to do. And she indicated that she took responsibility for the incident. We explained she needed to set it right. That apologies were in the actions not the words. She agreed to take actions…which never transpired.

Not only that…this incident was REPEATED again.

This would be reason enough for the relationship of trust that had been in the process of being built to be questioned. But, because during the last incident where a ceremony was interrupted so a complaint could be issued about the smell of sweet grass, the matriarch of the ceremony DARED question why this was happening yet again, SHE and the only other Nehiyaw women who was also speaking out about how wrong this was, were the ones intimidated and reprimanded.

The library insisted they were sincere in establishing a relationship of respect with Indigenous people. They loved the sound of being associated with “land back” by designating space for Indigenous ceremony. But in the end…it was just words. Likewise, sorrys are words. And without action, they are exactly the type of lip service that Indigenous peoples in Edmonton are accustomed to.

I am sooooo sad for Edmonton today. We held our last pipe ceremony in that space. Both Nehiyaw iskwewak who worked with the library have quit. It was in that space that I learned to be Notokwew wichihtasow, where countless have received their Cree names, where our creation story was shared, where our teachings were lived. I’m shocked at how badly the library management fumbled a relationship that could have been THE example in Edmonton of reconciliation (or setting things right)…but rather is an example of ongoing systemic racism.

My heart breaks for our brothers and sisters downtown, for whom that space was a safe space to connect with culture and ceremony. May they be supported to continue to connect and have moments of safety.

I’m worried for whomever they take into the roll of Elder in Residence next. The problems haven’t been fixed. And they’ll now be passed to the shoulders of someone else. May they enter into it with their eyes wide open…and may the library be open and honest as to why they couldn’t keep the last one.

WE will continue in ceremony, to grow in language and culture, and to connect with our teachings. We have survived attempted genocide. We will not be stopped by the Stanley A Milner library management or staff (their intolerance of the smell of sweet grass, and desire to maintain systemic racism within their organization).

Despite the fact that we will continue, I’m committed that the attempts of library management to “hush” this situation and have it go unnoticed, will NOT transpire. Our voices matter. It happened. I was there. They can’t...

I've had some unfortunate experiences at the downtown Edmonton Library, which, despite being a library, has transformed into what seems like a daytime "homeless shelter" for many. It's disheartening to witness a place that could provide support and refuge falling short in several critical ways.

The foremost issue is the treatment of community members. Some staff members exhibit rudeness and, at times, seem to gang up on those who seek service & comfort here. It's a stark contrast to the library's mission of inclusivity and community support. What's even more concerning is the lack of action to address these issues.

Safety is paramount, especially for those with children seeking service here. However, the environment raises doubts about the library's commitment to this aspect. People openly use drugs within the bathroom facilities, with little to no intervention from staff. There are individuals under the influence right at the doorways, creating an unsafe atmosphere. It's as if management is turning a blind eye to these issues.

The management of this facility, predominantly overseen by middle-aged white women, seems out of touch with the very principles of safety, comfort, and well-being that they should uphold. Allowing people to sleep on the concrete outside the door and tolerating drug use within the premises showcases a lack of proper management and oversight.

The most alarming issue is the prevalence of undesirable elements, including drug addicts, who have overtaken the library's environment. It's disheartening to witness the library losing its welcoming atmosphere. What's even more concerning is the lack of intervention to tackle these issues. Again The library's management seems to be turning a blind eye to the problems that have overrun the space.

The library itself has the potential to offer a safe and enriching experience for everyone, but its current state is far from that ideal. It's high time for the library's management to take action and restore this valuable community resource to a place where all visitors can feel safe and comfortable. Accountability must be taken seriously, and changes...

I wasn't sure what to make of the renovation at first, but it's definitely grown on me. The exterior architecture might be a bit hit or miss for some folks, but the old facade was of the same architectural tradition of the old Remand Centre and it was pretty dreary inside. Now it's wonderfully lit and nicely accessible with good spaces to read or try to get a bit of writing done.

There are often homeless people here, so if you're the sort who is uncomfortable being around poor people, you might want to just go hang out at South Edmonton Common at the pseudo-Applebee's of your choice. But realistically, these people aren't zombies or some kind of bionic super-soldier and Edmonton's peak violent crime rate was actually all of the way back in the 1990s. And they have a good security presence so there's really not that much to worry about.

But yeah, as a library, this is the library to end all libraries. They certainly have books, and DVD's/CD's. They also have meeting spaces. Oh, you know what else you can borrow? Tools. So, yeah, if I have a project and precisely the one I need, I can just borrow it instead of buying something I might only use once per decade.

And then there's all of the "spaces". You have your meeting spaces if you need a conference room. You have a gamer space which is a rather amazingly equipped computer gaming room with everything from retro arcade cabinets to modern gaming PC's. There's a very well-equipped teaching kitchen where you can take cooking classes. And there's the maker spaces, where you can 3-d print things, work on sewing projects, or even use CNC to make metal parts and artwork. Oh, they also run classes on how to use all of these things. They have programs for young people and those of us who just don't want our brains to wither as we age.

I'd say it's actually the best thing in Downtown Edmonton (and one of the rare revitalizations that's worked) and it was definitely...