https://www.libraryassociationalberta.com/award-recipients/
Award Recipients
Award Recipients
The Punch Jackson Award for Excellence in Library Service
The Pat Jobb Award for Early and Mid-Career Library Staff
The Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal
The Punch Jackson Award for Excellence in Library Service
2023: Dr. Norene Erickson and Lisa Shamchuk, for the development of the CFLA Guidelines for the education of library technicians in Canada
2022: St. Albert Public Library Community Outreach Team for their Pop-Up Library Services
2022: Chinook Arch Regional Library System Digital Literacy Program
2022: Banff Public Library for their Library of Things
2021: Hiatus - LAA Board opted to grant 3 awards in 2022 to make up for missed awards in 2020 and 2021.
2020: Hiatus
2019: Fort Saskatchewan Public Library
2018: GELA Prison Project
2017: Edmonton Public Library, Exploring Reconciliation
2016: Didsbury Municipal Library, Achieving Excellence with Music & Memory
2015: Grande Prairie Public Library LibriCon
2014: TAL Online
2013: Dean Frey, Red Deer Pubic Library
2012: Toni Smigelski, Green Grove Public Library, service to her community
2011: Red Deer Public Library, Election Forum 2010 Project
2010: Punch Jackson, Director, Libraries Branch, Alberta Municipal Affairs
2008: Edmonton Public Library, Aboriginal Services
2007: Edmonton Public Library, Teen Services
2003: Calgary Public Library, East Project
2002: Friends of the Wildwood Library Society and their Librarians
2001: Business Link Library
2000: Calgary Public Library, Reading Buddies Program
1999: U of A Libraries, Bibliographic Instruction Team, Bibliographic Instruction Program
1999: Drayton Valley Municipal Library, Battle of the Books
1998: High Level Municipal Library, Bookstore Society
1997: Canmore Public Library, Business Idea & Info Centre
1989: Leduc Public Library, senior's program
The Pat Jobb Award for Early and Mid-Career Library Staff
2023: Carly Siver-Leong, for her service to the school library community in Alberta.
The President's Award
2023: Sharon Siga
2022: Michelle Toombs
2021: Hiatus
2020: Hiatus
2019: Diana Davidson
2018: Anne Carr-Wiggin
2017: Toni Samek
2016: Pilar Martinez
2015: Clive Maishment
2014: Linda Cook
2013: Mary Weasel Fat
2012: Marilyn Cavanaugh
2011: Mike Parkinson
2009: Bob Batchelder
2008: Tony Fell
2007: Larry Moore
2006: Doug Poff
2005: Honourable Lois Hole
2004: Keith Turnbull
2003: Alvin Schrader
2002: Karen Labuik
2001: Hazel Fry
2000: Punch Jackson
1998: Pat Jobb
1996: Ernie Ingles
1994: Pat Cavill & Lorne MacRae
1993: Joseph Forsyth
1992: Alan MacDonald
Certificate of Thanks
2023: Charla Majeran, Kait McClary, Lorisia MacLeod, Kirk MacLeod, Susan Parkinson, Christine Coulson
2022: Robert Tiessen, Carla Lewis, Megan Ginther, Louisa Robison
2021: Hiatus
2020: Hiatus
2019: Not documented. Please contact us if you have details about this year.
2018: Peter Bailey, Christina Hwang, Caroline Vandriel, Maureen Penn
2017: Julia Brewster, Caleigh Haworth, Jason Openo
2016: Karen Hildebrandt, Norene James, Tatiana Usova
2015: Nicole Charles, Jackie Flowers, Lisa Hardy, Katherine Koch, Weiwei Shi
2014: Diane Clark, Lindsay Johnston, Colleen Schalm
2013: Brian Jackson, Julia Reinhart, Pam Ryan (for ALC Co-Chair)
2012: Mary Jane Bilsland, Linda Garvin, Terra Plato, Justine Wheeler
2011: Angie Mandeville, Renee Reaume, Alice Swabey
2010: Diane Clark, Allison Inglis, Leeanne Morrow, Karla Palichuk
2009: Wendy Gronnestad-Damur, Melanie Johnson, Della Paradis
2008: Virginia Clevette, Marianne Graff, Tim Janewski, Anne-Carr Wiggin
2007: Debbie Feisst, Judy Moore
2006: Jody Crilly, Connie Forst, Pam Ryan
2005: Geoff Harder, Lindsay Johnston, Mike Perry
2004: Pat Cavill, Louise Reimer, Myra Skaronski
2003: Adrienne Canty, Rick Leech, Della Paradis, Lisa Ryan
2002: Linda MacCallym, Pam Ryan, Andrew Waller
2001: Pat McNamee, Nesen Naidoo, Alvin Schrader
2000: Barbara Bulat, Louise Frolek, Debbie McGugan, Judy Moore, Toni Samek
1999: Pilar Martinez, Sharon Siga, Andrew Waller, Lisa-Jane Watson
The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
Peter Bailey serves as the head of St. Albert Public Library. He has served as a founding executive member of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations and was deeply involved in transforming the former Canadian Library Association (CLA) into a federated model. Peter has also served as the president of LAA and was a founding director of the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and was involved in the development of the province-wide ME Libraries card service.
Dr. Margaret Law is a professional librarian currently serving as the CEO of The Alberta Library (TAL). She has been president of both the Canadian Library Association and LAA and currently teaches at both the University of Alberta School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) and MacEwan University Library and Information Technology programs. An author of several books on library management issues, she has a lifelong commitment to better management in libraries.
Shaunna Mireau is a library technician and legal information specialist. She has been an integral part of the Alberta legal library community, serving on legal library associations at both the municipal and national level, most notably her term as the 2020 president of the Canadian Law Libraries. She was instrumental in gathering interest for and starting the HeadStart program, a legal research workshop for law and library students and other new graduates entering the legal workplace. Her belief in the importance of the work libraries do is reflected in her commitment and advocacy.
Karla Palichuk has made significant contributions to Alberta libraries and to the communities they serve. She has served on a number of library committees and boards including a term as the president of the LAA and the chair of the TAL board of directors. Her work as director of the Alberta Public Library Electronic Network (APLEN) was instrumental in enabling Alberta public libraries to collaborate and move successfully into the Internet age.
Louisa Robison serves as the CEO of Peace Library System after a career in special and government libraries. She has served on a number of committees and boards throughout Alberta’s library landscape including an extended term on LAA’s board during the pandemic.
Dr. Toni Samek is a professor at the University of Alberta SLIS program. She convened the CLA’s Advisory Committee on Intellectual Freedom, was the debut Library Journal Teaching award recipient in 2007 and is the recipient of the 2017 LAA’s President’s Award, which recognizes her major impact on a provincial level.
Dr. Alvin Schrader is a professor emeritus of the University of Alberta SLIS program where he taught for 27 years and served as chair of SLIS from 1996 to 2003. Alvin is a long-time active volunteer in the Canadian library community, notably having served as president of CLA and LAA and serving as a member of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Core Values Task Force at the invitation of the ALA president.
Sharon Siga has contributed to the library community for over 30 years. She helped establish many regional library system services in the early days of Peace Library System, including the conversion of paper catalog records to create one of Alberta’s first online catalogs. Director of the Strathcona County Library since 2001, she has been instrumental in ensuring that the library is at the center of the community with innovative projects such as an award-winning bookmobile and the Strathcona County Community Centre.
Deb Smith has been a passionate and vocal advocate for public library services for over 30 years. She was employed with a small rural library when she realized the impact she could have on the political and advocacy side once appointed to the Parkland Regional Library System board. As recent past chair, she continues to build relationships and partnership to benefit libraries across Alberta.
Dr. Mary-Jo Romaniuk has contributed her knowledge, skills and abilities to Alberta libraries through her roles at the University of Alberta and currently as the vice-provost of the University of Calgary’s Libraries and Cultural Resources. She was instrumental in the development and implementation of TAL and the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library, and also served as both treasurer of TAL and later as TAL chair, implementing an inclusive, creative and practical vision for the board during both of her terms.
Awards were delivered individually by board members of the LAA. An online celebration took place on January 19th, 2023.
Retired Awards
LAA Awards have evolved along with the library community. Although the following awards are no longer granted, the LAA acknowledges award recipients and thanks them for their contribution to the Alberta Library Community.
Outstanding Contribution Award
The Outstanding Contribution Award recognized an active LAA member's singular contribution to the activities of the Assocation. It was discontinued in 2009.
2009: Marg Anderson and Nora Robinson, ALC exhibits
2008: Brandi Mah, LAA Store
2004: Rick Leech, CLA Copyright Committee
2001: Judy Moore, Millennium Publication
1994: Karen Labuik, Newsletter Editor
Student Award
The Student Award was offered annually to graduates from library programs in Alberta. Four awards of $200 were offered every year. These awards were replaced in 2021 by increasing the amount and number of scholarships awarded through the Education Endowment Fund Scholarship.
2020: on hiatus
2019: Sarah Bean (MacEwan University), Christina Borys (SLIS), Olya Korolchuk (SLIS), Curtis Wong (SAIT)
2018: Alyssa Braun, SAIT; Reagan Janke, Macewan University; Angela Lieu, SLIS and Katherine Wise, SLIS
2017: Chrisy Oh, SAIT; Celine Gareau-Brennan, SLIS; Lori Pichette, SLIS; and Jennifer Quinn, GMU
2016: Emily Brindza, MacEwan University; Kristine Den Boon, SLIS; Monica Schuh, SAIT; Claire Tunney, SLIS
2015: John Mutford, SLIS: Kyle Marshall, SLIS; Carla Lewis, GMU; Rhiannon Cates, SAIT
2014: Michael Papineau-Couture, GMU; Vanessa Wysockyj, SAIT; Erik Christiansen and Morgan Hordal, SLIS
2013: Lorraine Butchart, GMU; Heather Ibbitson, SAIT; Meghan Hackett & Allison DaSilva, SLIS
2012: Nicole Dalmer and J. Nicole Mullings, SLIS; Emily Nagtegaal, GMU; Richard Paulson, SAIT
2011: Sarah Augot and Carla Haug (SLIS), James Topolnisky (GMU), Jill Kartushyn (SAIT)
2010: Tara Forman and Hanne Nowak (SLIS), Janeen Vandervelde (GMU), Jonathan Wainwright (SAIT)
2009: Darby Love & Diana Keto (SLIS), Annich Quesnel (GMC), Amanda de Groot (SAIT)
2008: Jennifer Duguid (GMC), Katie Edwards & Dale Storie (SLIS), Alison McMillan (SAIT)
2007: Soleil Surette & Sarah Polkinghorne (SLIS), Michelle Cunningham (SAIT), Judy Prowse (GMC)
2006: Michael Bird (SAIT), Claire Banton (SLIS), Cameron Hoffman (SLIS), Sherri Smith (GMC)
2005: Janice Banser (SLIS), Dale Fecto (GMC), Amanda Larsen (SLIS), Suzanne Nylokuk (SAIT)
2004: Reegen Breu (SLIS), Brenda Dekker (GMC), Alison Faid (SLIS), Natalie Schiemann (SAIT)
2003: Sandra Anderson (SLIS), Meagan Gordon (GMC), Darcy Gullacher (SLIS), Jane Roberts (SAIT)
2002: Margaret Clarke (GMC), Kim Gould (SAIT), Juliet Nielsen (SLIS), Meagan Weber (SLIS)
2001: Hannah King (GMC), Tami Oliphant (SLIS), Jill Parker (SLIS), Linda Williams (SAIT)
2000: Karen Borin (SAIT), April Demes (GMC), Carey Hunt (SLIS), Robyn Stockand (SLIS)