The Teen Lounge in the new Whistler Library will be dedicated
as a memorial to Jeff Harbers, the co-founder and first president of American
Friends of Whistler, following the announcement of a $50,000 grant by the AFOW
to the library.
Harbers, a Whistler property owner and part-time resident since
the early 1990s, was killed in a plane crash in June of 2006.
Jeff was active in a variety of community initiatives in
Whistler. As the father of two children and an avid reader himself, Jeff was
keenly aware of the impact of public libraries on the quality of life in a
community.
Jeff’s wife Renee recently joined the board of the AFOW and
expressed her family’s pride in having her husband memorialized in association
with youth at the library.
The AFOW has a history of contributions to the library, with
additional grants totalling $10,000 to the children’s collection in the last
two years.
“The AFOW has a strong commitment to supporting youth in
Whistler, and the library is a cornerstone of the community," said Rod
Rohda, AFOW President. “We see the new library building as an important symbol
of Whistler's commitment to the intellectual development and interests of its
residents and visitors. We are proud to be included as a significant
donor.”
Lauren Stara, library director, calls the Teen Lounge a
much-needed amenity. "It can be a real challenge to provide services for
young people between the ages of about 11 to 16. They often feel undervalued,
and having a space that they call their own can go a long way toward helping
these kids feel they belong in the library. The lounge was planned with the
assistance of a teen advisory board, and will have furnishings they asked for
and library materials they want."
The $50,000 AFOW grant will be made over five years, starting
in 2007. The American Friends of Whistler join several other community
organizations in making gifts in support of the new library building, slated
for opening in January.
The AFOW is a non-profit organization founded in 2002, which
has, to date, granted over $300,000 to Whistler community organizations.
WCC seeks business nominees
The Whistler Chamber of Commerce is inviting the public to
submit nominations for the Business Person of the Year-award.
The award will be given to a chamber member who has owned or
managed a business in Whistler successfully for at least five years. They are
profitable in their business ventures and always seek to lead through vision,
service excellence and innovation. They actively contribute to the business
community.
Last year, the committee identified a transparent selection
process with clear selection criteria. The committee encourages nominators to
provide an in-depth overview of the nominee. For more information and to
download a nomination form, go to www.whistlerchamber.com
This year’s winner will be announced at the chamber’s luncheon and AGM on Dec. 12.
Also on the agenda, VANOC construction general managers will
update the membership on the progress of the Whistler Nordic venue, the
Whistler Sliding Centre and Whistler Creekside. The luncheon will be
hosted by the Four Seasons Hotel, 11:45-1:30 p.m. To register, call 604-932-5922
ext 24.