Pat Morris Communities Matter Initiative

Learn. Connect. Flourish.

Please note:  We will NOT be accepting applications to the Pat Morris Communities Matter Library Support Grant Program in Fall 2023.

The Pat Morris

Communities Matter Initiative

We are delighted to unveil the Pat Morris Communities Matter Initiative.  Honoring the late Pat Morris, this new initiative celebrates her love of ideas and learning and the dialectic and tutelage that emerges between reading and living.  Her commitment to service and community creation, have inspired us to focus the Communities Matter initiative toward supporting what we believe is the life-force of small communities: libraries.  Through their collections, programming, and dedicated people, libraries in small communities bring people together to learn, to reflect, to imagine, and to connect. They allow us to grow in ways un-imagined and provide refuge in times of need. They open the door to the world of ideas, allowing us to converse with history and debate our future.  They support our dreams, open our minds, and give us strength with which to venture into the world.

It is with humility and gratitude to all that libraries offer communities, that we dedicate this initiative to helping support their programming, extend their collections or support their outreach.

Communities Matter

Library Support Grant for Small Communities

Who Can Apply?

Any small Canadian community library serving a population of 10,000 or less that is registered as a “Qualified Donee” under the Canada Revenue Agency is eligible to apply.

What is Eligible?

Grant requests (typically of no greater than $10,000) will be considered for one or more of the following:

  • library acquisitions including physical collections, on-line or digital resources;
  • public literary events, literacy initiatives, book clubs, etc.;
  • workshops, presentations, guest speakers, etc.
  • programming (general or that targeted to groups such as seniors, teens, children, new community members, etc.);
  • outreach initiatives to enable the library to further its impact in and beyond the community;
  • other specific initiatives may be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

A Showcase of Library Support Grant Recipients

Thank you to all libraries and librarians for the amazing work you are doing to engage your community. Truly humbling.

It is our great pleasure to announce the recipients of the February 2022 Library Grant competition:

Bjorkdale Public Library
Edwardsburgh Cardinal Public Library
Kelsey Community School Public Library
Lanark Highlands Public Library
Marmora and Lake Public Library
Montreal West Public Library – Bibliothèque publique de Montréal-Ouest
Pinawa Public Library
Shellbrook Public Library
Sussex Regional Library
Tisdale Community Library – Wapiti Branch
Tyendinaga Township Public Library
Val Côté Public Library – Bibliothèque publique de Mattice
White Fox Wapiti Public Library

Thank you to the Kimberley Foundation for their funding toward our Summer Programming. The Kimberley Grant allowed us to connect with our community and provide a quality program for more than 80 children. To small town libraries that depend on grants and donations for their programming, this grant is an amazing asset. – Dian Campbell, Branch Librarian, Shellbrook Public Library

The Pat Morris Communities Matter Initiative allowed us to significantly expand our eBook collection during the pandemic, and provide many homebound patrons in our community with access to materials during an unprecedented time. In a difficult year, it also helped us celebrate inclusion, diversity, and joy with a family-friendly storytime program, led by drag queen/king performers. None of this would have been possible with the support of this initiative and we are extremely grateful for funding that recognizes the important role libraries play in small communities. We might be small, but we can have an incredible impact on people’s lives and that was made possible through this grant. Thank you!. – Monique Fiedler, Library Manager, Didsbury Municipal Library

Thanks to the Kimberley Foundation’s Pat Morris Communities Matter Grant our library was able to add 150 items to our collection featuring diverse voices and experiences.  This allowed our library to ensure that we have materials by BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ creators that make sure their experiences and voices are heard.  Small town libraries often have small budgets and are forced to prioritize popular authors to meet community demand so over time our collections can be missing many experiences and voices that deserve to be heard.  For our community this grant ensured our library has materials that allow all of us to listen to and explore diverse perspectives on the world.  This allows our library to be more welcoming and inclusive.  Thank you for believing in our library and helping us be a better community resource. – Megan Ginther, Library Manager, Carstairs Public Library

Music is a proven means of not only engendering a love of music and related skills but also reinforces and builds mathematical skill sets. In a small rural community this kind of access is such a boost to so many families.. – Maureen Penn, Library Director, Lac La Biche Public Library

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