Special events, community storytelling, and art commission mark WVML’s diamond jubilee
West Vancouver, B.C.— 2025 marks 75 years of the West Vancouver Memorial Library, which opened on November 11, 1950, as a war memorial. In recognition of this anniversary, the Library is collecting community stories, commissioning a “brick-tacular” art piece, and presenting special events throughout the fall. These offerings are jointly funded by the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, a West Vancouver Foundation Community Grant, and the West Vancouver Memorial Library Foundation.
Collecting Community Stories
Library lovers are encouraged to share their library stories through a novel recording rotary phone in the Main Hall of the until the end of September. Storytellers can pick up the handset and share cherished library memories. Select stories may be featured in future displays, on the web, and on YouTube.
“I am really loving the community stories that have been coming our way,” shares Stephanie Hall, Director of West Vancouver Memorial Library. “So many people have deep connections to the Library. Some of the stories are quirky, some heartfelt, but they all show how this institution has been part of people’s lives.”
Through the spring and summer of this year, more than 350 images of West Vancouver were submitted in response to WVML’s community callout to revitalize its digital collection. Now, the community is invited to vote for their favourite submissions in the upcoming gallery show, 75 Years in Focus: Our Community Photographs, on view in the Library until mid-November. Spanning the past 75 years, the exhibition captures West Vancouver’s enduring spirit through changing times and technologies. Select photographs are being preserved in the Library’s digital database, creating a living record of West Vancouver’s evolving environment and the people who call it home.
Celebrations continue with the release of West Vancouver Library Stories, a collection of personal reflections developed through a summer writing workshop led by local author Lindy Pfeil. This book brings together stories that highlight the Library’s role in the lives of West Vancouver residents. Enjoy an evening of storytelling, conversation, and celebration with fellow contributors and readers at the launch on November 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Art Commission
Kids and adults alike will delight in the of the Library, designed by local award-winning artist and LEGOMASTER Paul Hetherington. “As an adult I would study architecture and art at the West Vancouver Memorial Library,” shares Hetherington, whose mother was a librarian. “It is where I developed my love for architecture that would later translate into my career replicating buildings in LEGO form.” The sculpture, which took 90 hours to complete, contains 17,850 bricks and is 130 studs long by 66 studs wide, and 20 bricks high. “The most fun detail was using the front round decoration from the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine LEGO set as umbrellas on the parking lot deck.” The most ? The book drop. “I had to use several different SNOT (Studs Not On Top) techniques to get the right look and scale for that section,” shares Hetherington. The LEGO sculpture will be on view in the Library starting September 23.
Additionally, those driving up Taylor Way may have seen the seasonal planting in the display bed, which was undertaken in partnership with the Parks Department to commemorate the Library’s 75th anniversary. “The design was thoughtfully developed to reflect both the significance of this milestone and the historical context of the site,” explains Tiffany Bentley, Parks Environmental and Ecosystems Manager. “It features a representation of an open book, symbolizing the Library, alongside poppies to honour the War Memorial Heritage.”
Special Events
Patrons interested in the unique art and architecture of the Library are invited to join a guided tour of the Library on Wednesday, November 12 to learn about the architectural history of the beloved building.
Hear about LEGO artist Paul Hetherington’s inspiration and process at Our Library in LEGO®: A 75th Anniversary Creation on Wednesday, October 8, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Fans of Douglas Coupland will be thrilled to hear from him in conversation with award-winning journalist and author Marsha Lederman next up in WVML’s Big Ideas lecture series on Friday, October 3, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
As usual, the Library will be open on Remembrance Day following the ceremony and Friends of the Library reception from 1 to 5 p.m., with some additional flourishes to mark the anniversary.
“This anniversary is from the founding of our current facility, which was built as a successful referendum as a library and war memorial,” explains Hall. “As the community came out of World War II, they wanted to ensure that no one would forget the horrors of war and the sacrifices made. The Library was perfectly suited to these intentions, as a memory institution and a place of growth and learning.”
This community-driven spirit continues with the Library Foundation’s fundraiser, Remembering the Early Years: A 75th Anniversary Fundraiser, on Friday, November 7, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Patrons will be treated to historical storytelling about the library’s early beginnings in between piano interludes with music from throughout the decades by Piano Heist. There will also be a silent auction of local artwork and donated gifts for guests to bid on. Tickets.
Hall adds, “It’s very important to remember that public libraries exist because people worked hard to create the world they wanted to see.”