Passion for People and Pages: Langley Teacher-Librarians Recognized with Awards

October 29, 2020

October is Canadian Library Month, and this year the Langley School District has extra reason to celebrate! Teacher Librarians, Joanie Proske and Richard Beaudry were both recognized with awards this year from the BC Teacher-Librarians’ Association (BCTLA) for their contributions to not only our school communities and school libraries, but their hard work outside the District.

Joanie Proske, who recently retired in June after being the Teacher-Librarian at Walnut Grove Secondary for 16 years, was recognized with the Val Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is aimed at “recognizing the commitment and achievement of teacher-librarians who have made outstanding contributions to teacher-librarianship, and school libraries”, according to the BCTLA.

“Joanie was passionate about the leadership role of the teacher-librarian at the school and district levels,” says Director of Instruction for the Langley School District, Dawne Tomlinson. “She also took a powerful mentorship role, formally and informally, in supporting and preparing young teacher-librarians for the unique challenges and opportunities of the role. She continues to teach Librarianship courses through Queens University. She is fiercely committed to teaching literacy in all its forms, and passionate about students reading for pleasure.”

Richard Beaudry, who is the current Teacher-Librarian at R.E. Mountain Secondary, was recognized with the BCTLA’s President’s Award. The award “recognizes the commitment and achievement of a teacher-librarian who has made outstanding contributions”, according to the BCTLA’s website.

“Richard is the Chair of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations’ Intellectual Freedom Committee and passionate about freedom of information, intellectual freedom and censorship issues in school libraries,” says Tomlinson. “Richard currently splits his time between REMSS where he is the Teacher-Librarian and UBC, where he teaches classes in the Teacher-Librarianship Diploma program.”

“Both Joanie and Richard have contributed so much to our profession over the years,” says Tomlinson. “Thanks to both of them for so much of their passion, vision, and courage in championing the importance of school libraries as the innovation centre of literacy, academics, and community for learners in every school. Congrats to you both for the awards!”

The District would also like to congratulate both for their amazing achievements, not only in being recognized with awards, but their continued effort to bring our learning community together.