Library to add French, Anishinaabemowin signage

Thirty years after Sault Ste. Marie City Council passed its controversial language resolution, our city-owned public library is adding French and Anishinaabemowin to its English-only wayfinding signage.

Matthew MacDonald, chief executive officer and director of libraries, told a Monday-night meeting of the local library board that a grant from the Ministry of Francophone Affairs will be used to upgrade the signage.

Part of the grant has already been spent on French-language books and ebooks, as well as two bilingual multimedia children's computers.

"As the grant will only cover a portion of the costs for a complete upgrade of the signage, the project will be done in phases," MacDonald said in a written report to his board.

"Signs will be prioritized and management will seek out other funding opportunities to help pay for the remaining phases," he said. 

At the urging of board chair Wayne Greco, it was agreed Monday that Anishinaabemowin should also be added when the signage is upgraded.

"If we're going to do it, let's do it all," Greco said.

"Obviously, the French should have been done a long time ago... Ojibway should be done if it's at all possible, where possible, at the same time."