FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2015
CALGARY, AB– Today, the Calgary Public Library Foundation recognized a generous $1 million dollar leadership donation from Linda and Mike Shaikh in a naming and unveiling ceremony for the New Central Library.
With help from Her Honour, the Honourable Lois Mitchell, CM, AOE, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, The Honourable, MLA Joe Ceci, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance and His Worship Naheed Nenshi, the Library Foundation named the Shaikh Family Welcome Gallery to recognize their commitment to building a world class library system that reflects Calgary’s aspirations as a global city.
“We are proud to join with other Add In Founding Partners—leaders in creating this legacy for Calgary through philanthropic investment in the Library,” says Mike Shaikh. “It is our gift to future generations.”
In addition to announcing the Shaikh’s contribution, the Foundation celebrated the Founding Partners of Add In—the Campaign for Calgary’s Library. These partners have committed more than $8 million to build a library system for today and future generations. All of the contributors participated in forming a giant Lego brick wall and unveiling a 100,000 piece Lego model of the New Central Library, which will be on display at the Central Library for years to come.
“Together with all Calgarians, we are creating the best public library system in the world,” says Paul McIntyre Royston, President and CEO, Calgary Public Library Foundation. “With the leadership of Linda and Mike Shaikh, and the Add In Campaign Founding Partners, we are building a distinctive library system that will inspire discovery, promote learning and foster community interaction.”
To follow the lead of the founding partners, the Foundation has now invited Calgarians to participate in a crowd funding project to help build the IdeaLab within the New Central Library, a space that nurtures imagination and innovation. By investing what they can, Calgarians will play an important role in building a library system they can be proud of and that will bring the community together.
