Calgary Public Library Foundation launches Pathway to Play: a campaign for a new Outdoor Early Learning Centre at Signal Hill Library
Donors can leave their mark on the space with a window inscription reminiscent of the Windows of Opportunity campaign for the new Central Library.
Calgary, AB – Calgary Public Library Foundation is excited to launch Pathway to Play, a campaign for an outdoor Early Learning Centre at Signal Hill Library, set to open this summer. This donor-funded outdoor space will provide children and families with a dynamic environment designed to foster physical literacy, creativity, and connection through play.
Situated below Battalion Park and adjacent to Westhills Towne Shopping Centre, Signal Hill Library is one of the busiest library locations in Calgary’s southwest. It serves a diverse community, including families, seniors, students, and members of the nearby Tsuut’ina Nation. With up to 31,000 visitors per month, the demand for engaging and accessible learning spaces is significant.
The Signal Hill Outdoor Early Learning Centre will feature permanent play structures, imagination spaces, and intuitive design elements that seamlessly integrate natural and built environments. The space will be activated through programming as well as self-guided activities, inviting visitors to connect with others, and engage in exploratory play both during and outside of Library hours.
“The Library is committed to creating spaces like the Signal Hill Outdoor Early Learning Centre that support the needs of children and families in our growing community,” says Sarah Meilleur, CEO of Calgary Public Library. “This creative space will enhance learning at the Library by bringing literacy and education outside into an engaging, playful, and welcoming place for families. This investment in critical infrastructure allows children and their caregivers to come together to connect, learn, and build successful futures together.”
To support the completion of this exciting project, Calgary Public Library Foundation is launching a Window Inscription Project, offering community members the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy at Signal Hill Library while contributing to the Pathway to Play initiative.
As with the Windows of Opportunity campaign, which raised $1 million for Calgary’s Central Library in 2018, donors to the Pathway to Play will have the opportunity to leave their mark on Signal Hill Library, inscribing a window mullion with their name or a meaningful quote.
“All Early Learning Centres at Calgary Public Library are entirely donor-funded,” says Tracy Johnson, CEO of Calgary Public Library Foundation. “Donor contributions make it possible for the Library to add vibrant spaces that strengthen community connections and inspire learning. We’re proud to be able to offer another opportunity for Calgarians to leave their mark and support a Library location that they know and love.”
Donations in support of the Pathway to Play to build the Signal Hill Outdoor Early Learning Centre are gratefully accepted. Donors can secure their window today at libraryfoundation.ca/pathway-to-play.
QUICK FACTS
- 64% of children who use a Calgary Public Library Early Learning Centre transfer new ways of play at home and school.
- Calgary Public Library locations see an average of 400% increase in regular attendance once an Early Learning Centre opens.
- Families stay longer at Calgary Public Library locations with Early Learning Centres – they become a destination, supporting the whole family with free resources.
- Donors to the Pathway to Play campaign can inscribe a window at Signal Hill Library starting with a donation of $250.
