BCLTA Annual Awards

BC public library trustees give their time and efforts to govern one of the most cherished institutions in communities across BC.

To recognize their work, each year the BCLTA accepts nominations for two different awards.

The next call for award nominations will be in the spring of 2024.

Nancy Bennett Governance Merit Award

This annual award recognizes a trustee who has contributed to strengthening public library governance provincially or regionally. The nominee must have been on a public library board within the past two years.

BCLTA Trustee Excellence Award

This annual award recognizes a trustee who through governance excellence has made a major contribution to their public library and community. The nominee must have been on a public library board within the past two years.


BCLTA Awards 2023

BCLTA is pleased to announce the following recipients of BCLTA Trustee Excellence Award at the 2023 AGM.

  • Janet Hodgkinson, Gibsons and District Public Library Board
  • Tony Rykes, McBride Public Library Board
  • Elaine Su, New Westminster Public Library Board
  • Dianne Wilson, Pender Island Public Library Board

BCLTA Awards 2022

BCLTA is pleased to announce that Wally Bergen, a long time serving member and past chair of the Smithers Public Library Board, recieved the BCLTA Trustee Excellence Award at the 2022 AGM.


BCLTA Awards 2021

BCLTA is pleased to announce the following recipients of BCLTA Trustee Excellence Award at the 2021 AGM.

  • Jennifer Chan, Vancouver Public Library Board
  • Josie Chuback, Whistler Public Library Board
  • Anne Rayner-Gouid, Greenwood Public Library Board
  • Neelam Sahota, Surrey Public Library Board

BCLTA Awards 2020

BCLTA is pleased to announce the following recipients of BCLTA Awards at the 2020 AGM.

  • Judith Walton, Squamish Public Library Board, received the BCLTA Trustee Excellence Award
  • Bevin Heath Ansley, Whistler Public Library Board, received the BCLTA Trustee Excellence Award 
  • Anni Holtby, Nelson Public Library Board, received the BCLTA Nancy Bennett Governance Merit Award

BCLTA Awards 2019

Karen Reid Sidhu
2019 BCLTA Super Trustee

On May 10th, as part of the BC Libraries Conference Annual Awards Luncheon, the prestigious BCLTA Super Trustee Award was presented by BCLTA outgoing President Jerrilyn Schembri to Karen Reid Sidhu, Board Chair of the Surrey Libraries Board.


BCLTA Awards 2018

For the 2018 Awards the BC Library Association generously invited BCLTA to be part of their Annual Awards Luncheon. It was a real honour for Jerrilyn Schembri, as BCLTA President, to present the BCLTA trustee awards in front of a large crowd from across the library community – what a way to showcase the work of boards and trustees!

The 2018 Award recipients are:

  • Kyla Epstein, Vancouver Public Library Board, for BCLTA Super Trustee Award
  • Smithers Public Library Board for BCLTA Super Trustees Award
  • Barry Avis, Vancouver Island Regional Library Board for BCLTA Library Advocate Award

BCLTA 2018 Awards, (l-r) Wendy Wright (Library Director, Smithers Public Library accepting on behalf of her Board), Jerrilyn Schembri (BCLTA President), Kyla Epstein (Vancouver Public Library, Board Chair) and Barry Avis (Vancouver Island Regional Library, Board Chair)