The pages keep turning as Blind River Public Library celebrates centennial year in 2026
Local community hub thrives with help from Cameco and other community partners
Apr 7, 2026 7:00 AM
This story is made possible through the support of Cameco as part of ElliotLakeToday’s Not-for-Profit Program
At 100 years young, the Blind River Public Library (BRPL) continues to thrive, supporting all of its patrons with inclusive programming, events, and access to books, ebooks, computer literacy, and more, from its home at 8 Woodward Ave., Blind River.
“In 2025, the BRPL had over 15,000 patrons through its doors,” smiled head librarian Jennifer Fortin. “This includes people from the town of Blind River, the North Shore, and other patrons from outside the region, who can become members for an annual fee of $40.”
Library patrons access the library for lots of reasons, including to borrow books or ebooks through Libby or Cantook, to enjoy the cozy fireside reading area, to use a computer or take a class in computer literacy, to enjoy a story time or book club meeting, to craft or learn a skill, or, this time of year, to get income tax returns done.
“For 2026, our Centennial year, we have extra programs planned throughout the year,” said Fortin. “Our centennial birthday party is on July 7 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. with free hot dogs, hamburgers and of course, cake. We also have a historical booklet for sale for $1 each and centennial bags for $2 each.”
The BRPL came into being in 1926. “In 1926 the library started with 40 books in the basement of the Town Hall,” explained Fortin. “Then in 1932 the library needed more space and moved to an empty school portable near the white building on Michigan Avenue. Volunteers cleaned the space, painted, built shelves and moved in the books. This is where the children’s story hour started…. very successfully!”
By the end of that first decade, the library had over 8,000 books. In 1948 the Town Council passed a resolution to donate a site for the library, and the portable was moved across the street to Michigan Ave.
“In 1964 the library became a municipal library after a by-law was passed to establish the Blind River Public Library and the Library Association dissolved,” continued Fortin. “With the library now under the Public Libraries Act, residents could now borrow books for free, and the library was no longer dependent on donations but grants from the province and the continued support of the Town of Blind River.”
In the 1990’s, with library usage continuing to soar and the advent of the internet, Cameco stepped in to provide support in the form of a large donation to automate equipment and the library collection.
Cameco has continued to support the library, with multiple large donations enabling the BRPL to purchase computers, and items needed for children’s literacy programming, as well as all of the furnishings and items needed for the children’s room in the new library, which opened in 2000, and remains the current BRPL location.
Fortin was also successful in obtaining funding from Cameco for literacy computer workstations and software aimed at youth 6-12 yrs old, in 2017, which is still used today.
“The library was and is an inclusive environment that strives to meet the needs of all in our community and surrounding areas,” said Fortin. “People can be found around our fireplace in the Cameco Reading Room, or at workshops, crafting, story time, book club, public computers, using our free Wi-Fi or checking out books, DVDs, or magazines in the library.”
She added, “With ebooks and audiobooks on the rise, BRPL does offer Libby and Cantook for free reading to our active card holders. Community partnerships continue to flourish and help our library thrive.”
Fortin concluded, “We had over 1000 active card holders in 2025! The Blind River Public Library is busier than ever, and this Centennial year will be no exception. All of the people involved with the Blind River Public Library, staff and volunteers alike, are proud of their service to the community and look forward to continuing to put unity in community with more than just books!”
The Blind River Public Library is open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drop in or visit the BRPL website today for more information. https://share.google/7rExEsMNDwPWdX8fJ
