Catching up with: Dawn Monroe

July 20, 2026

Catching up with is a new profile series from Librarianship.ca to feature members of the community who have retired. If you are interested in being featured in this, or other Librarianship.ca profile series, contact us at info@librarianship.ca

You may remember me from…

I lived and worked in Ottawa for over 30 years. I was a government librarian working at the Public/National Archives, Employment and Immigration Canada (EIC), Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) and retired in 2004 as chief librarian at Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). I was involved in the local Ottawa Area Girl Guides for 20 years.

What have you been up to since retiring from the federal public service?

I relocated to live in Cochrane in Northern Ontario where I worked for a year and a half at the local public library. I have been volunteering at the local Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village for 20 years. I have served as president of the Canadian Shield United Church Women (covers most of Northern Ontario). I have also served on the Cochrane Centennial History Committee and am currently involved with the Great Cochrane Historical Society.

What were some of your personal highlights from your time as a government librarian?

I enjoyed working and collaborating with my government colleagues at every department. I am enjoying still being in touch with many of them. Serving to the best of my ability at each department was always a highlight for me.

Why librarianship as a career?

When I was growing up, the local public library was in our house. When the library had a new building of its own I became one of the first pages to work there. At first I earned my allowance by helping shelve books and then was formally hired to work for Scarborough Public Libraries. Reading and libraries are part of my being.

Who were your mentors?

My two great aunts, with whom I lived, salvaged the local public library and worked to establish the Scarborough Public Library System. A local school librarian used to come to our public school and talk about books and reading—Thank you Mrs. Donaldson.

What do you miss most about being a government librarian?

Since I do research for my web publications on Famous Canadian Women I still do research. What I miss most are the people … the staff and colleagues … the patrons, young and old … serving the community.

What would you tell yourself ten to twenty years ago that you wish you knew then?

Maybe I would not have retired from the government as early as I did, but really, life usually unfolds as it should, and if you are lucky, you keep learning.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in librarianship?

Modern librarianship is wide open … not just books but the organization of and research for information now knows no boundaries. You are the one who will continue to organize and provide access to information no matter what format or where it is found. Recognition for what librarians do does not come easily. Continue the work and the battle.

What advice would you offer someone planning to retire soon?

Maybe not quite cold turkey, work part-time maybe in another library field. Ease into your acceptance of retirement.

What are you…
… reading?

Historical Fiction, biographies of Canadian women, local history

… listening to?

The news to keep up to date, the music I love, and maybe audiobooks in the future

… watching?

Good movies, biopics, historic documentaries, now and then cartoons with the grands

What’s next?

Keep on researching for my web pages, continuing to volunteer and serving my community although, I admit, as an octogenarian, I do these things a little slower these days. I also have a working manuscript on Women of Northern Ontario which I hope to publish. Women’s stories still need to be told.

Visit Dawn’s Famous Canadian Women website: