Ontario Library Association (OLA) Announces 2024 Award Recipients

January 24, 2024

The Ontario Library Association (OLA) has announced the recipients of its 2024 awards recognizing individuals, organizations, and initiatives that have greatly contributed to Ontario’s libraries.

The awards will be presented during the 2024 OLA Super Conference being held from January 24 to 27 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

More information on the awards is available from the OLA website.

Ontario Library Association (OLA) Awards

Larry Moore Distinguished Service Award:
Dr. Sabrina Saunders

Ontario Library Association President’s Award for Exceptional Achievement:
Shelagh Paterson

OLA Les Fowlie Intellectual Freedom Award:
Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library, University of Toronto

OLA Les Fowlie Intellectual Freedom Award and The Joyce Cunningham Award:
Durham Region Public Libraries and Durham Region Children’s Aid Society For Their Collaboration On Drag Queen Storytime

OLA Archival and Preservation Achievement Award:
Archives and Special Collections (ARCS) on behalf of the Women’s Archives Initiative, University of Ottawa

OLA Technical Services Award:
Louanne Penny, Niagara Catholic District School Board

Ken Haycock Award For Promoting Librarianship:
Rebecca Jones, LLEAD Institute

Division Awards

Association des bibliothèques de l’Ontario-Franco (ABO-Franco) Awards

ABO-Franco Le Prix Micheline-Persaud:
Linda Savoie, Bibliothèque et Archives Canada

Ontario College and University Library Association (OCULA) Awards

OCULA Award for Special Achievement:
The Indian Residential School Survivors’ Storybase Team, University of Toronto Libraries

OCULA Lifetime Achievement Award:
Cynthia McKeich

Ontario Library Boards’ Association (OLBA) Awards

OLBA W.J. Robertson Medallion:
Christine Row, Mississippi Mills Public Library

The Joyce Cunningham Award and OLA Les Fowlie Intellectual Freedom Award:
Durham Region Public Libraries and Durham Region Children’s Aid Society For Their Collaboration On Drag Queen Storytime

Ontario Library and Information Technology Association (OLITA) Awards

OLITA Technology Advancing Libraries Award:
Short Story Dispenser, Halton Hills Public Library

Ontario Public Library Association (OPLA) Awards

OPLA Lifetime Achivement Award:
Elaine Bird

OPLA James Bain Medallion:
Paul Ainslie, Toronto Public Library Board

Ontario School Library Association (OSLA) Awards

OSLA Teacher-Librarian Of the Year Award:
Aimee Barber, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

OSLA School Library Professional Of The Year Award:
Victoria Riddle, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

OSLA Administrator Of The Year Award:
Peter Rewega, Toronto District School Board

(Via Ontario Library Association)