INNISFAIL – After a dedicated commitment to the Innisfail Public Library that stretches back 18 years Tracey Kinsella has finally moved on to find other vehicles to propel her beloved community progressively forward.
She leaves the Innisfail Public Library Board (IPLB) after serving as chair since 2015. She also leaves behind an admirable legacy.
“Tracey's done a great job. She's just done a great job of leadership with that organization. Innisfail should be very proud of the library that we have here,” said Coun. Janice Wing, town council’s current representative on the IPLB.
“The library is in solid condition. The legacy is that we are held in high esteem among other libraries in the province.
“We've just celebrated our 10th anniversary in our new building and Tracy was a part of that process when she was on council. So yes, absolutely. She leaves a strong legacy.”
The 51-year-old Kinsella, who was a three-term town councillor from 2004 to 2013, began her lengthy service to the Innisfail Public Library Board as council’s representative in 2004, and several times after that until retiring from council and moving with her family a few kilometres southeast of town to an acreage in Red Deer County.
In 2015 she was selected as board chair and continued in that role until her last meeting on Oct. 18.
Kinsella has been succeeded by Innisfailian Pauline Wigg.
“You have to move on. It's healthy for me to move on and contribute to another area in our community. But it's good for the library to have fresh, new voices, new ideas,” said Kinsella.
"Somebody new out there has something innovative and we need to hear from them. We need to keep it fresh. All of our boards believe that.”
She believes a big highlight for her on council, as well as her service on the library board, was the creation and ongoing progress of the 19,375-sq.-ft. Innisfail Library/Learning Centre; a facility that was officially opened on Jan. 23, 2012 at a cost $8 million and is now known as the “community living room.”
“Building that amazing glorious facility that we have was a highlight,” said Kinsella, who proudly attended and worked the barbecue at the facility’s 10th anniversary celebration in 2022.
She added the library’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was also huge; an “amazing navigating” process by the library team that proved to be innovative and vital for the entire community.
“How we navigated through the pandemic to transition and bring programs curbside and still offer that service. We know how critical libraries are to communities, and it was important that we just still be there for the residents that need us,” said Kinsella, adding success came about through hard working discussions between the board and the library team. “That team at the library navigated this completely.
“I think just even creating this community living room it's been a safe space for anybody, any demographic."
Kinsella also noted the library’s current strategic plan process, which started in 2018, has just been completed; a document that will have community consultation.
“What do you want from your library? Tell us,” said Kinsella of the process.
As for her future plans, Kinsella said she will continue her board work with Innisfail Town Theatre (ITT) and 1st Innisfail Scouts. She has been with ITT since 2009 and the local scouts board since 2014.
“I will always continue to give back and contribute to my community. Absolutely. My passion is sports, museums, libraries. So yes, there will be something there for me for sure,” said Kinsella.
And despite the fact she now lives just a few kilometres outside of town, she will always consider herself a devoted Innisfailian.
“Innisfail is still my community. Innisfail is my home,” said Kinsella. “That will never change.”
