Information bulletin

For immediate release

Crews working on repairs following flood

Saanich, BC – District of Saanich crews and contractors recently started repairing the damage caused by the large-scale flood August 23 at G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre. Crews completed remediation work in mid-September.

The Saanich Centennial branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library, Saanich Archives, and the Queen Alexandra Room will remain closed in the interim.It’s estimated all facilities will reopen in late December 2019.

On November 1, all library material drop boxes will be open along the exterior wall of the Saanich Centennial branch. A temporary pick-up station will be set up inside the G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre lobby where library patrons can pick up their items on hold during established service hours. Residents are welcome to visit any of the 11 other Greater Victoria Public Library locations. The closest GVPL location is the Emily Carr Branch at Uptown.

An early estimate of facility damages due to the flood is approximately $500,000. Thanks to the quick actions of municipal and library overnight staff, the extent of the flood was limited. The Saanich Archives collections sustained only minimal damage and nothing was destroyed. Archives staff cannot provide access to the collections or accept any artifact donations during the closure.

A broken water pipe in the mechanical room of the library caused the major flood.

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Media contact:

Harley Machielse
Director of Engineering, District of Saanich 
250-475-5446
harley.machielse@saanich.ca 

Jessica Woollard
Communications Officer, Greater Victoria Public Library
jwoollard@gvpl.ca
Office: 250-940-4875 ext. 346
Cell: 778-679-7228