Meet our new Library Director, Mikale Fenton

We’re excited to announce that our Board of Trustees has appointed Mikale Fenton as the new Library Director of Whistler Public Library!

“The Whistler Public Library is a special and unique place in our community. The WPL Board was searching for someone who could continue to build upon the work of our former Library Director, Elizabeth Tracy.” says Mike Walsh, Chair of the WPL Board. “There is no doubt in our minds we found the right person in Mikale Fenton who has all the experience and skills we were looking for and will be an outstanding leader and library director.”

Mikale joins us from North Vancouver City Library (NVCL), where she was the Manager of Public Services. Her recent projects included implementing the libraries’ pandemic response as well as launching their digital learning space.

Prior to this, she was the Head of Community, Program and Service Development, where she worked to strengthen the relationship between the libraries and stakeholders such as municipal government, local First Nations, and the School District. She was one of the primary leads responsible for the NVCL’s priority to honour Indigenous perspectives in library programs and services.

Mikale holds a Master’s in Library and Information Studies from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Non-Fiction / Professional Writing from the University of Victoria.

“My family and I are thrilled to join the Whistler community. I have been an admirer of Whistler Public Library’s innovative approach to service development for many years. My first priority as director will be to listen and learn from WPL’s outstanding team of staff, trustees, and community members, and look for ways to apply my skills and experience to help us continue to grow together,” says Fenton.

Our outgoing director, Elizabeth Tracy, lead our team from 2012 until May of 2022, when she accepted the role of Chief Administrative Officer of the Village of Pemberton. She had moved to Whistler from the Wilkinson Public Library in Telluride, Colorado.

“I’d like to thank the management team at the WPL for providing interim leadership as acting directors over the last few months,” says Ted Battiston, General Manager of Corporate and Community Services, “Elizabeth certainly deserves a great deal of credit for building strong foundations at the WPL, but I’d also like to recognize the work of the current WPL managers who have really stepped up to bridge the time until we could welcome Mikale to her new role as library director.”

Mikale started her new role on Monday, November 7. Please give her a warm welcome when you see her around the library!