Edna Mirasty is a Lac La Ronge Indian Band member born and raised in La Ronge. (Senator Myles Venne School/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

New chapter

Mirasty retires as SMVS librarian after 40 years

Oct 31, 2019 | 4:49 PM

Edna Mirasty spent 40 years working as a librarian for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) and this Halloween marked her final day on the job.

She first began working at Kitaski School as the secretary and librarian after she transferred from the band office in 1979. After six weeks of training from the previous librarian, Mirasty was left on her own before receiving a library information technology certificate in 1982. At the time, she stated the space she had to work out of was quite small.

Back in the early 1980s, one memory Mirasty recalled was when herself, the education directors and other staff travelled to Toronto to purchase books for all seven of the LLRIB schools. She said they spent a week there visiting warehouses and choosing what books they needed. Another memorable moment was in the early 1990s.

“When they first had the expansion, everyone had to move from Kitaski because it was being renovated,” Mirasty said, adding the expansion took about one year. “They had rented out the Harbour Inn across from Robertson’s Trading. It was used as a little school. They had a library there and all the rooms were made into classrooms.”

Kitaski School was renamed Senator Myles Venne School (SMVS) when it re-opened in 1993 and with it came a much bigger library. In 1994, Mirasty went away to Calgary where she earned a diploma in library studies the following year.

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Mirasty mentioned the library at SMVS is special in how it also serves as a provincial public library like the one in La Ronge. She noted the library stays open until 6 p.m. throughout the week and students always use it during that time to do homework or other activities.

“We have teacher supervisors who look after the afterschool program,” Mirasty said. “The public library has to be open a few hours a day.”

Throughout the years, Mirasty was also known for delivering extracurricular activities for students. She’s coached volleyball, as well as organized the family literacy program and Cree choir. Mirasty plans to continue her volunteer work into retirement.

On Oct. 30, staff and students at SMVS came together in the gymnasium to celebrate the four decades Mirasty served as a librarian. Elysia Charles, the current circulation clerk at Pahkisimon Nuye?áh Library System (PNLS) in Air Ronge, takes over her responsibilities Nov. 4.

“It was kind of emotional,” Mirasty said of the gathering Wednesday. These kids here, their parents went through this library too and now it’s them and it will probably be their kids too.”

On Saturday, the public is invited to a come and go tea at the PNLS head office between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

“I just loved my career and it’s time to slow down,” she said. “I have health issues like people do when they get older. I’m not supposed to retire for another five years, but I thought early retirement is what I need to focus on my health and myself.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno