Stanley A. Milner Library | ?m | 6s | EPL | Teeple Architects

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The Passing of Dr. Stanley Milner​

April 26, 2021


The passing of Dr. Stanley A. Milner is a great loss to our community. Throughout his esteemed career, Dr. Milner was an active and passionate participant in civic, charitable, business, education and military pursuits. The recipient of numerous leadership honours, including the City’s Certificate of Meritorious Service, Dr. Milner’s commitment to Edmonton and city building was deep and lasting. It is fitting that his name and the memory of his generosity and support will live on in the heart of the city at the revitalized downtown branch of the Edmonton Public Library and at Village at Griesbach on Milner Crescent.

“From his work as a member of City Council, to his leadership roles with numerous civic institutions, Stanley Milner helped shape Edmonton into the uplifting and enterprising city we enjoy today,” says Mayor Don Iveson. “Stan’s support and passion for veterans and the military was legendary, and was central to building the reputation Edmonton has with military members and their families as a welcoming and caring home base.”

“Stan Milner was a beloved Edmonton giant, a true gentleman and a friend,” said City Manager Andre Corbould. “His connection and service to our community was outstanding and his contributions will have a lasting, uplifting impact on our city for generations to come,” Corbould said.

Dr. Milner served a term on the Edmonton City Council from 1962 to 1963 and was chair of the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) Board from 1963 until 1968. During this time, he successfully advocated for a new central downtown library which opened in 1967 and named in his honour in 1996. Dr. Milner’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit significantly impacted the growth and establishment of EPL services. For more than sixty years, he remained a steadfast supporter and friend of the Edmonton Public Library. His pioneering vision was aptly captured on the plaque that adorned the 1967 Centennial Library: “The Edmonton Public Library, A Centennial gift to all seeking knowledge, inspiration or recreation.”
“Stanley Milner was the Edmonton Public Library’s greatest champion,” said EPL CEO Pilar Martinez. “Mr. Milner recognized the importance of establishing the library as a central community anchor and had the vision to build a library system for Edmontonians to foster learning at all ages. EPL remains grateful to him for his business acumen, generosity and leadership. As we celebrate the life of a brilliant businessman, dedicated philanthropist and good friend, we can be certain that Mr. Milner’s impact on EPL and the city of Edmonton will be a lasting legacy.”

An avid community builder, Dr. Milner’s generosity was extended to community organizations around the city, as a leader and champion for many of the city’s organizations, including the Boards of Edmonton Northlands, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Edmonton Football Team.

Flags at City Hall will be lowered to half-mast in his honour from 9 a.m. Monday, April 26until sunset Tuesday, April 28.

The City of Edmonton and EPL send our deepest sympathies to the Milner Family and all who are impacted by this loss.​

Media contacts:

City of Edmonton
Pat Hutchison
Communications & Engagement
780-405-2304

Edmonton Public Library
Lynda Vang
Communications Specialist
lynda.vang@epl.ca
780-819-4337​
 
IanO said:
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1401260170068459522
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And if council budgeted enough money for a proper rebuild instead of a simple renovation, people like him would be up in arms about the city "wasting taxpayer dollars" on things like this instead of potholes or whatever. "The library is basically a bike lane but with books!" The cost of this renovation was approximately $85 million. Meanwhile, Calgary's new Central Library, which the Stanley Milner is often compared to by critics, costed approximately $245 million. Edmontonians need to understand that we cannot hope to get everything we want with public projects without committing more of our tax dollars towards them. From what I hear, this library greatly expanded its spaces and offerings on the inside, and that's what counts the most. With the limited budget that they were given because of voter attitudes towards spending taxpayer money, I much prefer that they prioritize on making this space the best-quality possible to serve our needs, instead of turning it into a shiny building that had the same old space limitations and outdated offerings on the inside.

Instead of mocking the city for adopting this design, we should be shaking our heads that so many Edmonton voters have such hubris to believe that we can drastically improve our city without impacting our taxes, as if oil prices were back up to $100 per barrel. Or worse, the closedmindedness to believe that any and all improvements that our city makes are unacceptable wastes of money if taxes go up as much as one cent. Yes I'm still salty about this. How could you tell?
 
^

regardless of how this was inflicted on us - the board and their consultants not being strong enough to ask/demand for enough money to do it right, council not being prepared to approve enough money, neither body being able to read a set of drawings, or a fear of public backlash because they mistakenly think they know what's important to the public - it is still inexcusable.

i for one would rather do with less things than live in a city full of "good enough things for edmonton". someone - or a series of someones - made the choices between this and what this should have been, between this and the new police station (both awarded to the same design firm), between something that needs to be excused and a flagship buildings as a statement of how we do things in edmonton.

if we are not prepared to mock what is mockworthy (along with the attitudes and the history and choices that allows mockworthy to be built) all we will get is more of the same. almost everything that is wrong in a city that elected and reelected a mayor based on "no more crap" is exemplified in this building. i for one would rather wait a few more years for something than live with mistakes like this for decades.

instead of accepting what we shouldn't (whether that's the library, peregrine point, hall d, the bank of montreal site, the old baccarat casino et al), i say we "mock on" until we don't do things at all unless we're doing them right.
 
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