March 21 event, prize raffle raising funds for projects across all five library branches
The South Central Regional Library is celebrating its 60th year with an upcoming gala event and the chance to win incredible prizes.
People are invited to test their knowledge at a quiz night Friday, March 21 at the Access Event Centre in Morden, and the evening will also launch a special big prize raffle featuring prize packages including a Blue Bombers ticket pack as well as Via Rail vouchers.
“We’re not booking a specific trip for someone, but we are providing tickets for a return trip … we’ve kind of figured out what the value of the trip might be if somebody wanted to go Winnipeg to Montreal return,” explained director of library services Cathy Ching.
The fun and games package includes Winnipeg Blue Bombers tickets and related goodies, while the lawn and garden package has equipment including a chainsaw, leaf blower and weed whacker as well as lawn chairs and a barbecue. Then there is the “Bling” package including a bottle of bubbly, chocolates, and a spa package.
“So we have lots of good things there,” said Ching, who also noted the anniversary celebrations had kicked off with a 50/50 raffle that saw the winning ticket drawn Tuesday. Half of the proceeds will go toward supporting library projects, and the other half will go to one lucky winner.
She is particularly excited though about bringing people together for the quiz night.
“It’s our gala event, so people are encouraged to bring out their fancier clothes. It’s not formal, but its semi-formal,” said Ching.
“It would be great if people could get a team of eight together,” she said, encouraging people to gather their friends, family, or coworkers to compete in teams, but you can also just register individually and be teamed up.
“They can go to their local library and have their name put on a table list,” Ching noted.
Ching said their idea was simply to offer people something different for fun as opposed to a formal evening and banquet. The $35 tickets cover the costs of the trivia competition and a charcuterie platter that will be served to each table.
“The proceeds from this evening will go to a variety of projects,” she noted. “Each library wants to do something with the some of the proceeds … everybody’s got a different project.”
The Altona branch will use the funds for an extension to its front desk, Manitou wants to update its seating areas with comfy couches, Miami is teaming up with the train station museum to develop a joint green space, Morden is going to renovate its meeting room, and Winkler is adding a coffee corner.
Ching noted they will also be applying for a grant from Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries with the hope that “it will give us with some seed money so that we can apply for some grants to do some bigger projects in each of our branches.”
Doors open for the quiz night at 6 p.m. with the activities starting at 7 p.m. Teams can register online at www.scrl60.com.
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the quiz night as well as in all five branches of library and online starting March 21.
“I am looking forward to our 60th year as a regional library because we have many things to celebrate, and we know that we would not be successful without all of you,”Ching stressed of the communities SCRL serves. “Join us in recognizing our many achievements.”
