How a City Councillor Found His Voice at the Library

John Findura is the city councillor for Regina’s Ward 5, but he started that career path, in part, at the library. In 1976, John immigrated to Canada from Poland. Living with his grandparents at 15 years old, he spoke very little English. This barrier made it hard to make friends and adjust to life at a new high school in a different culture. 

“I couldn't communicate,” John says, “and so I got left behind.”

Working his first job at Hotel Saskatchewan, he made his first priority improving his English. Lucky his him, the job put him close to the downtown library. 

“The library, to me, was a sanctuary,” he says, “It was a safe place and it had education, and I was hungry for education.” But he says those first attempts at independent learning were tough. He would look at the books and couldn't understand any of the words.

One day, he was looking at books trying to find familiar Polish words or connect pictures to new concepts. The task was too difficult. That’s when he got a tap on the shoulder from a library staff member. 

“Can I help you?” they asked John.

After fumbling through a translation dictionary, John felt understood. He was looking for English education. That simple tap on the shoulder pushed him along his path to learning, making friends, joining teams, and getting more involved. 

Today, John uses his personal experience every day as a city councillor to make new Canadians feel welcome. Programs like Community Connection in partnership with the city aim to educate and build relationships with new Canadians at the library, just like John all those years ago. Watch John talk about his journey as part of our #RPLStories. Click the video link below.

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