Who was John Marcel Cuelenaere for whom this library is named? How is he remembered by those who knew him?

We first met him around the dining table in Bill Wright's boarding house. A bean-pole of a man, he had been selected by John Diefenbaker from the graduating class in law of that year as the most likely man to succeed in his profession, and Diefenbaker invited him to work in his office. It is the early 30's; poverty is the lot of most young men and Jack is no exception. He works long and hard at his apprenticeship and develops into a competent and skillful barrister.

Next he is in Regina. It is 1945. He is serving his third year as alderman and is the chairman of the Finance Committee. With Mayor George Brock and Charles S. Lacroix there is a meeting of the representatives of the Bondholders' Committee with the city's committee in the Board Room of the Local Government Board, to attempt a settlement of the City's default in payment of its debentures. It fails, but Jack Cuelenaere comes home determined to find a solution.

The next year he is back. Now he is Mayor and knows precisely the kind of solution he would like and the minimum solution he can live with. He comes home with banner headlines in the Prince Albert Herald and a settlement better than he had hoped to get. The settlement ends an era when a hopeless burden of debt prevented the City from making any progress at all, but there is still the long road to be followed to make the settlement effective.

For nine years, until 1955, Mayor Cuelenaere devoted every minute he could spare from his legal practice to promoting the City's welfare. There were visits to Toronto to show Bay Street that Prince Albert was still a city worth investing in; the first sale of City debentures since World War I; a shake-up in the administration and careful budgeting; the purchase of old city debentures at discounts; and the beginning of improvement in the economy as several small industries were established. Mayor Cuelenaere saw the establishment of the North Central Regional Library and was chairman for its first year.

Jack Cuelenaere was to come back as Mayor of Prince Albert in 1961-62; he was elected M.L.A. for Shellbrook in 1964; and entered the Provincial Cabinet as Minister of Natural Resources. He was Minister of Natural Resources until October 18, 1966 when he resigned and became Minister without Portfolio until his death February 12, 1967.

It was his bequest of one-third of his estate towards a library building for the City he loved which initiated the planning for the building we dedicate today.

Those who knew him will tell you that John Marcel Cuelenaere was a man who set the highest standards of conduct for himself - honest to a fault, deeply religious, a reader of books and a lover of learning, and that they were proud to call him friend.

The Public Library in Prince Albert

Library service to the people of Prince Albert began in 1897 through a Mechanics Institute, with a limited number of books available to subscription members only.

The first public library was established in 1912.

Until 1937, when it was housed on the ground floor of the Holmes Block, at the corner of Eighth Street and First Avenue East, it had a number of locations - 1311 Central Avenue, an upstairs room in the Empress Theatre Block and another upstairs room of the old City Hall.

In 1951, when it became the largest branch library in the North Central Saskatchewan Regional Library, it was moved to 56 12th Street West, the former Prince Albert club, erected in 1912.

At that time it was spacious and attractive, but by 1958 it had become so crowded that it was impossible to provide the proper facilities for readers to browse and do research and for the staff to give efficient service.

As the need for expansion became more obvious, the Prince Albert Library was fortunate to have a staunch patron - John M. Cuelenaere, a Prince Albert lawyer who became mayor of the City. North Central Saskatchewan Regional Library was established while he was mayor and he served as the chairman during its first year. Mr. Cuelenaere went on to serve as M.L.A. for Shellbrook in 1964; he was Minister of Natural Resources until 1966. He passed away February 12, 1967.

It was John Cuelenaere's bequest of one-third of his estate towards a library building for Prince Albert that initiated the campaign that led to the present John M. Cuelenaere Public Library.

An enthusiastic debate ensued until a referendum was held in 1972. A full-page ad in the Prince Albert Daily Herald on June 10 of that year spelled out the problems with the library facilities of the day and the advantages that a new building would afford to the Library. Expansions were predicted in all areas including collections, hours and audio-visual services.

Prince Albertans cast their votes in favour of the new building and plans began. The building was designed by Moore Taylor Architects and contracting was awarded to Pearson Western(Saskatoon) Ltd.