(Image Credit: Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Public safety

Prince Albert library director raises alarm about safety concerns

Mar 12, 2026 | 5:20 PM

A stolen quilt worth several thousands of dollars, portable sound systems going missing, and multiple threats against staff and security.

These are some of the examples of the incidents occurring at John M. Cuelenaere (JMC) Public Library in Prince Albert according to Director Greg Elliott.

The library is listed as an official warm-up location for Prince Albert, but Elliott said safety and security issues have been growing in recent years, particularly since the pandemic.

He blames, in part, the changes the provincial government made when it ended the policy of directly paying the landlords of certain people who were on social assistance. He also said there isn’t enough space for the homeless population to seek reprieve in the city, especially during the winter.

“We are basically being used as an outlet for social services, and we’re not capable of doing that, we’re not trained to do that,” Elliot said.

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His comments follow a recent statement from CUPE Saskatchewan, which called on the provincial government to declare a workplace health and safety emergency.

The union stated chronic underfunding, staff shortages, and limited access to training and supports have created conditions that put both workers and the public at risk.

Following some safety related incidents at Saskatoon libraries, Elliott said members of a government ministry visited libraries including the Cuelenaere and after hearing what had already occurred and what protocols were in place, sent a list of recommendations to the library’s staff.

“But this doesn’t come with any increased funding, and the onus is being placed on the municipality to fund any improvements in security,” he said, adding they do have a security guard on site and cameras.

The City of Hamilton has addressed similar safety concerns by limiting library access to library card users. At Winnipeg libraries, they’ve gone so far as to install metal detectors.

“We do hear concerns from patrons about feeling unsafe because of the presence of unhoused patrons, but I do not at the present time see myself requesting that the board, as has the board of the Hamilton Public Library, refuse entry to individuals without library cards; it’s draconian, it’s unfeasible, and really just moves the problem along rather than solving it,” Elliot said.

On Thursday, Nathaniel Teed, the NDP’s Shadow Minister for Labour and Workplace Safety, was in Prince Albert and met with local union groups and healthcare workers. He said he heard heart-wrenching stories regarding the safety concerns they are experiencing and that’s why the NDP is calling on the government to increase training and security for staff at the libraries.

“Library workers aren’t trained as social workers, they are not trained in mitigating an altercation that could happen,” Teed said.

While he was not able to meet with the local library staff on Thursday, Teed said he does plan to do so during a future visit to Prince Albert.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell