OLA Super Conference 2019: Powered by the People

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It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 2019 OLA Super Conference. For 25 years, this conference has aimed to deliver an inspiring, stimulating, and relevant experience for those working in all types of libraries. Over those years, we have grown in size and also in perspective. As the largest library conference in Canada, and we attract approximately 5,000 attendees from across the county and beyond the border. Our conference this year reflects the library experiences of those attendees, and I hope you are inspired by new perspectives and different voices.

Out theme this year, "Powered By The People", is inspired by the phrase adopted by Ontario Hydro in 1906. Delivering power to the people was considered revolutionary and allowed communities the thrive in ways previously inconceivable. More than 100 years later, the non-negotiable ingredient of the modern library continues to be the people. Through access to resources, community and educational programs, vital services and support for self-directed growth and development, libraries are building communities, raising voices and empowering people.

If the last few years have shown us anything, it is that there is strength in numbers and that, working together, people makes positive changes. People can gather, people can march, people can flatten hierarchies, people can change their narrative-or write a branch new narrative!-and people can instigate change. People together are powerful.

This conference would be nothing without the people involved in its creation and operation. I want to take this opportunity to thank the team of SUPER planners, volunteers, session presenters, conveners and especially to our conference co-chairs Jacqueline Whyte Appleby and Zack Osborne. Their commitment and contributions make this a conference you will remember.

Speaking of people, I would like to acknowledge the first people on this land. Where we gather for this conference is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Neutrals, Huron-Wendat, and most recently, the territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and grow on this land.

On behalf of the entire OLA family, I hope this conference gets you powered-up, recharging the sparks of curiosity, exploration, and ingenuity which make all of our library spaces, services, and people thrive.
Message from Kerry Badgley, 2018 OLA President

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