Bios of current members

Donna Hunt

Donna was appointed to the Lethbridge Public Library Board as a Trustee in 2007 and is currently Chair of the Board. Donna is a long time resident of Lethbridge having attended elementary, junior high and senior high school in Lethbridge as well as obtaining a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Lethbridge.

Donna worked as a teacher and administrator for the Lethbridge Public School District for thirty-five years. Retired, with two grown children, she sees the Library as an intellectual and social gathering place for children, adults and seniors. As a strong supporter of life long learning, Donna supports the growth of a wide variety of library resources and services.
 

Bob Cooney

Bob is an 11-year resident of Lethbridge and a first-time appointee to the Lethbridge Public Library Board. He is currently a media relations officer at the University of Lethbridge and has nearly 20 years experience in media relations, community relations, print and broadcast journalism, event planning, advertising production and media buying. He has additional communications experience at a post-secondary institution in Manitoba, a major financial institution’s provincial head office and a large not-for-profit agricultural society that operated Manitoba’s largest annual single-site event.

His community volunteer experiences have included providing communications and/or event planning assistance to a number of charitable or not-for-profit organizations, as well as working with various groups to develop partnerships with the U of L.

With his partner Heather, he is a proud and involved stepfather to three smart and hilarious boys, ages 12, 14 and 17. His personal interests include photography, designing drought-tolerant, low-maintenance landscaping and dragon boating for the U of L team.

David Nussbaumer

Dave began serving as a trustee on the Lethbridge Public Library Board in 2008. He serves on the strategic planning committee and is also the ministerial representative for the Chinook Arch Regional Library System.

Dave is a teacher and is committed to supporting the values of public access to information and learning that are supported at the Public Library. Dave shares his passion for literature with his students and is often seen taking out materials from all parts of the Library.

Dave has a Political Science as well as an Education degree from the University of Alberta. He also has a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Northern British Columbia. Dave is married, has a dog, and enjoys taking bike rides and long walks through the trail system of Lethbridge. This is Dave’s first foray into community board volunteer work and he is looking forward to the challenges ahead.


Moira Watson

Moira was appointed to the Lethbridge Public Library Board as a trustee in 2008 and also serves on the Public Advocacy Committee. She brings to the board an array of political and social justice experience gathered while living and travelling in South East Asia, and Nicaragua.

She currently is pursuing a post baccalaureate degree in nursing. Moira is a member of the Lethbridge Handicraft Guild of Weavers, and loves to muck around in the garden.

Moira's interest in the Lethbridge Public Library is grounded in principle and practice. As a child, growing up in rural Ontario, the visiting Book Mobile and a small satellite library set up in the community centre inspired her love of reading. She believes firmly in community institutions, and looks very much forward to working hard to keep the library relevant, progressive, accessible, and viable.


Evelyn Sterenberg

Appointed to the Lethbridge Public Library Board in 2007, Evelyn has spent many years working with young people in the community. Evelyn holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta and an Education diploma (library) from the University of Lethbridge.

She has worked as a teacher; teacher-librarian and served as a school trustee. Retired, with four grown children, Evelyn has always loved the library because all of her family members are avid readers and because she spent many years teaching and encouraging young readers.

Evelyn says she “values the library as an essential service especially to children and people with needs, and sees it as a gathering place and a focus for our community”. She is looking forward to the library’s continued growth and change.

Berga J. Moen

Berga is a recent appointment to the Lethbridge Public Library Board (June 2009). She has resided in Lethbridge since 2002. Berga is a lawyer and partner in the firm of Torry Lewis Abells. She practices in all areas of civil litigation and maintains a busy solicitor’s practice.

Before coming to Lethbridge, Berga practiced law in Northeastern BC. She has been a Rotarian since 1996 and is currently an active member of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge Sunrise and a member of the planning committee for the Lethbridge Rotary Dragonboat Festival. Berga began dragonboating with the Abreast of ‘Bridge team and now paddles and manages the Scales of Justice, the Torry Lewis Abells team. She has also served as a member and past chair of the Board of Directors of the Southern Alberta Community Living Association.

I am looking forward to contributing to the growth and progress of the Lethbridge Public Library as it continues to serve the citizens of Lethbridge and surrounding area."

Vic Mensch

Vic is married to Gloria and they have two children, a son and a daughter. He has lived in the Lethbridge area most of his life, growing up in Coaldale and graduating from Kate Andrews High School. After graduating from the University of Lethbridge, Vic took a teaching position with Immanuel Christian High School where he taught for much of his career. Currently, he is teaching English with Alberta Distance Learning Centre. Vic was a member of Coaldale Town Council for twenty-seven years and during that time was the council representative on the Coaldale Public Library as a Board Member. He has also been the Council representative on the Chinook Arch Regional Library Board and worked with that Board to implement the library System in Southwestern Alberta. Community involvement has been a major aspect of Vic’s life and after moving to Lethbridge, he desired to become involved with the Lethbridge Public Library.

I am looking forward to contributing to the growth and progress of the Lethbridge Public Library as it continues to serve the citizens of Lethbridge and surrounding area."

Peter Portlock

Peter is a native Edmontonian who relocated to Lethbridge in 2009. He served in the Canadian Forces for 15 years, leaving as a Major in 1980 to complete a Master’s degree in Health Services Administration. He then spent four years in various senior administrative positions at the University of Alberta Hospitals, and was western Canada’s first patient ombudsman.

He has worked in association management for the past 20 years as ED/CEO of the Alberta Physiotherapy Association, Canadian Mental Health Association Alberta Division, Canadian Diabetes Association (Alberta/NWT) and the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society. He is currently Executive Director of Lethbridge Family Services. Peter has extensive Board experience with professional regulatory authorities, government agencies and not-for-profit associations.

He and his wife Linda Long, a family lawyer, have three sons and five grandchildren. For most of his adult life Peter has been a church organist and choir director.

A “Lethbridgian” by choice, Peter is an early (and enthusiastic) admirer and promoter of the city’s exemplary library.

Todd Gnissios, Director & CEO

Todd joined the Lethbridge Public Library in December 2007 as the Associate Director: Branches and Outreach Services, tasked with getting the new West Lethbridge The Crossings Branch Library operating. Since that time Todd has managed the Adult Services Department, Bookmobile Services and the Casual Staff Pool. He has also overseen the development of an Information Technology Services Department and the establishment of the Library’s fundraising operations.

He has an undergraduate degree from Simon Fraser University in Business and Humanities, and a Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of British Columbia. Todd spent 24 years with the Vancouver Public Library in a variety of capacities including work in subject divisions, full service branches as well as specialty and inner city branch libraries.

Todd was appointed Acting Director on July 20, 2009 and appointed to the permanent Director and CEO position on February 1, 2010.

The Director and CEO is a non-voting member of the Lethbridge Public Library Board.