Staff profile of Chanelle, Senior Library Assistant, Children's Programmer at Central Library
From cooking to art classes, there are always exciting children’s programs happening at Kitchener Public Library. There’s an amazing team of Children’s Programmers who bring these events to life. They draw on their own unique skills and interests to create a wide range of programs for your family to enjoy.
Meet Chanelle! In December 2022, she joined the team of children’s programmers at Central Library. She brings her knowledge of the French language to many of her programs, including French Reading Buddies and Becoming Bilingual: Books and Bricolage.
Although Chanelle is now fluent in French, she had a long journey to get there. Her interest in languages began in her rural elementary school, where she heard her classmates speak different Mennonite dialects. This piqued her interest in languages and led her to study French for the first time in high school. After struggling through French class, she set language learning aside for a long time. Her interest in languages returned when she worked abroad as an au pair in Germany. During this time, she learned German which empowered her to try learning French again.
“Being able to communicate in someone else’s first language is amazing,” Chanelle says. “It’s the closest thing we have to superpowers.”
Chanelle is excited to share that superpower with kids at the library. In addition to her French programs, Chanelle gets up to all kinds of fun in her other programs. One of this year’s highlights was her Dance-A-Plooza program during March Break.
“I was working with some great volunteers, and I was able to get the kids excited about dancing,” Chanelle says. “Everyone was making crafts, and the adults loved dancing with their kids. It almost felt wrong to have so much fun at work!”
Whether it’s in English or French, Chanelle loves giving kids new experiences at Kitchener Public Library. She believes that the library is the perfect place for community, education and fun to intersect.
Get to know Chanelle
This or that
- Fiction or non-fiction: I can't choose. I'm sorry, but I read both equally!
- Digital or vinyl: Vinyl
- Coffee or tea: One coffee in the morning. Tea forever! I like tea more, as a general rule, but I need my one cup of coffee in the a.m.
- Summer or winter: Neither, spring.
- Dogs or cats: Dogs
- Night owl or early bird: Early bird
- Search the catalogue or browse the stacks: Browse the stacks
Favourites
- Movie: The Princess Bride
- Snack: Nutella with absolutely anything
- Hobby: Hiking
- Sports team: Chelsea Women's Football Club
- Holiday: New Year's Eve and New Year's Day