The Milton Public Library has announced its Board members for the 2023-2027 term.
The members were officially sworn in after being appointed by Milton’s Town Council in the fall. It’s a diverse mix of experiences, skills, backgrounds and perspectives, consisting of three Town Councillors:
- Sarah Marshall
- Since 2010, Sarah has been licensed with the Law Society of Ontario and currently practices personal injury law at Leone Murray LLP, serving the GTA and surrounding communities.
- Throughout her life, libraries have provided her with a place to study and conduct research, as well as a place to meet friends. The traditional notion of a library as a quiet place has been replaced with the modern concept of the library as a central location encouraging the community to get involved. As a member of the Milton Public Library Board, she hopes to encourage further new concepts within the library and increase resources in the library that will be used by the Milton community.
- Her and her husband have lived in Milton since 2013 and are currently raising their two children in this vibrant community. Sarah’s sons have been engaged with MPL’s programming from a very young age and have always enjoyed their trips to the library to pick out books.
- Colin Best
- Colin is a life-long resident of Milton and works locally as an independent property appraiser valuing residential properties for various lending institutions and other purposes.
- In the community, he has been involved with a number of organizations including the Milton Jaycees, Rotary Club, Air Cadets, Milton BIA, Chamber of Commerce, Milton Santa Claus Parade Committee and various Parents’ Councils at local schools that his children have attended.
- He was first elected in 1980 as a local councillor for Ward 2 which at the time included all the urban area. He served on a number of local council committees and was elected to Regional Councillor from 1994 to 1997.
- In 2006 he was elected to be the local and regional councillor for Wards 2 & 4, and in 2010 and 2014 he was re-elected to represent the new wards 2,3,4,5 north of Derry road and serve on multiple regional and community committees.
- Rick Malboeuf
- Rick was born and raised in Quebec and moved to Ontario in 1980.
- He is 72 years of age, married to Brenda, is the father of four, grandfather of four and great grandfather of three.
- Rick and Brenda have lived in the same home in Milton for 36 years.
- He owns and operates a small automotive equipment supply company and has served Milton both as a local and regional Councillor for 18 years.
- Currently the Halton Regional Councillor for Milton Ward 2.
- Rick has a military background having served 3 years in the US army between 1967 and 1970 which included two combat tours in Vietnam.
- He is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Milton branch 136.
All three have served on the Board previously.
There are four volunteer community members:
- Sana Malik
- Sana is a Senior Manager with KPMG’s Internal Audit, Risk and Compliance practice.
- With more than 20 years of broad-based experience in both private and public sectors, she has demonstrated experience in successfully managing and executing audits, consultations, risk assessments and forensic investigative work in large and complex environments. She also performs examinations and objective appraisals of the adequacy, efficiency and effectiveness of financial, management and systems controls to identify key risk and improvement areas.
- Within the community, Sana is a Public Member on the Audit Committee of the Halton District School Board.
- She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) degree from McGill University, is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and holds a Certification in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA).
- Sana has been living in Milton since 2015 with her husband and two kids. She has been frequenting the Main Street Library for many years and has seen how it has evolved over the years. As a MPL Board member, she hopes to support the Milton Library in reaching its strategic objectives, connecting with the community and creating a safe space for our growing and diverse community
- Sibyl Shen
- Sibyl Shen is a CPA, CA with over ten years of experience in auditing, financial reporting and taxation.
- She came to Canada as a first-generation immigrant.
- Libraries played a vital role in her study and have acted as a bridge to the local community where she participated in community programs that promoted literacy, culture and lifelong learning.
- As a member of the Milton Public Library Board, she hopes to contribute to the strategic plans of the library and make more people benefit from the MPL programs.
- Ragy Sharkawy
- Ragy and his family have called Milton home since 2008, and they’ve loved every moment of it. The transformation they’ve seen in the Town over the past 15 years has been incredible, and he is humbled by the opportunity to serve our growing, diverse and vibrant community through the Milton Public Library Board.
- Growing up, and particularly during his undergraduate years, libraries provided an invaluable and consistent space to study, research, and collaborate with colleagues. With a background in Engineering, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), his professional career over the past 20 years has been in the aerospace industry, with various roles of increasing responsibility in project and program management. Currently, he works at Collins Aerospace as a Program Director. He also serves on the Board of Directors at St. George & St. Abanoub (SGSA) Coptic Orthodox Church, in Milton, as well as on the school council at Holy Rosary School.
- Ragy and his wife are blessed with two wonderful children who love reading and activities that draw on their creativity. They are frequent visitors to the Milton Public Library system and its programs, and are fortunate to have a library that is walking distance from their home. He’s looking forward to playing an active role in the continued growth of our libraries for the entire community to enjoy.
- Karen Wolnik
- Karen joined the Milton Public Library when her and her husband moved to Milton in 2009. She has a Bachelor degree and a Masters degree in Engineering as well as a Masters of Business Administration (MBA).
- In her professional career, she has worked in the Ontario energy industry for 17 years, particularly in project management and business development.
- She has served on several industry committees and volunteered as a Board member for a local non-profit organization.
- As a mother of two and an avid reader, she values lifelong learning and is thankful for the MPL staff, facilities, and services.
- She looks forward to supporting continued growth with emphasis on diversity and sustainability.
Malik and Shen were elected by the Board at its first meeting as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity of working with a dynamic team of professionals with a shared commitment to driving innovation and success,” shares Interim CEO, Kanta Kapoor. “Their diverse backgrounds and expertise will bring fresh perspectives representing our community as we embark on a new phase of growth and progress.”
Library Board members are essential in providing governance and financial oversight for the library. The board meets seven times annually and is a formal policy-setting group that exists to set goals and objectives to meet the community’s public library needs. Board meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of the month, in the months of January, March, May, June, September, October and November, and are open to the community. Library Boards are established according to the Ontario Public Libraries Act, and are tasked with fiduciary, short and long term planning and policy development. The Board delegates the appropriate authority to staff, through the CEO/Chief Librarian, to run the library system and achieve the planning and financial goals. They are ultimately accountable to Milton Town Council for the operations of the Library.
The Milton Public Library has been an integral part of the Milton community since 1855. It currently serves a population of more than 130,000 through three busy branch locations and an active website – beinspired.ca.
