DATELINE DESI

NEW LEADERS ON BRAMPTON LIBRARY BOARD

Radha Tailor.

The Brampton Public Library Board recently elected Michael Ben and Radha Tailor to the roles of Chair and Vice-Chair and expressed gratitude to outgoing Chair Jaipaul Massey-Singh for his leadership since 2017.

Among his many accomplishments, Jaipaul oversaw the renovation of the two-storey Chinguacousy branch in the Brampton Civic Centre and the openings of the multi-award-winning Springdale branch and the South West branch in the Lionhead Marketplace. He released the current strategic plan together with new branding and introduced the new facilities master plan. He supported the award-winning initiative to remove late fines from children’s materials in 2018, the subsequent removal of all late fines in 2021, the launch of after-hours study spaces, the expansion of library maker spaces, and related programming, while maintaining budget and service levels. He led the transition to a new chief executive officer and the creation of the library’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) project.

“It’s been my pleasure to oversee the conscientious efforts of all board members, as well as the admirable work on the part of all library staff and volunteers, which has resulted in so many of our efforts coming to fruition,” he said. “If I have made one iota of difference in raising public awareness of the power of the public library to effect positive change, I am happy.”

“Jaipaul has supported the efforts of the board and myself to lead the library through a period of growth and challenge, and we could not have done it without his leadership,” said Todd Kyle, Brampton Library Chief Executive Officer.

Michael Ben was first appointed to the Brampton Public Library Board in April 2015 and has served as its Vice Chair since 2019. He has decades of experience in the public and private sectors as well as not-for-profit organizations, with a particular focus on business analysis, project management, risk management, change management, and organizational performance. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario and several industry standard designations, such as PMP, ITIL, and ScrumMaster certifications. He has helped guide organizational transformation to achieve results in a multi-stakeholder environment. He is passionate about the Library's role in the digital age and global knowledge economy and an advocate for expanded access to technology and lifelong learning. He brings experience in strategic planning, board leadership, HR management, stakeholder relations, public policy, government relations, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. His extensive experience in community leadership includes roles as a mentor of skilled immigrants with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council and mentor to Western University Local Government Program graduate students.

“I am so honoured and privileged to work with a special group of talented Library staff and committed Board members,” said Ben. “As we undertake a strategic planning initiative in collaboration with our stakeholders and community partners to identify critical opportunities for the next few years to meet the needs of our diverse and growing community, I am excited and assured that our collective effort will lead us to cruising altitude.”

Radha Tailor was appointed to the Brampton Public Library Board in 2019. She has strong interests within the spaces of ED&I and community growth. Prior to joining the library board, she worked with local news and media organizations within the Peel Region as a reporter and panelist. She provided coverage over a wide range of topics including government and municipal affairs, union negotiations, social and community development, and education. In addition, Tailor was a former vice-chair of Brampton’s angel investment network, supported talent development for the future of work, and provided mentorship and adjudication for public speaking. She received the Brampton Board of Trade’s Top 40 Under 40 in recognition of bridging the gap between communities and actively participated in the Brampton 2040 vision planning. Previously, she was the Director of Programming and Director of Marketing for Carassauga Festival of Cultures, one of Ontario’s largest multicultural festivals.

Michael Ben.

“At Brampton Public Library, we're extremely fortunate to have diverse voices and a wealth of experience that sits upon our board to provide governance as the Library evolves to meet the needs of the Brampton community,” said Tailor. “I am privileged to serve as Vice Chair and to work alongside the Board directors and Library staff. Brampton Public Library has shown resilience – it has supported our communities through increased digital collections, providing continuous programming and education, alleviating fines, and maintaining an admirably high level of service. As we move into the strategic planning process, I am excited to learn about how the Library can meet the emerging needs of our stakeholders, library patrons, and the many communities existing within Brampton as we begin to discover our new normal.”