The Ottawa Public Library's Beaverbrook branch is set to honour its founding librarian in a uniquely fitting way: by naming not one, but two rooms after Joan Dodsworth-Ware. The pioneering librarian, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 96, was instrumental in establishing Kanata's first public library and will now have her legacy permanently enshrined in the community she helped build.
From a Centennial Dream to a Community Hub
The story of Kanata's library began with a bold proposal from three determined women: Helen Myhill, Renee Watkiss, and Elsie Lynch. In 1967, as Canada prepared to celebrate its centennial, they approached the all-male March Township council. Their request was for $5,000 in seed funding and the passage of a bylaw under the Public Libraries Act to establish a public library.
Initially, their request was refused. However, the women cleverly turned the tables by suggesting the council might not be taking them seriously because of their fashionable mid-century hats. The guilt tactic worked. Six months later, the library opened its doors, marking the birth of a vital community institution.
Joan Dodsworth-Ware, who would become Kanata's first librarian, loved recounting this anecdote. She led a team of volunteers at the library's first location in a community centre. In 1970, the operation moved to a combined library and fire station at 1021 Teron Road. There, Dodsworth-Ware single-handedly catalogued the entire collection, personally selected its fiction offerings, and managed it all while raising three young sons.
A Legacy of Innovation and Community Service
Dodsworth-Ware's contributions went far beyond basic librarianship. She was a forward-thinking innovator. Under her leadership, the Beaverbrook branch achieved a significant milestone: it became the first public library in Ontario to implement an automated book-lending system using a modern computer.
Her dedication to community service was boundless. Her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Morin, who grew up near the library, recalls being "voluntold" by Dodsworth-Ware to teach computer skills to seniors in the early 1990s. "When Joan had an idea, you just did it," Morin said, reflecting on her mother-in-law's formidable and persuasive nature.
Dodsworth-Ware's connection to Canada began as a child. At just 11 years old, she was sent from northern England to Kingston, Ontario, for safety during the Second World War—an experience she later described as a "grand adventure."
A Fitting Tribute for a Formidable Figure
When Dodsworth-Ware's three sons approached Ottawa City Council in 2025 with the idea of honouring their mother, the proposal was approved almost immediately. The decision to name two rooms after her speaks to the magnitude of her impact.
Her eldest grandson, Edward Dodsworth, believes his grandmother would have been thrilled. "I can just imagine she'd be telling anybody who would listen about it," he said. He also noted her well-deserved self-assurance: "She definitely had a high opinion of herself. It was often very funny," he recalled, sharing an anecdote about her once driving into oncoming traffic and refusing to admit the mistake.
The dual-room commemoration at the Beaverbrook branch ensures that the story of Joan Dodsworth-Ware—the hat-wearing advocate, the cataloguing pioneer, the computer innovator, and the community cornerstone—will inspire Ottawa residents for generations to come. It is a testament to the power of dedicated individuals to build lasting institutions from the ground up.
