Ruth Laurianne Pauline Mould was born on September 10, 1911, in Montreal, Quebec. She was the daughter of Henri and Paulisime Piché. The Mirabelle Airport now occupies the site of her family's homestead. The Piches immigrated to British Columbia, in 1919 settling in Decker Lake where her father, brother, and she, all worked as tie hackers.
She was only eight years old, and could not speak English when she was registered in the local school. Other pupils bullied her about her "funny language." She then vowed that she would learn and speak English without an accent. Ruth succeeded and mastered a very large vocabulary that served her well in her job as a librarian. She married Ernest Frederick (Ernie) Mould on July 8, 1930, in St. Paul's United Church in Burns Lake.
In 1956, following a health crisis, Ruth arrived in Smithers. The doctor advised her to quit work and take life easy. She was soon bored with doing nothing and looked for something interesting to occupy her time. Interior News ran a story advising local residents that their use of the library in the municipal hall was restricted because no one was willing to work on Saturdays when many people sought books. In 1958 Ruth volunteered to work one day a week. By 1961, she was receiving a salary to compensate for managing the library.
That year, she took her first course in library management. This was followed by an extensive course in 1971 when she graduated as a fully qualified community librarian. Ruth was dedicated to introducing the pleasure of reading to children and broadcasted a book program on CFBV radio once a week for many years. During her 20-year tenure at the Smithers Library, she oversaw the construction of the 1967 Centennial Library on Alfred Avenue and super- vised the move of thousands of books to their new home. Also under her supervision, was the construction of an addition to the library in 1971.
Ruth was active in many community organizations. She was a member of the Smithers Business and Professional Women's Group, a member of the St. James Anglican Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher, and was in charge of the Thrift Shop. She also served on the Vestry Committee and volunteered with the Anglican Women's Organization. In addition to her many other roles, she found time to volunteer for the Hospital Auxiliary.
In 1978, she was awarded Queen Elizabeth's 25th Jubilee Medal for her outstanding work in the community. At her retirement party in September 1978, it was acknowledged, by Mayor Fred Shortreid, speaking on behalf of the Town Council, that "she singlehandedly built the library from a small unheated room in the old Town Hall to the complex it is now." Ruth died on June 16, 1986.
Suggested edit: Hello. This is my family too. I have some old pictures of Ruth, Paulisime (and her sisters), and Henri including some old letters. Ruth's mother's name is Paulisime and not Pauline according to my family and the Quebec vital records. The name she was baptized with was indeed Paulisime. Maybe she anglicized it out west because it was different and hard to pronounce. Paulisime is my great-grandmother's sister. She signed her letters as Paulisime too. I still live in Quebec in the same area they were born. Ruth was baptized as Ruth Laurianne Pauline Piché. Paulisime, Philomène, and Nathalie (the three sisters) were very close. I loved your memorial write-up for Ruth by the way. It was very touching and the photo of her is just lovely.
Contributor: Marlene Welburn (48655165)
She was only eight years old, and could not speak English when she was registered in the local school. Other pupils bullied her about her "funny language." She then vowed that she would learn and speak English without an accent. Ruth succeeded and mastered a very large vocabulary that served her well in her job as a librarian. She married Ernest Frederick (Ernie) Mould on July 8, 1930, in St. Paul's United Church in Burns Lake.
In 1956, following a health crisis, Ruth arrived in Smithers. The doctor advised her to quit work and take life easy. She was soon bored with doing nothing and looked for something interesting to occupy her time. Interior News ran a story advising local residents that their use of the library in the municipal hall was restricted because no one was willing to work on Saturdays when many people sought books. In 1958 Ruth volunteered to work one day a week. By 1961, she was receiving a salary to compensate for managing the library.
That year, she took her first course in library management. This was followed by an extensive course in 1971 when she graduated as a fully qualified community librarian. Ruth was dedicated to introducing the pleasure of reading to children and broadcasted a book program on CFBV radio once a week for many years. During her 20-year tenure at the Smithers Library, she oversaw the construction of the 1967 Centennial Library on Alfred Avenue and super- vised the move of thousands of books to their new home. Also under her supervision, was the construction of an addition to the library in 1971.
Ruth was active in many community organizations. She was a member of the Smithers Business and Professional Women's Group, a member of the St. James Anglican Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher, and was in charge of the Thrift Shop. She also served on the Vestry Committee and volunteered with the Anglican Women's Organization. In addition to her many other roles, she found time to volunteer for the Hospital Auxiliary.
In 1978, she was awarded Queen Elizabeth's 25th Jubilee Medal for her outstanding work in the community. At her retirement party in September 1978, it was acknowledged, by Mayor Fred Shortreid, speaking on behalf of the Town Council, that "she singlehandedly built the library from a small unheated room in the old Town Hall to the complex it is now." Ruth died on June 16, 1986.
Suggested edit: Hello. This is my family too. I have some old pictures of Ruth, Paulisime (and her sisters), and Henri including some old letters. Ruth's mother's name is Paulisime and not Pauline according to my family and the Quebec vital records. The name she was baptized with was indeed Paulisime. Maybe she anglicized it out west because it was different and hard to pronounce. Paulisime is my great-grandmother's sister. She signed her letters as Paulisime too. I still live in Quebec in the same area they were born. Ruth was baptized as Ruth Laurianne Pauline Piché. Paulisime, Philomène, and Nathalie (the three sisters) were very close. I loved your memorial write-up for Ruth by the way. It was very touching and the photo of her is just lovely.
Contributor: Marlene Welburn (48655165)
Ruth Laurianne Pauline Mould was born on September 10, 1911, in Montreal, Quebec. She was the daughter of Henri and Paulisime Piché. The Mirabelle Airport now occupies the site of her family's homestead. The Piches immigrated to British Columbia, in 1919 settling in Decker Lake where her father, brother, and she, all worked as tie hackers.
She was only eight years old, and could not speak English when she was registered in the local school. Other pupils bullied her about her "funny language." She then vowed that she would learn and speak English without an accent. Ruth succeeded and mastered a very large vocabulary that served her well in her job as a librarian. She married Ernest Frederick (Ernie) Mould on July 8, 1930, in St. Paul's United Church in Burns Lake.
In 1956, following a health crisis, Ruth arrived in Smithers. The doctor advised her to quit work and take life easy. She was soon bored with doing nothing and looked for something interesting to occupy her time. Interior News ran a story advising local residents that their use of the library in the municipal hall was restricted because no one was willing to work on Saturdays when many people sought books. In 1958 Ruth volunteered to work one day a week. By 1961, she was receiving a salary to compensate for managing the library.
That year, she took her first course in library management. This was followed by an extensive course in 1971 when she graduated as a fully qualified community librarian. Ruth was dedicated to introducing the pleasure of reading to children and broadcasted a book program on CFBV radio once a week for many years. During her 20-year tenure at the Smithers Library, she oversaw the construction of the 1967 Centennial Library on Alfred Avenue and super- vised the move of thousands of books to their new home. Also under her supervision, was the construction of an addition to the library in 1971.
Ruth was active in many community organizations. She was a member of the Smithers Business and Professional Women's Group, a member of the St. James Anglican Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher, and was in charge of the Thrift Shop. She also served on the Vestry Committee and volunteered with the Anglican Women's Organization. In addition to her many other roles, she found time to volunteer for the Hospital Auxiliary.
In 1978, she was awarded Queen Elizabeth's 25th Jubilee Medal for her outstanding work in the community. At her retirement party in September 1978, it was acknowledged, by Mayor Fred Shortreid, speaking on behalf of the Town Council, that "she singlehandedly built the library from a small unheated room in the old Town Hall to the complex it is now." Ruth died on June 16, 1986.
Suggested edit: Hello. This is my family too. I have some old pictures of Ruth, Paulisime (and her sisters), and Henri including some old letters. Ruth's mother's name is Paulisime and not Pauline according to my family and the Quebec vital records. The name she was baptized with was indeed Paulisime. Maybe she anglicized it out west because it was different and hard to pronounce. Paulisime is my great-grandmother's sister. She signed her letters as Paulisime too. I still live in Quebec in the same area they were born. Ruth was baptized as Ruth Laurianne Pauline Piché. Paulisime, Philomène, and Nathalie (the three sisters) were very close. I loved your memorial write-up for Ruth by the way. It was very touching and the photo of her is just lovely.
Contributor: Marlene Welburn (48655165)
She was only eight years old, and could not speak English when she was registered in the local school. Other pupils bullied her about her "funny language." She then vowed that she would learn and speak English without an accent. Ruth succeeded and mastered a very large vocabulary that served her well in her job as a librarian. She married Ernest Frederick (Ernie) Mould on July 8, 1930, in St. Paul's United Church in Burns Lake.
In 1956, following a health crisis, Ruth arrived in Smithers. The doctor advised her to quit work and take life easy. She was soon bored with doing nothing and looked for something interesting to occupy her time. Interior News ran a story advising local residents that their use of the library in the municipal hall was restricted because no one was willing to work on Saturdays when many people sought books. In 1958 Ruth volunteered to work one day a week. By 1961, she was receiving a salary to compensate for managing the library.
That year, she took her first course in library management. This was followed by an extensive course in 1971 when she graduated as a fully qualified community librarian. Ruth was dedicated to introducing the pleasure of reading to children and broadcasted a book program on CFBV radio once a week for many years. During her 20-year tenure at the Smithers Library, she oversaw the construction of the 1967 Centennial Library on Alfred Avenue and super- vised the move of thousands of books to their new home. Also under her supervision, was the construction of an addition to the library in 1971.
Ruth was active in many community organizations. She was a member of the Smithers Business and Professional Women's Group, a member of the St. James Anglican Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher, and was in charge of the Thrift Shop. She also served on the Vestry Committee and volunteered with the Anglican Women's Organization. In addition to her many other roles, she found time to volunteer for the Hospital Auxiliary.
In 1978, she was awarded Queen Elizabeth's 25th Jubilee Medal for her outstanding work in the community. At her retirement party in September 1978, it was acknowledged, by Mayor Fred Shortreid, speaking on behalf of the Town Council, that "she singlehandedly built the library from a small unheated room in the old Town Hall to the complex it is now." Ruth died on June 16, 1986.
Suggested edit: Hello. This is my family too. I have some old pictures of Ruth, Paulisime (and her sisters), and Henri including some old letters. Ruth's mother's name is Paulisime and not Pauline according to my family and the Quebec vital records. The name she was baptized with was indeed Paulisime. Maybe she anglicized it out west because it was different and hard to pronounce. Paulisime is my great-grandmother's sister. She signed her letters as Paulisime too. I still live in Quebec in the same area they were born. Ruth was baptized as Ruth Laurianne Pauline Piché. Paulisime, Philomène, and Nathalie (the three sisters) were very close. I loved your memorial write-up for Ruth by the way. It was very touching and the photo of her is just lovely.
Contributor: Marlene Welburn (48655165)
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