Rachel Reid, the Canadian author behind the widely read queer hockey romance series Game Changers, has directed a significant portion of her success toward the public institutions that helped launch her career. Reid has donated $300,000 to a regional library system in Nova Scotia, preventing the permanent closure of five local branches.
The Annapolis Valley Regional Library was facing a critical funding shortfall from municipal governments, which threatened the futures of libraries in the small towns of Hantsport, Kentville, Lawrencetown, Port Williams, and Middleton. Reid's contribution directly addresses the immediate crisis and stands as one of the largest private gifts in the library system's history.
A Personal Cause
For Reid, the decision to step in was deeply personal. She grew up in Nova Scotia and credits her local library with being fundamental to her development as a writer. It was in the aisles of her library that she discovered the romance novels that would later inspire her own successful career writing M/M romance.
"I don’t think I’d be an author without my local library," Reid told Canada's CBC News. She also highlighted the role libraries play beyond lending books, remembering them as vital community centres for parents and children. "I had to do it because I don’t know what the point is of being a successful author in Nova Scotia if you’re not going to use it for good," she added.
This perspective is particularly relevant for the LGBTQ+ community, for whom libraries often serve as safe, accessible spaces for discovery and connection. For many young queer people, a local library is one of the first places they can find stories and information that reflect their own identities.
A Call for Systemic Support
While her donation provides a critical lifeline, Reid was clear that philanthropy is not a long-term solution for what she calls an "essential service." She stressed that such community pillars should not have to rely on private generosity to survive.
"I want to do what I can to help, but I also think private donations can’t replace government policy which is where this funding should be coming from," she stated. "But I also feel like if you are able to help you should."
Her action serves as both immediate relief for the Annapolis Valley communities and a powerful statement on the need for stable public funding for these essential cultural and community resources.
