The Bibliothèque de Beaumont Library in Alberta recently wrapped up its 7th Annual City-Wide Scavenger Hunt with a record-breaking 499 entries. Running from March 30 to April 26, 2026, the event encouraged residents to explore the community by solving riddles based on the popular Wings of Fire fantasy series by author Tui T. Sutherland.
The competition saw Aislin Aitken take home the grand prize, a LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Medieval Dragon set. The runner-up prizes were awarded to Máté Sándor, who received a copy of Wings of Fire: A Guide to Dragon World, and Ryleigh Campusano, who won Wings of Fire: Forge Your Dragon World.
This surge in participation reflects a broader trend of high engagement at the library. Throughout 2025, the facility recorded 71,134 visits, marking its highest annual total ever. During that same period, residents checked out 158,719 physical items, borrowed more than 22,200 eBooks, and attended over 600 programs and events.
Library Director Jessica Knoch noted that these figures demonstrate how the institution is woven into the daily life of the community. Despite these successes, Knoch acknowledged that space and staffing remain under pressure. The current building was constructed in 2004 to serve a population of 7,800, but now supports nearly 26,000 residents as Beaumont continues to be one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the province.
By the end of 2025, 54 percent of all Beaumont households had used a library card at least once, highlighting the library’s ongoing role as a vital community hub.
