Known for his visionary leadership and commitment to innovation, Aaron DeVries has been announced as the new St. Thomas Public Library CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
He succeeds Heather Robinson who is retiring after a decade in that post.
DeVries joined the library in 2017 as Manager of Customer Engagement and worked his way up to his most recent post as Manager of Strategy and Operations.
Stepping into the top role is “an exciting move” admits DeVries.
He previously worked at Innisfil Public Library – south of Barrie, Ontario – as Manager of Creative Making and Discovery.
While there, DeVries led the development of innovative spaces such as a hackspace and digital media lab.
At St. Thomas Public Library, he led the creation of the Maker Lab, which has evolved into a creative hub.
The Maker Lab serves small business owners, crafters, school groups and countless others.
An indication today’s library is about much more than books on shelves.
He agrees the library, in reality, is more a community hub.
With the evolution of E-readers, DeVries notes the library supports the preferences of users when acquiring new titles.
He adds, “It’s always a good idea to talk to us if you’re searching for an E-reader to find out what works best with the library books, because that, hopefully, becomes a huge source of your material once you’re on there.”
Looking to the future, DeVries observes, “I look forward to working closely with the library board and leading an extraordinary team as we continue to shape a library that reflects the needs and aspirations of a growing city.”
“It’s an incredible honour to serve the community that shaped who I am,” admits DeVries.
Written by Ian McCallum
