Category: Media Mention

December 7, 2017

Lieutenant-governor helps open school library

Article from the Nanaimo News Bulletin

Posted: Dec. 6, 2017

Students at Nanaimo’s Nisaika Kum’Tuks Elementary Centre no longer have to go far to find a good book.

The public school celebrated the official opening of its first library Tuesday with Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon.

It’s a new chapter for the centre and its 30 students, who previously walked to the public library for books. Now, iPads, computers, video conferencing and children’s and adults’ books are at the fingertips of students and their families, thanks to Write to Read B.C., a partnership between indigenous communities, Rotarians and Government House to help with graduation rates and improve literacy and access to libraries.

To read more, please click here.

Thank you,

Write to Read BC Team

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November 11, 2017

Shirley-Pat Chamberlain Interview

As promised – here is the WHCTV spot on Rotary Making a Difference with DG Dave Mangs. It is always a honour to share my passion about Rotary International and the Write to Read Project – to tell My Rotary Story

Check out www.rotary.org and find out how you can Get Involved with this amazing organization!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=S8YnuQrC_ic

April 25, 2017

Write to Read featured on CKNW

CKNW in Vancouver is one of Canada’s highest rated radio stations, so it was an honour for me (representing W2R as the website editor/publicist) to be invited to talk to highly regarded morning show host Bill Good about the Write to Read Project. Bill was very curious as to how our project works, and if you are curious about the interview – check it out!

The full 30-minute interview can be heard by logging on to the CKNW website. Look for the Archive section of the Menu Bar at the top of the page. Select September 12th and choose the 9-10 a.m. time slot. After the show has loaded, you can fast forward the hour to 9.32 a.m. The 30-minute show ends at 10 a.m.

Thanks for getting the W2R program off the ground go, as always, to all the folks at Government House, participating First Nations, Britco Structures, participating Rotary clubs of District 5040 (and in particular Bob Blacker, without whom there would be no project), BC Ferries, London Drugs, Success by Six, the librarians and all of the hundreds of volunteers who have been vital to our success to date. Now that we have been profiled on CKNW, and the public knows we are here, there are big things to come.

April 24, 2017

New W2R video for TV broadcast produced

The Write to Read Project has been largely a secret until recently, but it may soon be time to spread the word. A 60-second PSA (click here) for TV has been produced and will soon be distributed to BC television stations. The message is simple. Our project is an aboriginal literacy initiative that seeks to assist remote communities gain access to reading. To get involved, simply call your local Rotary club. W2R is looking for books, computers, donations and volunteers.

The main expense of the project is transportation. Britco Structures has kindly donated 10 modular buildings, but shipping them to remote reserves is not always easy or inexpensive. While BC Ferries has assisted by waiving fees, sometimes its necessary to rent barges and trucks. Donations to offset costs are welcome, and Government House can issue a tax receipt for larger gifts.

Viewers are encouraged to forward the link to the PSA to friends and colleagues. It only takes a minute, and the 60 seconds it takes to watch the video may be the best expenditure of time any of us can make in our day. Spread the word!

April 24, 2017

Merritt Interact kids join in Nooaitch library project

The Nooaitch First Nation, located 20 minutes outside of Merritt, is due to receive a new library. On October 3rd, the Lt. Governor of British Columbia Her Honour Judith Guichon will be in attendance for the official opening. Also in attendance will be members of the Merritt Interact club, who have been active in the project. They have been helpful with sorting books. More interesting, they have also made a video of their work. Hopefully the Interact club will stay involved with the library, perhaps assisting the kids in the Nooaitch community learn how to shoot video. If so, Write to Read supporters can look forward to updates after the library opens and in the future. For more, log on to:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zLqRDmd-J1Q

April 24, 2017

Write to Read profiled again in Vancouver Sun

The editorial page of the Vancouver Sun contains an OpEd article about W2R on Tuesday, Dec 15. Written by Write to Read publicist Michael McCarthy, his opinion piece suggests that monies possibly directed by the federal government towards yet another study of Missing Aboriginal Women might be better directed towards positive actions rather than more reviews, committees, talk and blame. This is the third OpEd about Write to Read that has been published in the Sun. To read the article, log on to:

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/opinion+money+inquiry+could+better+spent/11589331/story.html

May 27, 2014

W2R featured on major CBC TV broadcast

The CBC’s flagship news program The National recently featured a full 8-minute broadcast about the Write to Read Project, viewed across Canada. CBC aboriginal affairs reporter Duncan McCue, based in Vancouver, was able to visit one native library in Malahat on Vancouver Island and speak with several members of the project. Chief Michael Harry says he was pleased that the library was built entirely from donated services and fundraising, without any federal or provincial support.

“It’s showed the government that we can do this without them, and we want to thrive,” said Harry. “But more importantly, we want to create relationships with external communities surrounding us.” The Malahat Kwunew Kwasun Cultural Resource Centre will celebrate its grand opening this summer.
The CBC show mainly told the story of W2R founders Steven Point, former Lt. Governor for the Province of BC, and his former aide de camp Bob Blacker. Point ended his term as lieutenant-governor in 2012 and was recently reappointed as a provincial court judge so in his current position he cannot continue as spokesperson. But he’s thrilled to see Write to Read continue to grow.
“It’s connecting these folks, breaking down barriers that should never have been there. And they’re coming out to the communities for the first time, saying, ‘We want to help,’” said Point.
Current B.C. Lieutenant-Governor Judith Guichon has enthusiastically endorsed the project since she took over the post. Six W2R libraries have been opened, with six more on the way. To date, 30,000 books have been donated.
To view the CBC broadcast, click on this link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/first-nations-in-b-c-gain-libraries-thanks-to-judge-ex-officer-1.2654846.