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 25, 2017

Another library opens in Haida Gwaii

This time the excitement was in Old Massett, which geography experts will identify as being located at the north end of Graham Island in Haida Gwaii. For those whose geography isn’t great, that’s the former Queen Charlotte Islands, found off the BC coast near Alaska.

The Haida people have lived here for many thousands of years. The elders have many stories to tell, and the new library of Old Massett will be a repository for that aboriginal history, perhaps the first First Nations library in all of Canada. Those books will be catalogued along with many other books for elders, kids and everybody to read.

Lt.Governor of British Columbia Judy Guichon, along with Principal Secretary to the Lt. Governor Jamie Hammond, were in attendance at the opening. They were joined by Christoph Neufeld of Britco Structures in Langley. To date, Britco has been the main sponsor of the Write to Read project, donating several buildings and paying for shipment.

Neufled flew up to Massett met with project organizer Beng Favreaux to open the new library on October 19th. It was a great event with many from the community attending. After the opening everyone adjourned to the community hall and enjoyed dinner with those from the community who could make it. There is no doubt that the library will make a difference in the community. The added bonus with having the computers is that many people will have access to the internet, something most do not currently enjoy.

April 25, 2017

A visit from Big Bob inspires Lions Gate Club

Why would any organization take on the task of “partnering” with a remote First Nations community whom they have never met? Why shoulder the task of fundraising and the other attendant details that emanate from such a commitment? For members of the Lions Gate Rotary club, that inspiration came from a personal visit from former District 5040 Rotary Regional Governor Bob Blacker.

There is a multitude of ways to assist people dealing with poverty or any form of adversity. Money is often offered among the first ideas, followed by medical care, free housing, welfare programs and food. However, many studies have shown that the most effective form of long-term assistance lies in providing literacy to the recipients of the aid.

Starting two years ago, Bob Blacker has been quietly taking that message to various organizations such as Rotary, the RCMP, the Coast Guard, firefighters, architectural groups, native bands, and anyone who is interested in assisting aboriginal communities. It was a personal visit from Bob Blacker that convinced members of the Lions Gate Rotary Club to make a major commitment to help in the fight against illiteracy. Club member Elizabeth Chong explains why.

April 25, 2017

Library Response Team goes into action

LRT volunteer Adriel Wilson with a wall display showing all 17 W2R projects in BC.

Write to Read project leaderr Bob Blacker likes to call them “alert.” They are the members of the Library Response Team, or LRT. These are the librarians who are the backbone of the aboriginal literacy initiative now known as Write to Read. Adriel Wilson is one of them.

“We don’t just show up with boxes of books in a First Nations community,” she said during the W2R team’s recent visit to Ditidaht. “There is a process we go through. First, books need to be donated. Then we go through all the books for suitability. For instance, any medical book that I more than ten years old, we through it out. Medical improvements mean that a lot of old information is outdated. Very popular are “how to” books, because that’s what many of our readers want.”

Even though there is no formal W2R library established yet in Ditidaht (that’s why the W2R team went to Ditidaht in the first place) it turns out that the back of Wilson’s truck had a box of books. Many boxes, in fact.

“I just love to read,” said Wilson, a retired teacher, “and people are always giving me books. I sort through them all, removing titles that are not of interest to the communities we visit, and dumping books that are worn out. Just about everything ends up getting recycled.”

Aside from collecting and sorting books, the LRT team sets up a catalogue system with each community that is involved in W2R, and works with a volunteer librarian to keep track of books that are lent out. In Ditidaht, one member of the community has already indicated an interest in acting as librarian, even though there is no library yet. The old school in the village may serve as a good site for a library, but it will need to be refurbished. In the meantime, the LRT is collecting books for when the library will open, probably in the summer.

April 25, 2017

“Digital Diary” project gets launched in Ditidaht

It’s amazing what can be accomplished using modern digital technology. Computers have changed the world in which we live. So, too, have digital cameras, which are constantly being improved. These days most digital cameras sold , both SLR and video cameras, have “high definition” capability. That means the images are much clearer. High def also means that images can be shown in a much larger size, with clarity. Pretty soon everybody will be a movie maker. That includes the 10 kids in the high school class at the Ditidaht community school.

Eva Clarke in Ditidaht

On the recent W2R visit to Ditidaht, I brought along an old Panasonic Lumix SLR to donate to the school. As a professional travel journalist, I shoot all my own photos on all my trips around the world. I am constantly wearing out or damaging cameras, often by getting them wet. (Kayaks are particularly harmful to digital cameras, and salty seawater is the worst.) I have damaged several Panasonic Lumix cameras, probably the best point and shoot camera made, by getting them wet. The Lumix boasts a 24X zoom, a Leica glass lens, and built in image stabilization. It shoots great photos.

On my many adventures around the planet I have discovered different ingenious ways to work with the people I meet. Donating a camera to schools is the best. (Actually, I give the cameras to the teacher, not the kids.) I ask the kids to shoot images of their daily life. Going to school, playing, at home, with friends, in the community. Given that you can store thousands of images on a memory card, I urge the kids to shoot everything they see. The best images are selected by the teacher and stored on a computer.

The plan at Ditidaht is to encourage the kids to learn how to use a camera. Next to a computer, it’s the most powerful tool ever created for communication. I have literally travelled the world many times for free using nothing more than a camera and keyboard, then writing stories later (in newspapers, magazines, and books) for payment. Self-publishing, probably as an ebook, is very easy too. The plan with the kids at Ditidaht is to create a Digital Diary that will show the outside world what life is like in a tiny remote village that few people will ever get the chance to visit.

Connecting folks form the big city to a remote community like Ditidaht is as easy as “point and shoot.” The kids will take the photos out in the woods and on the water (hopefully not getting the camera wet!) and the readers of this site will be able to read about it when the book is published. The project will start January 2014 and the deadline will be the end of the school year. Readers can look forward to downloading the book by the summer of 2014.

Ditidaht teacher Eva Clarke arranged all details of the W2R visit to the village and deserves credit for a great job.

April 25, 2017

Lt Governor offically opens library in Bella Bella

BC Lt. Governor Judith Guichon was on hand March 26 to officially open the new library in Bella Bella. There is quite a story involved. Last year the library burned down under mysterious circumstances. It was housed in the town’s grocery store and cafe, which were forced to close as well. This forced island residents to take the ferry to Port Hardy just to buy groceries.

As the long process of restoration commenced, the Write to Read team went straight into action. Project coordinator Bob Blacker, along with RCMP Chief Superintendent
Dave Critchley, BritCo Structures Christoph Neufeld, and Brian Van Sickle of TLD Computers (London Drugs) flew to the community and made urgent arrangements to get a new library opened as soon as possible. The local champion in Bella Bella is Jess Housty, who coordinator the procedures. But how to get a library built?

Once again, BritCo stepped up to the plate and delivered. Yes indeed, BritCo donated yet another modular trailer to the cause! But there remained the issue of getting a 40-foot building from their Langley construction to Bella Bella, which is halfway up the BC Coast. This is where BC Ferries came in, offering to deliver the structure aboard one of their ferries at no charge. So Write to Read welcomes aboard a new partner in the project, BC Ferries.

There remained the issue of getting new books selected and sorted, which was done by the always reliable Write to Read Library Team. The final piece to put into place was the official opening by the senior partner in the entire campaign, the Lt. Governor. Her honour flew into Bella Bella this week and attended the official
library opening. Look for more good news on more library openings this spring and summer.

April 25, 2017

Lt. Governor opens new library in Oweekeno

Lt. Governor Judy Guichon will be in attendance in late April for the opening of Write to Read’s newest library at Oweekeno (or Rivers Inlet as it also known). Located south of Bella Bella on the coast, Oweekeno is home to 280 members of the Wuikinuxv Nation, many of whom live off reserve. Currently the band has an administration office, a health centre, a K7 school, a firehall, an airstrip and a Big House for ceremonies. And now a library.

A modular building has been donated by prime Write to Read sponsor Britco Structures in partnership with the Lionsgate Rotary Club of North Vancouver who donated the computers and furniture. The Jack Gin Foundation supplied funding for the transportation of the module. Several Vancouver businesses assisted with installation and construction and the LRT (Library Response Team, shown in photo with Her Honour, centre) oversaw the implementation of a catalogue system and trained the local library volunteers.

According to W2R Project Coordinator Bob Blacker, the delivery of the Oweekeno library has been quite a challenge due to the remoteness of the community and the inlet’s shallow waters. The overall cost of the entire project, including delivery, has worked out to $68,250. Estimates of the total costs of each library vary due to circumstance, but the approximate cost of each project is between $30,000 and $50,000, an extremely low cost considering the many benefits to all concerned.

Not only are thousands of books (appropriate for children) delivered to a community that could never afford them, but computers connected to the Internet allow the kids to gain necessary computer literacy. Perhaps most important is the direct link made between remote communities and urban business groups like the Rotary clubs that are participating. These are equal partnerships based on trust, allowing for future dialogue and new endeavours.

Libraries are scheduled to be built at many more remote aboriginal communities around the province in the next few years depending on sponsorship. Companies, individuals and organizations interested in donating to the Write to Read Project are encouraged to contact Andrew Robinson at the Government House Foundation at 250-356-1829. All donations are eligible for a tax receipt. Donors contributing $10,000 or more are invited to an annual reception and may have their names associated with the libraries.

For media queries, or more information about getting involved with Write to Read as a volunteer, or contribute to the website, or to assist with publicity, please call Write to Read editor Michael McCarthy at 604-441-1846 or email editor@writetoreadproject.org.

April 25, 2017

Another successful library opening in Oweekeno

Good things take time. So delivering a library to Oweekeno, also known as Rivers Inlet, and having an official opening with the Lt. Governor of the province of B.C., was a challenge that certainly took some time to accomplish. However, as promised, her Honour Lt. Governor Judy Guichon was in attendance at the library opening April 24th completing yet another Write to Read library project.

Presiding at the ribbon cutting along with Her Honour were Chief Rose Hackett, elder Emma who blessed the building, and Lionsgate Rotary President Peter Hansen. They were joined at a dinner at the Big House by navy crew members of HMCS Calgary, where Executive Officer Lt. Commander Josh Yanchus was presented a ceremonial paddle by the Chief. Local youth were invited to spend four hours as a guest of the captain and crew of the HMCS Calgary as they sailed the Rivers Inlet area. Also in attendance were members of the RCMP on their regular visit to Oweekeno.
This library was sponsored by the members of the Lionsgate Rotary Club of North Vancouver, who raised the funds necessary to make it all happen. As with every library completed to date, the modular building was donated by Britco Structures of Langley. The LRT (Library Response Team) supervised the selection and cataloguing of books. The library will be operated by the Oweekeno community, who will employ a librarian to supervise the building.
Oweekeno is located south of Bella Bella on the coast, a remote location accessible only by boat or plane. Write to Read Project Coordinator, Rotarian Bob Blacker, reports that the North Arm Barge Company delivered the trailer, but at commercial rates. BC Ferries has been kind to assist with other deliveries along the coast, like Old Massett, although they were not involved in this project.
The total estimated cost of the project was $60,000 of which $20,000 was needed for the transportation of the module into the village. A generous donation from the Jack Gin Foundation enabled the team to pay for transportation of the module from Vancouver to Rivers Inlet.

April 25, 2017

North Van Rotary club completes aboriginal literacy project

While national headlines shout out continued controversy over Bill C-33, the federal government’s proposed aboriginal education legislation that has been shelved after rejection by many aboriginal leaders, a small North Vancouver group has quietly accomplished its own aboriginal education project that may serve as a model for those interested in native education. . The Lionsgate Rotary Club of North Vancouver has successfully completed the delivery and installation of a library in the remote community of Oweekeno (Rivers Inlet) on the B.C. coast.
“I had the honour and privilege of visiting the village myself last year,” says club member Elizabeth Chong, “and realized their dire need for assistance with literacy. Remote communities like Oweekeno are ‘off the map’ in many ways. Our Lionsgate club decided immediately we would partner with the village through the Write to Read Project by providing a library, books, computers and Internet access.”
“Our club got excited last year when we first learned about this new literacy initiative started by Government House,” says Shirley Robertson. “Rotary is well known for its work in developing countries, but here was a chance to make a difference right in our own back yard.”
The Write to Read Project (W2R) was founded a few years by former Lt. Governor Steven Point, now retired. His successor, Her Honour Judy Guichon, has enthusiastically endorsed the project, attending the opening of three new libraries and promising to attend official ceremonies as many new libraries are built.
It was former Lt. Governor Point, an aboriginal judge, who understood the urgent need for literacy in aboriginal communities. The growth rate of the aboriginal population in Canada is five times the national average, with half the aboriginal population now under 25 years of age. Three out of five aboriginal communities are isolated, and as many as 100,000 aboriginal people have no connection to an urban centre. Almost 50 percent of aboriginal adults have no recognized educational qualifications. The average on-reserve income per year is $14,000. The youth suicide rate is six times the Canadian average. It’s a simmering volcano waiting to explode.
Lionsgate Rotary club president Peter Hansen, who attended the library opening in Oweekeno, says his club’s involvement in the Write to Read Project has been most gratifying. “We highly encourage other Rotary clubs around the province to get involved with this terrific initiative. This has been a very successful experience.”

Lionsgate Rotary Club members urge other clubs to participate in W2R Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0rM7Y2Afto&feature=youtu.be

April 25, 2017

Camera Buildings donates a library

Photo credit: Camera Buildings 2013

Thanks to the publicity created by a documentary about Write to Read broadcast on CBC TV recently, a Vancouver-area builder has offered to donate a library to our project. John McFarlane watched the TV program and thought perhaps his company could help. Western Camera Buildings constructs tiny buildings designed to be used as offices, storage facilities – or even as a library!

The building his company is donating is a compact, 107-square foot studio with built-in shelving that would arrive fully finished. Since it was their show model, it comes with cedar rainscreen cladding, R20 insulation, tilt-and-turn windows, and high-efficiency LED lighting. John says it was made to be easily transported without requiring highway permits, can be moved by ferry or barge, and would only require a block or pier foundation and an electrical connection on site.

There are several First Nations communities that have discussed their interest in joining the W2R project, and no doubt this wonderful donation will be suitable for one of them. The value of the donation is over $25,000 and is greatly appreciated. Those with an interest in small buildings should take a look at the Camera Buildings Facebook site and give some thought as to how such a compact structure would fit into their own plans.

Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/CameraBuildings. If you are interested in making any sort of donation, please feel free to contact us at your convenience.