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Rocky Pines near Merritt

W2R ROCKY PINES LEARNING CENTRE INSTALLED

What began as a trip on the high seas to the Nanaimo Correctional Centre and our U LOCK Storage locker, waiting for ferries, a 3 hour drive up the Coquihalla Highway to Merritt and a short drive to ROCKY PINES our LRT’s Margaret, Carol, Liz and Marion (sorry to miss Barb this trip) working very hard – our 17th learning centre was installed.

I have great admiration for our team as the air conditioning was not working in the learning centre (the professionals tried everything to get it going) and as such the ladies had to work through 90 degree heat. I am glad we shut down early due to the heat however Chris Bur and myself went back later that evening to instal the TV and computers it went up to 99….. quickly opening the doors and window we were able to get it down to a respectable 90.

Now we just have to wait for the amazing donation of new aboriginal books from GOODMINDS. The largest donation yet, 1,000 books..(pre school to adult) an $18,000 gift. Thank you Jeff Burnham for this wonderful gift to the community.

Another library opens in Haida Gwaii

Massett photoThis 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.

New library donation explained by the builder in 2014

When John McFarlane, president of Western Camera Buildings (camera means small room in latin) saw a program about the Write to Read Project profiled on CBC TV, he realized that his company might be in a position to help. Western Camera makes tiny portable units that can be used for a variety of purposes, like an office, studio, home or a library. His show unit was sitting in storage, so he decided to donate it to our literacy initiative. The unit has a value of $25,000, which is a most generous gift indeed.

John 1A tour of the tiny building (8 by 12 feet) shows that it is portable, easy to transport, easy to install on a pad or concrete block, and comes fully wired for easy Internet connection. Solar power can also be added at an additional cost for those remote aboriginal communities that are dependent on diesel fuel for electricity.

The very high ceilings and multiple windows give the impression of roominess and lots of light. There is space for the installation of two computers at one end of the room. Bookshelves line both walls. Children will no doubt perceive it as something of a “hobbit house,” with room enough for perhaps half a dozen kids to read at the same time. There is sufficient shelving for thousands of books. In a word, the design is perfect for Write to Read.

The total cost of a library like this, including solar power and computers and books and Internet connection, delivered and installed to any destination in British Columbia, would be $50,000. Companies, groups and individuals interested in supporting the Write to Read Project and donating to the cost of a library are encouraged to contact project coordinator Bob Blacker at bobblackerri@gmail.com.

The Write to Read Project is administered by the Government House Foundation in Victoria. All donations are eligible for a tax receipt according to Canada Revenue Agency regulations. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.bcgovhousefoundation.ca. Alternatively, you can call the Foundation office at 250-356-1829.