Write to Read BC

Category: Update

For minor updates of interest mainly to Write to Read BC teams, communities, and partners.

  • Gitsegukla library installed

    After a long drive from Prince George, the installation team arrived in Gitsegukla at 2:45pm on a Tuesday, ready to install a library for the school and community.

    The installation took 3 days, and the efforts of an incredible group of volunteers, including members of Write to Read BC’s library response team.

    The entrance of Gitsegukla library.
    A literacy-focused addition to the community.

    On arrival, the library response team swung into action, with the school staff and principal Louise Ormerod. Once the furniture was unloaded, the library response team started organizing the layout of the learning centre, with its internet connection that allows remote attendance at courses and conferences..

    Delivering books at Gitsegukla library.
    Volunteers unloading a delivery of library books.

    Fetching sponsors

    On Day 1, the team started early and progressed well. Total Support Services Chief executive officer Chris Gillen made a “quick” 3-hour return trip to Terrace to fetch more shelving tabs and an HDMI cable for the TV.

    Chris Gillen, CEO of Total Support Solutions, helping to install the Gitsegukla library.
    Chris Gillen of Total Support helps troubleshoot the learning centre’s computers at no cost.

    How Total Support Services joined Write to Read BC

    At a Victoria-Harbourside Rotary Club meeting a few weeks before the Gitsegukla library and its learning centre were installed, Write to Read BC co-lead Bob Blacker was giving a presentation about the program, by video call. One of the audience members mentioned that her son-in-law was working with First Nations to provide computers, IT solutions, and training. A few days later Bob received a call from Chris at Total Support, expressing interest. As a result of this connection, Write to Read BC now has a supplier of computers and related hardware needed for learning centres. In addition, Total Support will, at no cost to the libraries—provide online support for any computer problems that surface. This has been huge for Write to Read BC, as support for computers has always been a concern; now we do not have to worry about that.

    After 3 days of hard work, the Write to Read BC team, along with principal Ormerod and her staff, completed Write to Read’s very first “version 3” learning centre.

    We had some hiccups over the three days, which is to be expected, but we were able to prevail. The new library and resource centre looks great.

    The team was invited for dinner.

    The team that installed Gitsegukla library.
    The satisfied team that installed the library and learning centre.

    Gitsegukla Chief and council

    Overlooking Princess Lake, the Write to Read BC team were able to meet with Chief Willie and three council members. This allowed members of the team to chat with key members of the community. The evening ended with a handshake between Chief Willie and Leader of the Write to Read BC team co-lead, Bob Blacker, cementing the agreement and the blossoming friendship and trust with Gitsegukla.

    As one of the library response team members said: “This is what makes it all worth it.”

    After installing a library, what's next? The design response team's Scott Kemp introduces an imagineering session so the community can capture their ideas.
    An imagineering session: What does the community’ envision next?

    The evening was topped off with an imagineering session, lead by design response team member, Scott Kemp. This was also a new experience for the Write to Read BC team.

    Large screen and computer table, at Gitsegukla library.
    Key components of the learning centre: a large screen and a computer table.
    Processing newly arrived books at Gitsegukla library, in a well-lit space that also serves as a classroom.
    At this point still a warehouse of books, this room will soon be a classroom.

  • Five libraries ready to install

    Over the next few months, we’ll be installing furniture and books at five locations, ranging from Vancouver to BC’s interior. Most of these libraries are linked to a community school or preschool, including in Squamish Nation, Tsideldel First Nation, Williams Lake First nation, and Aboriginal Mothers Care Centre.

    • Gitsegukla, in the Skeena region of west central BC, on the southeast side of the Skeena River adjacent to the Kitseguecla River mouth, near New Hazleton, BC.
    • Learning Centre at Tsideldel First Nation, located in the Chilcotin region of BC’s western central interior.
    • Littlest People Elementary School, a Homulchesan school in the Squamish Nation, next to the mouth of the Capilano River, in Greater Vancouver.
    • Aboriginal Mothers Care Centre in Vancouver’s downtown eastside neighbourhood. It’s a place where Aboriginal mothers, babies, and children can come to be together as a family.
    • Little Chiefs Elementary School library in Williams Lake First Nation, which is located in the Cariboo region of BC’s central interior, at Williams Lake.

  • Thomas Kero mural

    Need to brighten up your cloudy day? Stop by our Bella Bella library/office and check out this beautiful new mural by Thomas Kero! Photos don’t do it justice. There are so many hidden creatures and special features nestled into the summertime foliage. 

    Thomas Kero mural.
    A mural painted on the Bella Bella library. Kero wants the town to be as beautiful as the surrounding landscape.

  • Rocky Pines library nearly ready

    Write to Read BC’s 17th library is getting ready for its official opening, after the recent installation of shelves and books by Write to Read BC volunteers.

    Preparations involved a trip on the high seas by BC Ferry to the Nanaimo Correctional Centre to pick up furniture build for the library, and a visit to the Write to Read storage locker, provided by U-Lock Storage, to pick up a shipment of books.

    Rocky Pines building before the library was installed.
    The final touches: the outside of the Rocky Pines community building before the library was installed in one of its rooms.

    The library response team, volunteers Margaret, Carol, Liz, and Marion, made the trip to the Rocky Pines community, sometimes called the Lower Nicola Indian Band, near Merritt, BC, where they coordinated with local volunteers to prepare the furniture, shelves, and books for the library’s opening. Other volunteers later set up the TV and computers for the library’s learning centre, which will offer remote attendance to courses and conferences via Internet.

    Still to come is an amazing donation of new Indigenous-authored books from GoodMinds.com. This donation of 1,000 books for readers from pre-schoolers to adults, is an $18,000 gift to the community.

    In the Rocky Pines community centre, a space is ready for the library.
    A team visit to the community centre shows it’s ready for the library response team to install the shelves, seating, books, and technology.

  • Library design with kids

    Write to Read BC’s design response team visited the Sxoxomic Community School at Esk’etemc, and ended up designing a library with the kids. Although the students are not designers, they have clear ideas about how to lay out their library.

    Sxoxomic Community School, an elementary school in Esk'etemc.
    This beautiful new school did not yet have a library.

    Our co-lead Dr Shirley-Pat Gale heard from new elementary school’s principal that the school does not yet have a library.

    Gale, brought in Write to Read BC’s design response team, architect Scott Kemp, and co-lead Bob Blacker. The team mixed with grade 7 students, and magical things happened.

    During an amazing lunch-and-design session with the kids, the team designed its layout, including where the new shelving would be placed. The shelves will be made by the Nanaimo Correctional Centre. All that remains is for library response team lead Margaret Fletcher to visit the school to review what books they’d like, and then the school can contact our Aboriginal book distributor GoodMinds.com and Jeff Burnham to purchase the aboriginal authored books that will make their library suit the community.

    This was Write to Read BC’s first design session with students from an elementary school, and it was a success.

  • Interview with Write to Read BC co-lead

    While attending a Rotary Club leadership conference, Write to Read BC co-lead Dr Shirley-Pat Gale was interviewed by Rotarian David Mangs about her work with libraries, literacy, and Write to Read BC.

    During the video interview, Gale told the story of the child who inspired her to start providing not only books but spaces for libraries in isolated BC communities.

    Interviewer David Mangs is a past district governor of Rotary district 7890. Mangs begins the interview by explaining the goals of Rotary Clubs, and by introducing Gale.

  • Library interest in Nemiah Valley

    Spurred by the Write to Read BC library projects in Toosey and Stone, Indigenous community Nemiah Valley, has approached us about a community library.

    Nemiah Valley, BC, is home to the Xeni Gwet’in band of the Tsilhqot’in people. This community is on Chilco Lake, a 4½-hour drive from Williams Lake. This has logistical challenges for the project.

    Members of the Rotary Club relayed to us that community members are very excited that something like this is available to them.

    Dr Shirley-Pat Gale, our co-lead, has made contact with the community, and will help set up an initial meeting in which the community can tell us what they want from a library.

  • Elders library planned for Fort Rupert

    Fort Rupert’s Indigenous community has really wanted an Elders library where Elders can relax, read, and do their crafts. In a visit, Steven Point, governor-general of BC, described the Write to Read project. The community responded positively.

    A representative from the Fort Rupert community, along with Brenda Rothwell, the Success By 6 coordinator, are now going to start the process of planning an Elders library with Write to Read BC’s design response team.

  • Fort Ware partners ready

    Some time ago, the Kwadacha indigenous community in Fort Ware approached Write to Read BC about a library. We can now get a project started with them.

    This is because two Rotary Clubs are willing to partner with the community.

    Fort Ware is north of Williston Lake, which is a substantial logistical challenge. No provincial highways reach the community, but a logging road extends north from the Prince George region.

  • Planning Klemtu library, cultural centre

    Klemtu, BC, an indigenous community in BC’s coastal fjords, has asked to partner with Write to Read BC to work towards a library and cultural centre.

    For this project, Write to Read BC has also partnered with the Rotary Club of Saanich.

    Our design response team has been invited to the community to meet and start planning the facility with them. Hoping to join us in the first meeting are Brenda Rothwell, Success By 6 coordinator for the area, Steven Point, lieutenant-governor of BC, and members of the Rotary Club of Saanich.