Write to Read BC

Tag: education

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Nisaika Kumtuks library opens

    Write to Read BC celebrated the grand opening of its 16th library and learning centre, Nisaika Kumtuks school, the little school with a huge heart.

    Lieutenant-governor of BC Judith Guichon attended, along with members of the school.

    One of the students, David, greeted Guichon, before taking part in a procession. The children performed a drumming song, and read a story for Guichon. To conclude the ceremony, the school library received its formal name—one that its students chose.

    In addition to books that appeal to students from Kindergarten to Grade 4, the school also offers online attendance to online courses and conferences from its learning centre. The library is equipped with four iPads, 2 all-in-one Hewlett Packard computers, and a TV with video conferencing capabilities. This benefit the students as well as their parents. School principal Heather Goodall will open the school library to parents of its students. This gives parents have access to the Internet and to online learning, as well.

    The TV screen, a donation that Write to Read BC arranged, was a pleasant surprise to Goodall.

    The shelving was made especially for the library by inmates at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre. Write to Read BC co-lead Bob Blacker said: “They do amazing work, and are very proud of their contribution to our libraries.”

  • Stz’uminus school needs a library

    This BC community worked very hard to build their school, but unfortunately did not have funding for a library. Write to Read BC will visit the Stz’uminus school and meet with the principal, Tim Harris, and see what we can do.

  • Xeni Gwet’in library in costing

    Plans for a Xeni Gwet’in library are on track. This is our very first Version 4 library—one that will be built on site, rather than premade and shipped in. The library’s opening date depends on how the design and building proceed, and on funding for that to happen.

    Before we can ask the Jack Gin Foundation to support it, our construction response team will need to determine exactly how much this library will cost to build.

  • Ditidaht library opened by royals

    The village of Ditidaht opened its library in mid-September 2014, with community fanfare and visiting dignitaries. The library is the result of a partnership with Write to Read BC.

    Cutting the ribbon were British royals, Prince Edward and Princess Sophie. Edward formally asked the permission to be on Ditidaht titled lands. Sophie was given a cedar band for her head, which had been woven for the occasion by one of Ditidaht’s eldest citizens, Sophie wore the headband throughout the visit. The royals were accompanied by the lieutenant-governor of BC Judith Guichon.

    In addition to celebrating the library, the ceremony honoured Ditidaht schoolteacher Eva Clarke for envisioning a space for storytelling, theatre, and reading aloud. Clarke, with the Rotary Club and Write to Read BC, was instrumental in getting the library installed.

    With this new library and community gathering place, the community hopes to promote literacy and learning for its younger members.

    Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Ditidaht library opening in September, 2014 on Vancouver Island, BC.

  • Digital diary project in Ditidaht

    On a recent visit to Ditidaht, one Write to Read BC volunteer brought along a digital camera rto donate to the school. He described the camera as “an old Panasonic Lumix SLR” but adds: “It’s amazing what can be accomplished using digital technology. Computers and digital cameras have changed the world in which we live. Pretty soon everybody will be a movie maker.”

    That includes the 10 high school students at Ditidaht’s community school.

    The Lumix camera has a 24× zoom, a Leica glass lens, built-in image stabilization to reduce motion blur, and a memory card. It shoots great photos. It was given to the teacher for use by the high school students.

    Students to make a digital diary

    From January to June 2014, high school students will use the camera to take photos of their daily life: going to school, playing, at home, with friends, in the community. Students can also take photos in the woods and on the water.

    The camera’s memory card can store thousands of images, and the students are encouraged to photograph everything they see. Their teacher, Eva Clarke, will select the best images and store them on a computer.

    The learning objectives of this project are to:

    • learn digital photography.
    • learn to see and document village life.
    • self-publish a book—perhaps an e-book.

    A digital diary that shows what life is like in the Ditidaht village can introduce people to a place few will ever get to visit in person. By using a camera, connecting people from elsewhere to an isolated community like Ditidaht is as easy as point and shoot.

    The project runs from January to June, 2014.

    Eva Clarke, a Ditidaht school teacher.
    Ditidaht teacher Eva Clarke will choose the best images that students take of their life in and around the village.