Write to Read BC

Tag: First Nation

  • Write to Read BC on national news

    The CBC’s flagship television news program The National recently featured an 8-minute broadcast about the Write to Read BC project, which was broadcast across Canada. CBC aboriginal affairs reporter Duncan McCue, based in Vancouver, visited a native library in Malahat on Vancouver Island and spoke with several members of the project. Chief Michael Harry says he was pleased 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 that 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.

    Malahat library construction in the news.

    The CBC show mainly told the story of Write to Read BC founders, former lieutenant-governor Steven Point and his former aide de camp Bob Blacker. Point ended his term as lieutenant-governor in 2012 and was 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 BC 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.

    Point’s successor, lieutenant-governor of BC Judith Guichon, has enthusiastically endorsed the project since she took over the post. Write to Read BC has installed and opened six libraries, with six more on the way. To date, 30,000 books have been donated.

    Watch more:

    The National broadcast on CBC

  • Initial visit to Halalt, Lyackson

    Just south of Chemainus, BC, is the Indigenous community of Halalt, Lyackson. Write to Read BC learned about this community’s library ambitions when Ada Mawson approached us in January 2017. Ada Mawson is the Success By 6 coordinator for the area, and she accompanied us to a Halalt meeting in March.

    There is a definite need for a community library.

    We are now working with the community to locate a Britco module for the site. Things are moving very quickly with the community, as they have been committed to make this work and are doing everything that will ensure this will happen.

    The Rotary Clubs of Steveston, Chemainus, and Parksville will be partnering on this project.

    We expect the library to be ready for opening before the end of the current term of the lieutenant-governor of BC ends in late 2018.

  • Planning a Klemtu visit

    Write to Read BC volunteers intend to visit Klemtu, BC, and are enthusiastic about the chance to meet with the community to learn about their vision and their library needs.

    The volunteers are currently arranging transportation and funding for the trip, which they want to do when the weather is fair.

    We hope our funder will be able to participate in the building of a Version 4 library—one that’s built on site rather than prebuilt. and then shipped.

  • Glen Vowell library hopeful

    This community of Glenn Vowell was first in contact with Write to Read BC last year. When a member of our design response team has spoke with the community’s education coordinator, Barb McRae, she quickly realised the next step is to arrange a visit to visit the community.

    Glen Vowell is located inland from BC’s coast, near Kispiox, BC.

  • Paachidaat asking for a library

    The Write to Read BC design response team wants to visit the Paachidaat community, near Port Renfrew on the BC coast. When the team visits, they’ll start discussion to develop the community’s vision for its library.

    Paachidaat territory is next to the ocean and vulnerable to any tsunami, so a proper site needs to be found for a community library.

  • Hidden costs cause Snunymuxw pivot

    Write to Read BC withdrew its interest in receiving a building from the Municipality of Oak Bay, due to hidden costs. Our construction response team immediately identified a better financial option.

    Instead, the Young Professionals of Nanaimo have decided that, for the Snunymuxw library, they will build the same solution we used for the Xeni Gwet’in library. They have already raised $25,000 towards building and met with Write to Read BC’s architect, Scott Kemp, about the design.

  • 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.

  • Readying Ahousaht shelves, books

    The building for the Ahousaht community library is in place, and Write to Read BC’s construction response team has visited the site to view the building.

    Our library response team is now putting together a collection of books. Furniture has to be made and delivered when the library response team sets up the library.

    The library will likely open in the fall of 2014. It’s another success story for the partnership model, which matches communities, Write to Read BC volunteers, and other partners.

  • Yekooche to improve library

    Located on Stuart Lake near Fort Saint James the Principal of the Community School Eric Di Nozi contacted Write to Read BC for assistance to regenerate their school library and make it into a community library.

    Write to Read BC visited the community in November 2015 to discuss partnership and proejct possibilities. We agreed Write to Read BC will provide shelves and books. Our library response team is putting together books, and shelving will have to be made by Nanaimo Correctional Centre.

    Two Rotary clubs will be involved. One will collect the books and computer hardware. The other will deliver the shelving and assist in putting the library together. We anticipate doing this during the summer, an optimal time for travelling to the community.