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.
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.
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