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Our History - 1990-2008

 
  • This particular le goût de lire communitaire / community born to read project came into existence through the efforts of retired educator Georgie Crawford, who, with the support of the Montreal Council of Women, began recruiting interested volunteers to serve on a steering committee.

  • The first meeting of the steering committee took place in March 2001.

  • The target area for distribution was deemed to be families in communities served by CLSC Pierrefonds, which has the highest birth rate in the province.

  • Through sponsorship by the Quebec Federation of Home and School Associations, (QFHSA) a grant was received from ABC Literacy Canada through Literacy Partners of Quebec (LPQ). QFHSA also donated books, through a gift from the Center for Literacy.

  • The official launch of le goût de lire communitaire / community born to read took place on Family Literacy Day, January 27, 2002, sponsored by the Dollard-des-Ormeaux branch of the Pierrefonds/Dollard-des-Ormeaux Library.

  • Regular distribution of bags of books commenced at A Ma Baie, the monthly well-baby clinic of CLSC Pierrefonds in March of 2002.

  • On September 8, 2002, International Literacy Day, the Centre for Literacy sponsored a Giant Book Sale in the Marché de l’ouest at which le goût de lire communitaire / community born to read hosted a display and a storytelling event with CBC radio personality Nancy Woods. The project received a substantial gift certificate from the Quebec Centre for Literacy to select books from the sale.

  • As well as donations from individuals, financial support from area MNA’s was received for the project.

  • On May 4, 2003, a “Birthday Bash”, organized to celebrate the first year of operation of the project, took place once again at the Dollard-des-Ormeaux Library. Children and parents toured the library, participated in reading, singing and drawing activities, enjoyed refreshments and took home ‘loot bags’.

  • A library event, entitled “Rhymes & Jingles - Songs & Dances”, took place in November 2003 at the Dollard-des-Ormeaux branch of the library. A booklet of rhymes in both languages was produced for families to take home. Response from the participants was enthusiastic.

  • A substantial seed money grant from the Anglican Diocesan of Montreal Outreach Fund in 2003 enabled the project to purchase some better quality books to include in the bags and for siblings, and to follow through on some objectives.

  • In 2004-2005 the program was expanded to include working with Cloverdale Multi-Ressources which serves vulnerable families in eastern Pierrefonds.

  • In the fall of 2005 we sponsored the first of several field trips for Cloverdale pre-schoolers (and their parents) to visit the Pierrefonds Library. Liaison was established with the Cloverdale preschool teachers and the children’s librarian.

  • In September 2005, liaison was established with Céline Beaudoin, community organizer for the Pierrefonds CLSC, and the Table de Concertation Enfant-Famille, which led to our participation in the 1,2,3 Go project for eastern Pierrefonds.

  • Fundraising was extended to a wider-based community. As well as donations from individuals, the project received donations from the Lindsay Place Home & School Association, the Pointe Claire Oldtimers’ Hockey Tournament, and proceeds from a performance by a well-known magician.

  • A resolution, “Literacy for Citizens”, was adopted in October 2005 by the Quebec Council of University Women’s Clubs, to be used to familiarize various government agencies with our project.

  • In the beginning of 2006, a first “Introduction to Reading Workshop” was given to parents at Cloverdales Multi-Ressources and liaison was established with PCP (Pierrefonds Community Project).

  • Bags of books were provided for an AMCAL Mothers & Tots program.

  • In support of our project, The Lachine CLSC invited the project to participate in a ‘Drop-In-Centre’ for mothers of young babies in the low cost housing area “Duff Court”.

  • At the end of May 2006 le goût de lire communitaire / community born to read set up a display and presented its program at the Cloverdale Quebec Family Week Celebration event.

  • In September 2006 the Clinic Committee participated for the first time at the Pierrefonds Community Project Monthly community luncheon to read to children and distribute books.

  • St. John Fisher Elementary School generously gave the project used books, in very good condition, and in 2007 donated the proceeds from their annual walk-a-thon.

  • In April 2006 Stewarts’ Restaurant in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue hosted a charity dinner for the benefit of the project.

  • In November 2006 a successful public fundraiser, “God Bless the Gargoyles” took place. Myrna Hollomby Guy as reader and Dr. Bruce Wheatcroft as organist donated their performances.

  • In November 2007 the first field trips to the Pierrefonds library were organized for PCP.

  • In autumn 2007 the project has joined the Riverdale Community Learning Centre to provide a literacy resource and stimulation centre for young families. 30 weeks of Mother Goose Rhyme Time attracted more parents than we could handle and a wait list was instituted.

  • In January 2008 the first reading workshop was given to parents of newborns at CLSC Pierrefonds itself.

  • In March 2008 Hymus Resto-pub in Pointe Claire hosted a very successful charity dinner for the benefit of the project.

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