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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.
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The first meeting of the steering
committee took place in March 2001.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Regular distribution of bags of books
commenced at A Ma Baie, the monthly well-baby clinic of CLSC
Pierrefonds in March of 2002.
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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.
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As well as donations from individuals,
financial support from area MNA’s was received for the project.
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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’.
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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.
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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.
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In 2004-2005 the program was expanded to
include working with Cloverdale Multi-Ressources which serves
vulnerable families in eastern Pierrefonds.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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Bags of books were provided for an AMCAL
Mothers & Tots program.
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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”.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In April 2006 Stewarts’ Restaurant in
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue hosted a charity dinner for the benefit of
the project.
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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.
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In November 2007 the first field trips to
the Pierrefonds library were organized for PCP.
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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.
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In January 2008 the first reading workshop
was given to parents of newborns at CLSC Pierrefonds itself.
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In March 2008 Hymus Resto-pub in Pointe
Claire hosted a very successful charity dinner for the benefit
of the project.
