Our History - 1990-2007
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1990
· New Carlisle Home and
School Association and Born to Read |
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Anne MacWhirter, a New
Carlisle Home and Schooler, and Marion Daigle, a Quebec
Home & Schooler, set up the first Quebec Literacy
Exchange in New Carlisle on the Gaspe coast. The
decision of the community was to set up a Born to Read
project – a first in Canada by that name. With the
support of the Home and School Association, the local
IODE, the centre benevole, private donations, and fund
raising, the handmade book bags were delivered and
distributed at the CLSC baby clinic – a suggestion made
by the school nurse who took on the task of delivery.
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1992
· New Brunswick IODE |
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Through a personal
contact with Marion Daigle’s childhood friend, Shirley
Downey, a local IODE chapter member in St. Stephen, New
Brunswick, a very successful Born to Read project was
born. She modeled it on the New Carlisle project and
piloted the project locally and then on to the
provincial IODE. Through IODE fund raising, corporate
and recent government funding every child, French and
English, receives the colourful red bag of books before
leaving the hospital. |
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1993
- Networking for Youth, Huntingdon |
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A literacy
exchange in 1992 developed a series of activities, among
them a Born to Read project. |
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2001
· le gout de lire (WI) born
to read |
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Research indicated
that the area served by the Pierrefonds CLSC in the West
Island of Montreal had the highest birth rate in the
province and a large population of families at risk.
This seemed like a good area to start a Born to Read
program.
Georgie Crawford, a retired educator, with the support
of the Montreal Council of Women, began recruiting
interested volunteers to serve on a steering committee.
Through sponsorship by the Quebec Federation of Home and
School Associations, (QFHSA) a grant for this project
was received from ABC Literacy Canada through Literacy
Partners of Quebec (LPQ). QFHSA also donated books,
through a gift from the Center for Literacy.
This along with donations from private individuals was
the mainstay during this first year of operation.
Further funding was provided by MNA Geoff Kelley.
Charitable status was established through the Pearson
Educational Foundation; this greatly enhanced funding
possibilities. In-kind support, such as meeting space,
printing and mailing, was generously donated by the
Lester B. Pearson School Board. Literacy Unlimited
provided space to house books and materials. |
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2002
· Official launch of le gout
de lire (WI) born to read |
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The official launch of
le goût de lire / 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. Through the
assistance of a CLSC Pierrefonds nurse, families in the
area were invited to this festive event and bags of new
books were presented to 16 babies and their families.
Regular distribution of bags of books commenced at the
monthly well-baby clinic of CLSC Pierrefonds in March of
2002. The CLSC clinic staff was most welcoming,
providing space in their clinic and encouraging clients
to stop by our spot.
Donations of used children’s books from supporters of
the project enabled volunteers to provide books for the
older children coming to the clinic. |
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2004
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Lots
for Tots/Pour Tous Les Bouts de Choux – Preschool
(Temiscaming)
Grenville Elementary School
(Grenville)
Edgewater Elementary School
(Pincourt) |
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These three projects
were set up with grants to QFHSA from the 2003 Raise a
Reader campaign (Literacy Partners of Quebec) and are
continuing. Each association has found its own best way
to reach families and to deliver the bags of books. |
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2006
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Roslyn Elementary
School
First Born
to Read project on Family Literacy Day. January 27;
plans underway to continue
Dorset Elementary
Plans
underway to set up Born to Read for next school year
Arundel
Local
Anglican church has set up a Born to Read for all
residents; organized by Leah Trineer, QFHSA
Vice-President |
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There are at least 3
additional Home and School Associations currently in the
planning stage for Born to Read projects in the next
school year. |
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2007
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The Born to Read
Reading and Stimulation Centre opens at the Riverdale
Community Learning Centre |
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The Mother Goose Rhyme
Time is held weekly for the children 0 – 4 years and
their parents. Plans are underway to provide Saturday
morning drop-in reading times for the community. |
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