An overview of the aboriginal literacy project known as The Write to Read Project, an initiative of His Honour Lt Governor Steven Point, Rotary Clubs of British Columbia, and the Government House Foundation Literacy Committee.

This session featured five W2R panelists describing the evolution of W2R centres, how partnerships with Indigenous communities develop and grow, and what it takes to make a typical learning centre become a reality. Key lessons learned were shared along with images to support our story and the impacts that these centres have had over the past decade.

The Write to Read Project is a great literacy project partnering Rotary, First Nations communities, BC Government House, corporate leaders and others. This is what happens when two Rotarians start talking about how to do good. This story was broadcast on CBC TV on May 26, 2014.

Her Honour Judy Guichon, the Lt Governor of BC, explains that the Write to Read literacy project supported by Government House is an equal partnership betwen participating First Nations communities and funders like Rotary, but the project's true value is that ownership belongs to the First Nations people. The project also brings together urban business groups and remote communities to build relationships based on trust.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and oPrincess Sophie, Countess of Wessex, officially open the Write to Read library in the small aboriginal village of Ditidaht on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

John McFarlane, president of Western Camera Buildings, explains why his company is donating a $25,000 building to the Write to Read Project to serve as a library in an aboriginal community in BC.

Jeff Burnham from Good Minds Books in Ontario joined the meeting via UBC's fibre optic capabilities. He spoke about the need for "sustainability" for W2R libraries and the need for the federal government to provide funding.

Bill Humphries and assistant Joanna Balaga flew from Ontario to attend the W2R retreat at UBC and explain how they have started distributing aboriginal books in Ontario. They wish to join the expanding W2R network and open an Ontario chapter.

The W2R retreat at UBC May 7th included many topics, not the least being the importance of fundraising. Lawrence Lewis explained how a form of crowdsourcing may be one source of income for the project as it goes forward.

Information technology is very important to the cause of improving literacy. W2R volunteer (yet another Rotarian) is an expert in the IT world and has played a key part in obtaining hardware and software for the Write to Read Project. Brian owns his own IT business and has donated time, skills and computers to many of the libraries we have built. At first the W2R libraries featured desktop computers. Over time it was learned that more students could use the libraries if we switched over to tablets. The next step in the IT project will be to install fibre optic technology in those communities where it is practical to do so. This will allow for video conferencing and long distance learning. No doubt Brian will have a hand in that phase as well.

Dentist and Rotarian Dr. Doug Neilson, attending a dental clinic at the Malahat First Nation, explains the history between Rotary, Write to Read, UBC School of Dentistry and participating First Nations communities

A 30-minute documentary about the Write to Read Project is being produced with the title of Wai Wah! (Tsimshian language for "just do it.") It is scheduled to be broadcast by Optik TV, a division of Telus Corporation, in the summer of 2017. Each 5-minute episode visits a different community where libraries have been or will be built- Ahoushat, Metlakatla, Nooaitch Toosey, Ditidaht and Lax Kwa'laams. It will also be posted on this website when approved by Optik TV.

A new member of the LRT team is Karen Peplow. A retired teacher and librarian, she wants to volunteer her time and skill to a project that allows her to practice her skills and experience in a meaningful manner.

The LRT team (Library Response Team) are a hidden but vital part of the Write to Read Project. “Hidden” because you couldn’t find them with a map. The team gathers and works at U Lock Storage in South Surrey, sorting and cataloguing and boxing books for delivery to W2R libraries. They started with one storage locker and have now expanded to five units, thanks to the generosity of the U Lock owners. It’s impossible to estimate how many books are stored at U Lock and need to be catalogued, but it may be 60-70,000. So, please don’t offer to donate any more! In this video, team leader Margaret Fletcher offers some details into how the team works, and how the books get delivered to the very remote communities in BC where the W2R libraries are located.