TD National Reading Summit III
TD National Reading Summit III -
A Reading Canada – Building A Plan
May 2 – 4, Vancouver, B.C.
National Reading Summit III was a huge success! Thank you to all participants, Vancouver partners, sponsors, speakers, and staff!
Bordeom has become the elephant in the (class) room
It began the evening of May 2 with Marcelo Suarez-Orozco’s captivating lecture, Educating the Whole Child for the Whole World. Sharing his research in the United States and Europe, Marcelo engaged in a stimulating discussion on globalization, education, and our shared future. Startling facts were brought to the forefront: Over 200 million students who should be enrolled in school are not. The idea of education for engagement, both personal and citizen, has been lost in the culture of testing, competition, and economics. The lecture was a perfect segue into the next two days; the audience was left with insightful, thought-provoking questions. How do you teach kids to love learning? How do you teach autonomy, agility, creativity? What should the purpose of education in the 21st century be?
This is about allowing Canadians to weave reading into every aspect of their lives
May 3 and May 4, over 130 participants in-person and across Canada via webcast contributed their valued input to the forthcoming National Reading Campaign and Plan. Steven Page, Canadian music icon, and Annie Kidder, education specialist, took the stage for an engaging discussion on the joy of reading and Steven’s personal experiences – he even sang a song!
The voice of a writer is the voice of a friend – Steven Page
Reading is the door to citizenship, to discovering ourselves in relation to the stories we read. Educational institutions featured strongly in the discussion, with the mutual agreement that libraries and teachers play a very important role in fostering a
reading culture. Steven went on to assert that reading is part of a full and rich life, and that we need assistance from broadcasters and media to encourage this.
The biggest lesson publishing can learn from the digital world? Let it go. – Steven Page
We are all stakeholders in the availability of cultural output.
More highlights from Day 1 and Day 2 included speakers Fabian Langelle from Library and Archives Canada and inveterate writer Max Wyman. Fabian presented the Immigration Heritage online kits initiative, thematic guides for the web generation, while Max entertained and delighted the audience with a captivating, passionate speech on the importance of reading.
“I can’t wait to go walking in the cloud” – Max Wyman on the digital world
A cocktail reception at the beautiful Vancouver Art Gallery, overlooking Robson Square, followed the day’s events. Fred Herzog’s photograph was the subject of a fierce bidding war upwards of $3300, which Bob Tyrell of Orca Books ultimately won. It was a spectacular couple of days for all involved.
Day 2 opened up with a powerful panel discussion from Simi Sara, CKNW host, Lyne Laganiere from Quebec’s Ministry of Education, Maureen Dockendorf from the Coquitlam School District, and Chris Kennedy from the Vancouver School Board.
Panelists contended that libraries need more and constant research in order to continue enriching the lives of all citizens. Reading is an intimate journey of the mind. It increases our sense of self-worth. It encourages empathy. The joy of reading has become stifled through mandatory, formulaic school tests and assignments – this needs to change. And it can change, the panelists asserted, with the use of new technology in schools that promotes, encourages, and sustains a literary school community.
“Minimize what’s prescribed to maximize the potential. Don’t cover the curriculum – uncover it.” – Maureen Dockendorf
Jim Diorio of Manifest Communications later took to the stage to unveil the National Reading Campaign, elaborating on ad placement, target audiences, cross-Canada media, urban, and rural participation, strategies for library, educational, and media involvement, and the ubiquitous catchphrase: “What did you read today?”
Closing off the summit was Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, Indigenous author and activist. Jeannette delivered a passionate and emotional speech, stressing the need for all Aboriginal communities to be included in the National Reading Plan.
Through guided group discussion and teamwork (and over delicious snacks and lunches!), participants were able to meet others in similar and diverse industries, from publishers and writers to students, educators or librarians. We worked diligently to establish the final version of Canada’s National Reading Plan.
Be sure to check our website for full videos of the summit, and subscribe to our newsletter to receive continued updates on the National Reading Campaign. Thank you again to all involved!
