Saint John Free Public Library Support

We were glad to have the Saint John Free Public Library on board, as a funder and a friend, for our 9th year of Quality Storytents.  The library was a founding partner of the Saint John Family Literacy Advisory Committee, and has been a constant supporter and friend in almost all of our work with families in Crescent Valley.

Next year will be our 10th year of storytents.  Not surprisingly, the library is helping us mark and celebrate the decade with a number of events.  During this, Canada Library Month, we want to take a moment to thank the library for its support of our work, and, through us, its support of the families we serve.

Get Set Learn Afterschool Training

Since 2008, Project READ Literacy Network (Ontario) has developed and piloted a family literacy curriculum with partners in New Brunswick and Manitoba.  In this training session, Outreach and Program Coordinator Lorri Sauve will share what they have learned about working with low income and second language families to implement an inter-cultural, strength-based program that promotes the nine essential skills.

Lorri Sauve, M.A., Outreach and Program Coordinator, Project READ Literacy Network, is a 20 + year veteran of the adult literacy and family literacy field.  A recent Canada Post Literacy Educator  Award (2011), she brings knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm  to every workshop she facilitates.

Full Flyer (pdf)

Registration Form (pdf)

There is no fee for this workshop.  For more information please  contact Cheryl Brown at (506) 333-2601 or sjfamlit@nbnet.nb.ca.

Province Supports Storytents

 

Juanita Black, QLNB Board member and member of the CVCTA
thanks Minister Holder for his long time support of Storytents

With the successful wrap-up of our 9th summer, we want to recognize and thank the provincial government for investing $12,500 in Quality Storytents, an outdoor reading program that outreaches of the provincial summer reading club program, and provides families a fun, safe place to read or borrow books.

At the announcement of the funding, on a rainy summer morning, Wellness, Culture and Sport Minister Trevor Holder noted that the program played a vital role in creating productive, engaged and culturally aware residents.  "The Quality Storytent project has achieved great success in Crescent Valley, and it has encouraged other communities, such as Campbellton, St. Stephen and Sackville, to start the program."

This year, the project depended on a partnership between QLNB, the Saint John Free Public Library, the Crescent Valley Community Tenant's Association, and the Crescent Valley Resource Centre.  We ran eight storytents per week, Monday through Thursday, over 9 weeks, allowing 148 neighbourhood children to attended the Storytent or Bookwagon lending program.  Seventy-seven children registered for the Summer Reading Club.  Registered or not, the children recorded reading a total of 4330 books this summer. As well, 27 adults made use of the Storytent and/or Bookwagon: between them, children and adults borrowed 869 books.

Many thanks to the children and families who participated and to our partners and funders:  Province of New Brunswick, Saint John Free Public Library, Crescent Valley Community Tenant’s Association, Crescent Valley Resource Centre, Saint John Y’s Men, Literacy Coalition of NB PGI Fund, and Walmart.

Announcement of Province of NB support for Quality Storytents, Aug 4th.

Back row (L-R):  Cheryl Brown, QLNB; Nancy Savoie, CVRC; City of Saint John Councillor Gary Sullivan;
Hon. Trevor Holder, Minister of Wellness Culture and Sport/Saint John Portland MLA;
Heather McKend, Saint John Free Public Library; Juanita Black, CVCTA.

QLNB helps out at Family Evening

QLNB board member Heather McKend with Clifford the Big Red Dog

In the midst of hosting a Scholastic Book Fair, Hazen White / St. Francis Elementary School held a Family Evening complete with games, reading, shopping and Clifford the Big Red Dog. QLNB was happy to be help out on the night, providing four volunteers (two of them pictured above). In return, we had the chance to grab some really great deals for the bookwagon.

After the event, school principle Jennifer Carhart wrote to say, "between Clifford and all the games/activities the children had a REALLY great time."

We think so, too.

Juanita Black receives 'Y' Peace Medal, 2010

Juanita Black (right) recipient of the YMCA's Peace Medal 2010

We often talk about our quality programs, but QLNB also has some very special board members. Among them is our treasurer, Juanita Black.

Juanita is a resident of the Crescent Valley neighbourhood, a long-time block parent, and a past president of the Crescent Valley Community Tenant's Association. She helps organize a Community Garden, works as Coordinator of the Around the Block community newspaper and has been called described as a "tireless worker for the City's poor" (CHSJ News). She is a constant volunteer for events like neighbourhood clean-up, Christmas parties, and Crescent Valley Fun Days. Less visibly, she is a constant source of encouragement and information for many of her neighbours, and we feel lucky to have her on our board.


Juanita was one of two 2010 recipients of the YMCA Peace Medal, an award granted "an individual or group who, without any special resources, demonstrates a commitment to peace through special contributions made within their community locally, nationally or globally." We didn't want to leave 2010 too far behind without adding our "congratulations" to the chorus of cheers and appreciations she has received from across our region.

Thank you, Juanita, and well done.