The Lieutenant Governor Of Manitoba Inspires Elmdale Students To Read

The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba visited Elmdale Elementary School on Wednesday with a very special duty: to read a book.

“Of course, February is ‘I Love to Read Month’, and reading is pretty essential. To move ahead one has to be able to read.”

Though she is of high government profile, Her Honor Janice Filmon felt it was important to take time out of her busy schedule, surround herself with grade 4 students, and open up a book with them. “Meet Viola Desmond” was intentionally chosen by Filmon for its relevance. The book discusses the historical effects of racism in Canada and the importance of standing up for human rights. Its protagonist, Viola, was a Canadian woman of color who fought against segregation. She is the same woman whose face is emblazoned on the relatively new Canadian 10 dollar bill.

“Part of the story happened in our lifetime so it’s very real,” states Filmon. “When the bill was introduced with Viola Desmond’s picture on it, her sister, Wanda, came to the Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg.”

Reading can transport you to different times and places, indicates Filmon, it can teach you in the present of what happened in the past. By the same token, she feels it is vital that kids are inspired to read as their literacy and education are what will shape the future.

Principal Vince Hiebert says the event went very well and was glad to have such a guest inspiring his students as they beckon in the month of February.

In another nod to “I Love to Read Month”, Hiebert says a special book nook at his school has been reopened up after being closed to students for several years.

“Former Elmdalers from the days gone by probably remember the reading pit put in the library in 1973,” he offers. "In the mid-2000s, Elmdale was bursting at the seams as we were waiting for Clearspring Middle School to be built and, at that time, we needed more space in the library so we closed it up.”

Now that the grades 5 and 6 students have left Elmdale, Hiebert says the school could be reintroduced to the space. Any necessary construction was finished over this past weekend.

The aptly named reading pit is a literal hole in the library which is tiered in carpeted layers that students can comfortably recline on with their favorite graphic novel.

“It’s just another one of those things that adds to literacy,” comments Hiebert, “finding a fun, safe, cozy place to read is important.”

Filmon herself agrees with this mindset of nurturing a love of books.

"Reading is a key part in being able to develop one’s self,” she says, “and I just want [students] to value what literacy can do for them.”