Toronto, May 2, 2017 – Five books are in contention to become the First Nation Communities READ community reading selection for 2017-2018. Five jury members from First Nation public libraries in Ontario made the shortlist selections. The title selection announcement for 2017-2018 will take place in Toronto on June 28 as part of National Aboriginal Day Celebrations. The selected title’s creator will be the recipient of the $5,000 Periodical Marketers of Canada Aboriginal Literature Award.
Author: CCI Admin
First Nation Communities Read 2016-2017 Announces – Winner of the PMC Aboriginal Literature Award
The winner of the PMC Aboriginal Literature Award is: Spirit Bear. Illustrated by Michael Arnott. Written by Jennifer Harrington.
Toronto, June 20, 2016 – First Nation Communities Read (FNCR) and Periodical Marketers of Canada (PMC) are pleased to announce that:
- Spirit Bear, illustrated by Michael Arnott and written by Jennifer Harrington is the selected title of First Nations Communities Read 2016-2017 and the recipient of this year’s PMC Aboriginal Literature Award. Spirit Bear is published by Eco Books 4 Kids.
The Aboriginal Literature Award, inspired by the goals of the FNCR program, recognizes the work of the creators of outstanding Aboriginal literature and supports the objectives of PMC’s Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters (FACL). The annual award of $5,000 is provided through a FACL funding commitment. Tom Worsley, representing PMC, with FNCR jurors on hand, presented the award to Michael Arnott at 3:30 pm on Thursday, June 23, at the National Aboriginal Day celebrations held at Yonge Dundas Square in Toronto, Ontario.
A jury of librarians from First Nation public libraries in Ontario, with coordination support from Southern Ontario Library Service, selected Spirit Bear from more than 24 titles submitted by Canadian publishers. An announcement of five short-list contenders preceded the selection decision. In arriving at its selection decision, the jury agreed that the book is an important one that tells a story of friendship, perseverance, bravery, and trust. The reader follows Anuk, a white bear cub (spirit bear) who has swept away from home and must make his way back to his mother. Spirit Bear is full of lovely full-colour illustrations by artist Michael Arnott that introduce children to 22 animals from the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, many of whom are endangered.
First Nation Communities Read is the Ontario First Nation public library community’s contribution to the popular reading movement. Launched in 2003 by the First Nations Public Library Community in Ontario with support from Southern Ontario Library Service, it promotes a community-based approach to reading,FNCR:
- encourages family literacy, intergenerational storytelling, and intergenerational information sharing;
- increases awareness of the relevance and importance of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit writing, illustration, and publishing;
- promotes the publication, sharing, and understanding of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit voices and experiences;
- increases awareness and sales of the titles it honours.
Southern Ontario Library Service is mandated to deliver programs and services on behalf of the Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport by:
- increasing cooperation and coordination among public library boards and other information providers in order to promote the provision of library service to the public;
- assisting public library boards by providing them with services and programs that reflect their needs, including consultation, training, and development.
For more information about First Nation Communities Read and Southern Ontario Library Service, contact:
Nancy Cooper
First Nations Consultant
Southern Ontario Library Service
Telephone: 416-961-1669, Ext. 5194
E-mail: ncooper@sols.org
Periodical Marketers of Canada is the national association of magazine and book wholesalers serving 35,000 retail newsstands. Periodical Marketers of Canada was established under federal charter in 1942 for the purpose of furthering the wholesale periodical distribution industry and contributing to the encouragement of reading in Canada. Current members of the association are: Monahan Agency, Vernon, BC; Metro News, Toronto, ON; TNG, Burlington, ON.
PMC’s ongoing activities include funding of a nonprofit charitable foundation, the Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters, which makes contributions to individuals and agencies engaged in the encouragement of literacy and reading in Canada.
For more information about Periodical Marketers of Canada, contact:
Barry Francis
Periodical Marketers of Canada
Periodical Marketers of Canada
First Nation Communities Read Announces 2016-2017 Shortlist of Books for Children
Toronto, May 2, 2016 – Five books are in contention to become the First Nation Communities Read community reading selection for 2016-2017. Six jury members from First Nation public libraries in Ontario made the shortlist selections. The title selection announcement for 2016-2017 will take place in Toronto on June 23 as part of National Aboriginal Day Celebrations. The selected title’s creator will be the recipient of the $5,000 Periodical Marketers of Canada Aboriginal Literature Award.
PMC Foundation Funds Sponsorship of a Syrian Refugee Writer
Members of Periodical Marketers of Canada approved a $40,000 grant that will make it possible for a Syrian refugee writer and family to find a new life in Canada.
The grant, from the Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters (FACL), will go to a committee of writers based in Kingston that is organizing the project. Through FACL, PMC has a forty-year history of supporting literacy and promoting Canadian writing through awards to magazine writers and authors. FACL currently sponsors a $5,000 annual Aboriginal Literature Award for the best book published by an indigenous author.
The Kingston Writers’ Refugee Committee has been registered as a Community Sponsor affiliated with the United Church of Canada. The affiliation empowers the Committee to sponsor a refugee family and support them in their first year in Canada.
First PMC Aboriginal Literature Award to Vancouver Writer/artist
TORONTO: The first Aboriginal Literature Award has been presented by Periodical Marketers of Canada to Julie Flett of Vancouver, author/illustrator of Wild Berries/Pakwa che Menisu, a picture book for children published in English and Cree.Winner of the $5,000 award was chosen from a five-title short list by First Nations Communities Read. A jury of librarians from First Nations public libraries in Ontario hailed it for its “underlying themes of intergenerational relationships and teaching, respect for Mother Earth, and use of Aboriginal languages and dialects.”
First Nation Communities Read Announces 2014 – 2014 Shortlist of Books for Children – and Everyone.
Toronto, April 29, 2014 – Five children’s books are in contention to become the First Nation Communities Read community reading selection for 2014-2015. Six jury members from First Nation public libraries in Ontario made the shortlist selections. The title selection announcement for 2014-2015 will take place the week of May 19 as a lead in to National Aboriginal History Month and National Aboriginal Day celebrations in June. The selected title’s creators will be the inaugural recipients of the $5,000 Periodical Marketers of Canada Aboriginal Literature Award.
PMC Announces Support for Aboriginal Literature Award
Periodical Marketers of Canada (PMC), in partnership with First Nation Communities Read, announced the inauguration of a significant new book award, the Aboriginal Literature Award. The annual award of $5,000 is provided through a funding commitment from PMC’s Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters (FACL).
First Nation Communities Read, a program of the First Nations public library community in Ontario, promotes Aboriginal literacy, and increases national and international awareness of the availability, importance, and relevance of Aboriginal literature. The launch of the Aboriginal Literature Award coincides with the tenth anniversary of First Nations Community Read program to recognize creators of Aboriginal literature.
First Nation Communities Read focuses in alternate years on Aboriginal literature for adults and young adults, and Aboriginal literature for children. The current (2013-2014) selection is Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. The 2014-2015 selection will be a children’s title.
The 2014-15 title selection will be announced in May, timed to encourage Aboriginal literature displays and programming during National Aboriginal History Month and National Aboriginal Day celebrations in June, when the first Aboriginal Literature Award will be presented.