2004 Marks 20th Anniversary of Freedom to Read Week in Canada
February 22-28, 2004 will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Freedom to Read Week in Canada. In announcing the week, Ron Brown, Chair of the Freedom of Expression Committee of the Book and Periodical Council, reminds Canadians that challenges to intellectual freedom must continue to be a priority.
"Freedom to Read Week began after challenges in Canada to works by Canadian writers Alice Munro and Margaret Laurence. Created by writers, booksellers and publishers, in support of the writers and creators of books and other printed materials, it has grown into a national event, and continued resource for numerous writers' organizations, book industry associations, libraries, schools and bookstores. While we continue to uphold these fundamentals, changes in Canadian society and the global implications of the Internet, terrorism and media convergence have meant that we have expanded our areas of concern."
The Freedom of Expression Committee encourages Canadians to examine how freedom to read has changed in their community over this turbulent twenty-year period.
Plans for the 2004 Week include:
- Redesign of the Freedom to Read Week Kit, winner of the 2002 Canadian Library Association Intellectual Freedom Award.
- Relaunch of the Freedom to Read website: http://www.freedomtoread.ca/
- The 20th anniversary poster by award-winning designer David Wyman.
- Readings, public discussion and displays of 20 years of banned or challenged books in schools, libraries and bookstores.
For more information, see
How You Can Observe Freedom to Read Week, and post your plans on the
Events section of the website.
For more information, contact publicist Sarah Thring at
publicity@freedomtoread.ca.
