Press Releases

 
Canadian Writers Honour Alan Borovoy with 2010 Freedom to Read Award
The Writers’ Union of Canada today announced that it will present its 2010 "Freedom to Read Award" to Alan Borovoy, the former General Counsel to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

“We are pleased to honour Alan Borovoy with our 2010 Freedom to Read Award, said Erna Paris, Chair of the Writers’ Union. “For years Mr. Borovoy has defended free expression in Canada, in addition to combatting racism. Canadian writers, among other groups, have benefitted from his powerful commitments.”

Alan Borovoy became general counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in 1968, a position he held until his retirement in July 2009. He received the Order of Canada in 1982; and in 1988 his book, When Freedoms Collide: The Case for our Civil Liberties, was nominated for the Governor General’s Award. Mr. Borovoy's most recent work, Categorically Incorrect: Ethical Fallacies in Canada’s War on Terror was released in 2007.

Each year during Freedom to Read Week, the Writers’ Union of Canada honours a recipient who has worked to defend the right of Canadians to free expression. Previous Freedom to Read Award winners have included lawyer Clayton Ruby, Little Sisters Bookstore in Vancouver, and author Derek Finkle. The 2009 award was awarded posthumously to Nancy Fleming. Ms Fleming was the executive director for the Book and Periodical council for 20 years and was instrumental in the success of the annual Freedom to Read Week.

The award will be presented February 23rd at the Freedom to Read Week gala at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto.

The Writers' Union of Canada is our country's national organization representing professional authors of books. Founded in 1973, the Union is dedicated to fostering writing in Canada, and promoting the rights, freedoms, and economic well being of all writers. For more information, please visit www.writersunion.ca.


- 30 -


For additional information
Deborah Windsor, Executive Director
The Writers’ Union of Canada
416.703.8982 Ext. 221
dwindsor@writersunion.ca

 
Public Events Planned Across Canada in Support of 2010 Freedom to Read Week
Toronto, Feb. 11, 2010 — Public readings, contests and panel discussions will be held across Canada as part of the 2010 Freedom to Read Week (Feb. 21st to 27th). These events are a great opportunity for Canadians to express themselves on the issue of censorship and the right to free speech and opinion.

“We need to continually remind Canadians that a basic right they take for granted can, and will be, eroded if we don’t guard against it,” said Marg Anne Morrison, Chair of the Freedom of Expression Committee. “That is why Freedom to Read Week is so important — it brings the issue out in the open for debate, discussion and scrutiny.”

A complete list of events and locations is available at www.freedomtoreadweek.ca/events.

Around the world censorship continues to be a major human rights concern. In Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms ensures the fundamental freedoms of thought, belief, opinion and expression. Yet many times these rights conflict with cultural claims or the beliefs of over-zealous groups and individuals. Books and magazines have frequently been removed from public libraries and schools as a result of challenges or complaints from such groups. Even in Canada, journalists and broadcasters are often faced with censure, lawsuits or other attempts to silence them.

Freedom to Read Week is organized by the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee, which has just been awarded the 2010 Les Fowlie Intellectual Freedom Award by the Ontario Library Association. The Award recognizes the committee’s work in promoting intellectual freedom for all Canadians.

The Committee also produces an annual publication called Freedom to Read which reviews issues of censorship, freedom of expression and access to Canadian books and periodicals. An educators’ section is also included for teachers, librarians and the community at large.

To learn more about Freedom to Read Week, and for details on all events, please visit www.freedomtoread.ca.

For more information, contact
Book and Periodical Council
416-975-9366 or publicity@theBPC.ca