Editorial
The year 2011 was inspirational for proponents of free expression. A deep longing for democracy, human rights and equality drove people into the streets across the Muslim world and North America.
Although they sometimes faced violent responses, ordinary people armed with powerful ideas toppled governments in North Africa and challenged inequality at home. These events remind us that free expression is vital to building and maintaining healthy democracies. Freedom to Read 2012 looks at pressing issues of censorship and free expression in our Canadian democracy and around the world.
In this issue, we look at the freedom of Canadian youth to read. Lucy White explores censorship in theatre for young audiences. Anne Jayne writes about a newly amended law in Alberta that limits discussion of sexual orientation in public schools. And Professor George Dei explains why he is a longtime advocate for Africentric public schools.
Freedom to Read 2012 also features interviews with two tireless Canadian advocates of free expression: John Ralston Saul, the president of PEN International, and David Bouchard, an award-winning author and champion of literacy in aboriginal communities.
Librarians David Burke and Carol Perry tell us about their attempt to gain access to government documents, and Alvin Schrader and Donna Bowman report the latest attempts to remove books, magazines and DVDs from Canadian public libraries.
But there is much more in this issue of Freedom to Read 2012: book reviews, international news and ways to promote freedom to read in your community. I won’t give everything away. Enjoy!
— Josh Bloch, Editor
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Book and Periodical Council Members 2011–12
News Bytes
By Franklin Carter
Enduring Advocate for Free Expression: John Ralston Saul in Conversation
By Brendan de Caires
Libel Tourism: Shopping Around for the Best Verdict
By Hilary McLaughlin
Dropping the Curtain on Children’s Theatre
By Lucy White
Changing the Story: Aboriginal Characters in CanLit; David Bouchard in Conversation
By Josh Bloch
Opting Out in the Classroom: Alberta’s Chilling Human Rights Amendments
By Anne Jayne
Access to Government Information in Canada’s Public Libraries
By David Burke and Carol Perry
Africentric Education: Enabling the Freedom to Read and Learn
By George J. Sefa Dei
The International View: Freedom of Expression in 2011
Meanwhile in Quebec . . .
By Charles Montpetit
Challenges to Canadian Library Resources and Policies in 2010
By Alvin M. Schrader and Donna Bowman
Facing Book Challenges: Two Canadian Authors’ Experiences
By Susan Swan and Cheryl Rainfield
Facing Cuts to Library Funding
By Ron Brown
Is Journalism Worth Dying For?
By Brendan de Caires
Book Profile: The Fog of War
By Grant Buckler
Book Profile: The Man in Blue Pyjamas
By Brendan de Caires
Book Profile: The Master Switch
By Wayne MacPhail
Freedom to Read Week Activities and Events Across Canada 2011
GET INVOLVED
Ideas for Educators
Winners of the Calgary Public Library’s Freedom to Read Contest
Freedom to Read Kit Quiz
Speak Out for the Freedom to Read
Freedom to Read Word Search
Banned Authors Word Search
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Editor: Josh Bloch
Consulting Editor: Franklin Carter
Creative Director: Reva Pomer
Poster Design: David Wyman
Contributors: Donna Bowman, Ron Brown, Grant Buckler, David Burke, Brendan de Caires, George J. Sefa Dei, Anne Jayne, Wayne MacPhail, Hilary McLaughlin, Charles Montpetit, Carol Perry, Cheryl Rainfield, Alvin M. Schrader, Susan Swan, Lucy White
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