Editorial
From the Supreme Court to the streets of the G20 Summit protests, from the halls of residential schools to the Senate floor, this twenty-seventh edition of Freedom to Read covers the shifting landscape of censorship and free expression in Canada today.
In Freedom to Read 2011, we celebrate the heroes of free expression. Peter Carver profiles Patsy Aldana, the tireless advocate against the censorship of children’s literature. And Andrea Bear Nicholas discusses the struggle to save indigenous languages in Canada from extinction.
We explore where we came from and where we are heading. Bryan Palmer takes a look back at the censorship of trade unionists and socialists in Canada. David Gollob looks at the future of journalism as it moves online.
We also examine recent victories for free expression. Kathy English writes about a Supreme Court decision that will likely thaw libel chill for journalists, writers and publishers in Canada.
The Get Involved section includes ideas on how schools, libraries and communities can engage these issues and provides strategies to teach—instead of ban—controversial material.
But this is just a small taste of this year’s Freedom to Read which explores the complexities of free expression. Dig in.
Contents
Position Statement: Freedom of Expression and Freedom to Read
Book and Periodical Council Members 2010–11
News Bytes
By Franklin Carter
Breaking Ground: Patsy Aldana in Conversation
By Peter Carver
Free Expression Gets Freer with New Supreme Court Ruling
By Kathy English
Canada’s Hidden Censorship: Banning Books and Magazines at the Border
By Franklin Carter
Whatever Happened to the Death of the Newspaper?
By David Gollob
I’d Like My Coffee Filtered, Not My Research
By Shelagh Paterson
Excerpts from the Senate Debate on Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Expression v. Freedom from Contempt: Canada’s Top Court Agrees to Hear the Whatcott Case
By Franklin Carter
Censorship’s Coercive History: How Libel, Legislation and Lockdowns Have Kept the Lid on Canadian Socialists and Trade Unionists
By Bryan D. Palmer
The Fate of Canadian Independent Bookstores
By Josh Bloch
Canada’s Disappearing Languages: Andrea Bear Nicholas in Conversation
By Josh Bloch
Award-Winning Activists and Writers of 2010
Trends in Challenges to Canadian Library Resources and Policies, 2006–09
By Donna Bowman, Alvin Schrader and Toni Samek
Because Writers Speak Their Minds
By Khalid Sohail
Black Day for Free Expression in Canada
By Julie Payne
Religious Chill
By Ron Brown
Book Profile: Fearless Female Journalists
By Teri Degler
Book Profile: The News
By Peter Steven
Just the Facts, Ma’am?
By Marc Glassman
Freedom to Read Week Activities and Events Across Canada 2010
GET INVOLVED
Ideas for Educators
Organize an Essay-Writing Contest
Start a Banned-Book Club
Speak Out for the Freedom to Read
Challenged Books and Magazines
Teaching Controversy
By Moira Wong and Josh Bloch
Excerpt from A Teaching Resource for Dealing with Controversial and Sensitive Issues: “Examination of the Role of Perspective in Novel Study”
Credits
Editor: Josh Bloch
Consulting Editor: Franklin Carter
Design: Reva Pomer
Poster Design: David Wyman
Contributors: Donna Bowman, Ron Brown, Peter Carver, Brendan de Caires, Teri Degler, Kathy English, Marc Glassman, David Gollob, Maggie Gosselin, Phyllis Jacklin, Bryan D. Palmer, Shelagh Paterson, Julie Payne, Toni Samek, Alvin Schrader, Miriam Scribner, Khalid Sohail, Moira Wong