WINNIPEG, MB–Recording and preserving stories of new Canadians is essential in understanding our evolving society. The Past Is Another Country, the first publication of the Finding Your Voice creative writing program facilitated by Janine LeGal at the Millennium Library, presents the stories of 12 new Canadians. This year, students from English 3120, Practicum in Literacy, Language and Literacy are partnering with the program to raise funds for the publication of Volume 2.
UWinnipeg is hosting these fundraising events: a 24-Hour-Read-a-thon beginning on Friday, March 9, 2012, 4:00 pm to Saturday, March 10 at 4:00 pm, at the Bulman Centre, Mezzanine (515 Portage Avenue), and a Concert with Fred Penner, Bog River, and Friends. Tickets are $10 or/pay as you can and children under 12 are free.
Course instructor Debbie Schnitzer noted, “One of our course members is doing her practicum placement with the Finding Your Voice program and we are reading The Past Is Another Country as a course text. In developing a class action which would integrate theory and experiential learning practice, we consulted with Janine and felt that we could work toward the publication of Volume 2. It’s a collaborative community effort that enriches, extends, and deepens our response.”
Arriving in Canada can be a shocking cultural encounter for refugees and new immigrants. Sharing their stories gives context to their experiences and helps us gain insight and understanding as individuals in our society.
“I’m thrilled and so grateful that this group of students has chosen to work on this project. Their commitment to helping us build community through intercultural learning and the power of stories is heartening,” says LeGal, program founder.
The first volume has been distributed freely and represents the experiences of writers from China, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Korea, Macedonia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Taiwan, and Uzbekistan.
