Community Publications

Write to Read BC (W2R) is a community-driven initiative led by the Rotary Club of Steveston in partnership with Indigenous communities across British Columbia. Founded in 2009 through a collaboration between then–BC Lieutenant Governor Steven Point and Rotary leadership, the program was created to bring community-led libraries and learning spaces to rural and remote First Nations communities. Point, the first Indigenous person to serve as Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, helped champion the initiative as part of a broader commitment to education, literacy, and community empowerment. Since then, W2R has supported the development of more than 25 libraries and learning centres, improving access to books, technology, and culturally relevant learning environments. This 2025 evaluation report, based on conversations with 19 participating communities, demonstrates that W2R has evolved far beyond a literacy initiative. While originally focused on reading and education, these spaces have become multi-purpose community hubs, supporting cultural programming, early years education, food distribution, meetings, and social connection. Communities consistently emphasized that the flexibility of the model, which allows them to define how spaces are used, has been critical to its success. The findings in this report highlight several key areas of impact. W2R libraries strengthen community connection and belonging, providing trusted spaces where people gather across generations. They support literacy and lifelong learning, including early literacy development and the emergence of new programs inspired by these spaces. Our report outlines 10 actionable recommendations for strengthening climate coverage during elections and includes practical tools and resources for journalists looking to improve climate reporting year-round.