Selfless Service Remembered

 

Observing the fallen will look a little different this Remembrance Day but the silence observed will be just, if not more, impactful.

Honouring the service of selfless military personnel does not begin on Nov. 11, however, but on Nov. 8, with Indigenous Veterans Day.  Many Canadians are unaware of the sacrifice our indigenous citizens made during our nation's conflicts but with the addition and inclusion of their stories of bravery and commitment into classrooms and our bookshelves, that involvement will not be forgotten. The First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Canada have a long and proud tradition of military service in our country and their contributions should have prominent standings in our ceremonies because they did so when their fellow Canadians viewed them as lesser peoples.

Now THAT is selfless service personified.

Each year, millions of people across the country bow their heads in silence when the clock chimes 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 — the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month — in commemoration of the ending of the First World War in 1918. Originally referred to as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day was first observed throughout the British Commonwealth in 1919.  It was held on the Monday of the week in which Nov. 11 fell from 1921-1930, and it wasn't until 1931 that a bill passed in the House of Commons to declare Nov. 11 as the official day of observation. The bill also changed the name from Armistice Day to Remembrance Day, and every year since, Canadians across this vast land stop, reflect, remember, honour the more than 2.3 million servicemen and women who selflessly fought to preserve peace, 118,000 of whom gave their lives in the process. 

On Remembrance Day, The Royal Canadian Legion honours and supports veterans from all Canadian wars, recent and past, including the South African War (1899-1902); First World War (1914-1918); Second World War (1939-1945); Korean War (1950-1953); Persian Gulf War (1990-1991); and the Afghanistan War (2001-2014).

In a normal year, students would be quietly gathering in auditoriums and gymnasiums to hear their school bands play, military personnel speak, place wreaths of red poppies around a symbolic marker, and pause on the eleventh hour. The sombre silence would be gripping, as the only sound reverberating from the vast space would be heartbeats beating in time — thumps that sound against chests to remind everyone present of the life in our bodies that we owe to those who have served before us. Stretching across hardwood floors and plastic chairs, the moment of silence may seem endless to some, a flash to others, and it is only broken when the bugle plays The Last Post.

In this year of the pandemic, the gyms and auditoriums may be empty but the assemblies and remembrance will forge ahead, albeit online. At TMC, our Remembrance Day assembly will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10, starting at 10:45 a.m. Look for your link to the online program in your Inbox. In addition, our school has joined the Veterans Food Bank of Calgary drive leading up to the online assembly to collect non-perishable food items for those who have fought for our freedoms. 

As each generation grows up without the thought of war, I believe that freedom is taken more and more for granted. We forget about times of telegrams and bunkers, concentration camps and rations. Our memories gloss over empty cupboards and round-ups and family members leaving for the warfront, never to return. Those realities are grey shadows floating far off into the distance — a vacant fog seen only by our elders.

So how do we remember the price of freedom?

We reflect.

We turn back the clock and educate ourselves in the past, and we wear a poppy to show we, too, know that freedom isn't free.

It comes at a cost.

Lives paid.

Lives lost.

Lives broken.

Lives endured.

Here at Twelve Mile Coulee, our collection of war and Remembrance Day books is extensive. From historic accounts, diaries, biographies and poetry to picture books, real-fiction and graphic novels, we have titles that seek to engage, educate, encourage another generation to fight for peace and freedom with words and actions, knowing the true cost of freedom.

While there are many, many books that depict the wars fought for freedom, and commemorated during the Canadian Remembrance Day, here are some of my favourite go-to titles in our Learning Commons' collection, all of which are in non-conventional formats:

1. World War One: 1914-1918: The War to End All Wars — Graphic Novel by Alan Cowsill (author) and Lalit Kumar Sharma (illustrator)

Known as The Great War, the First World War involved more than 30 nations and resulted in the deaths of millions of young men. This stunning graphic depiction of the historic events of the war through the eyes of young conscripted servicemen on all sides of the conflict, and the introduction of tanks, airplanes, air raids, submarines and gas attacks. It was the first modern war of the 20th century, and it all began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Beautifully illustrated, this graphic history book tells the journey from Sarajevo to the Treaty of Versailles and it is a must-have for every library. Non-fiction graphic novel

2. World War Two: Against the Rising Sun — Graphic Novel by Jason Quinn (author) and Naresh Kumar (illustrator)

In this graphic novel depiction of the Second World War, author Jason Quinn and illustrator Naresh Kumar focus their creativity on the war in the East, through the eyes of servicemen and civilians on both sides of the conflict, from the invasion of Manchuria by Japan in 1937 to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While many books on the Second World War tend to solely focus on the European theatre, World War Two: Against the Rising Sun includes the Pacific theatre, stretching back to the early 1930s in order to gain perspective from all sides, making it more proportional in content. Non-fiction graphic novel

3. Canada at War: A Graphic History of World War Two by Paul Keery (author) and Michael Wyatt (illustrator)

Short-listed for the Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award, this beautifully crafted graphic novel traces the achievements of the Canadian Forces in the Second World War, after it picked up arms in 1914 as a subject of Britain and later on its own in 1939. Canada at War follows the developments and setbacks, wins and losses as our nation comes to the aid of its allies. The graphic novel gives an historic account of our country's growing military presence (army, navy, air force) through the full-colour illustrations of our triumphs and tragedies, from Dieppe and Hong Kong, through the Battle of the Atlantic and the Invasion of Sicily. It ends with the victories of D-Day and Juno Beach, and the liberation of Europe. Non-fiction graphic novel

4. A Bear in the War by Stephanie Innes (author), Harry Endrulat (author) and Brian Deines (illustrator)

Accompanied by family photographs and poignant illustrations, A Bear in the War tells the story of a young girl who slips her teddy bear into a care package for her father, a medic posted to the trenches of France during World War One. Lawrence Browning Rogers left behind his wife, two children and their farm in East Farnham, Que. to join the Fifth Canadian Mounted Rifles in 1915. Although he died in the battle of Passchendaele, his belongings were shipped back to his family, along with the toy bear. Eighty-five years later, his granddaughter found the teddy bear, the letters the family exchanged while Rogers was stationed overseas — all packed neatly in a briefcase. Today, the toy bear sits in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Non-fiction picture book

5. At Vimy Oaks: A Journey of Peace by Linda Granfield (author) and Brian Deines (illustrator)

In 1917, after the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Leslie H. Miller — a teacher, farmer and soldier with the Canadian Expeditionary Force — stood amid the war-ravaged landscape and pocketed a handful of acorns from the blasted trees and mailed them home. Over the next 100 years, those acorns grew to become majestic oaks on the site of the Miller family farm in Ontario. This picture book tells that story of hope amidst destruction in a vivid portrayal. Non-fiction picture book

6. I Remember Korea: Veterans Tell Their Stories of the Korean War, 1950-1953 by Linda Granfield

Award-winning non-fiction author Linda Granfield collected the personal accounts of 32 men and women who served wth the Canadian and U.S. forces in Korea during 1950-1953, and described the main events of the war in this book. The veterans represent different branches and aspects of the military, including medical, supplies, infantry and naval. Their moving, sometimes graphic, recollections of the end of the Korean War are vivid and personal, insightful and reflective. Non-fiction

7. Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac

Code Talker is a real-fiction account of the Navajo code talkers who played a crucial part of the U.S. effort in the fight against Japan in the Second World War, sending messages in their native tongue that became an unbreakable code. The tale of their heroism remained classified for more than 20 years. In this fictional account, author Joseph Bruchac creates a riveting account of Ned Begay, a 16-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. Real-Fiction novel

OTHER RESOURCES

The Canadian Encyclopedia  provides access to hundreds of Canadian documents related to Remembrance Day, and the wars in which Canadian soldiers have fought. The Memory Project contains photographs and interviews from Canadian soldiers of the three wars (Korea, First World War, and Second World War), as well as documents related to Canada's peacekeeping efforts. In addition, there is also a section highlighting the Cree code talkers, who much like the Navajo code talkers in the U.S., were an elite unit tasked with disguising military intelligence using their native language during the Second World War. 

TeachingBooks.net is a database of supportive materials for war-related books written by Canadian authors that can be used in English and language arts novel studies, but they are titles that everyone can access. One of my favourites highlighted is Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden. While Three Day Road is not available at Twelve Mile Coulee, due to his adult-suggested reading rating, I would highly recommend it for students Grade 10 and up, as well as adults. Boyden, a Canadian author born in Toronto, won numerous awards and was nominated for a Governor General's Award for the debut novel. His second novel, Through Black Spruce, won the 2008 Scotiabank Giller Prize and he was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2015. 

The National Film Board of Canada this year created a Remembrance Day Virtual Classroom, in collaboration with the Canadian War Museum, OHASSTA, and the Royal Canadian Legion. The classroom includes the recitation of John McCrae's, In Flanders Fields, to mark the 100-year anniversary of the iconic war poem. In addition, the film board also has a Canada at War Series, a documentary film series with more than 14 million feet of film, mostly shot by Canadian Army cameramen during the Second World War, as well as footage shot by German and British film crews. War & Peace is a collection of NFB films encompassing war topics covered in elementary and high schools. 

Canada in Context is a database with a wealth of information related to Remembrance Day in Canada, including how one community commemorated the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers and a biography of John McCrae, author of the famous In Flanders Fields poem.

Fighting Racism With Inclusion

Inclusion. 

We all want it: we want to be heard; to be accepted; to be included, as an important piece to society's puzzle. Despite this burning desire, though, many find themselves on the outside looking in. Often, those pounding on the door are those of colour, and their knuckles are bleeding from the impact. Those inside, are often unaware — oblivious even — to the constant knocking and the fact that our societal hut is swaying in the changing winds, threatening to fall. In fact, the sounds of the knocks and straining walls have become a hum in the back of our brains like a noise machine lulling us to sleep. 

We know the din is still there, but it doesn't really affect us because we are inside: safe, secure, protected, considered.

Outside, however, it's a different story.

In recent years, the Black Lives Matter and Indigenous Lives Matter movements have scratched off scabs we have all be telling ourselves had been healed. Together, they brought to the forefront how our past can, and does, affect our present and future.

Racism didn't end with the Civil Rights Movement or the electing of the first black president in the United States any more than it did with the closure of the residential schools in Canada. It still hides in our language, in our education system, in our workplaces, in our governments, and in our societies as a whole. 

Is history really in the rearview, or does it appear closer than we think?

At TMC, we may not be able to open every door but we are unlocking the minds of current and future generations, and issuing an invitation to acknowledge, educate, change, speak up against racism on all fronts. Our efforts toward inclusion come with the addition of literature that fosters an anti-racism culture in our school and in our society. Each year, new titles are added that include topics on race and culture from a variety of ethnicities, as well as historic accounts of wrongs done to those of colour in our country, in addition to resources on how we can move forward and progress.  Nothing can erase the atrocities of the past but by educating each generation thereafter, there is hope that we can evolve, do better, be inclusive, and join the fight against racism.

Over the summer, Twelve Mile Coulee Parent Council graciously gave $1,000 to purchase grade-team anti-racism books for classroom collections. In the first week of October, these collections were delivered to the grade-team learning leaders, and the titles were added to the Learning Commons' wish list for this school year, some of which were previously purchased as part of our Learning Commons collection.

The purchasing of these books was not done lightly. When compiling the Anti-Racism Collection, the following websites were consulted:

• Rebekah Gienapp's 15 Books to Help Kids Understand That Black Lives Matter (Gienapp is a mom, activist and writer whose work has been published and featured on several journalistic platforms, including in the Washington Post, Justice Through Journalism, Brownicity, and Biracial Bookworms).
• CBC: The Children's Book Council's Anti-Racism Committee, which is "committed to working for an equitable and just society, and denounce the systemic oppression and violence to the black community."
• Vogue's 17 Books About Racial Inequality for Young Readers by Marley Marius, published June 6, 2020.
• Amazon Best Sellers: Best Sellers in Children's Prejudice and Racism Books
• Indigo: An Antiracist Reading List

The titles were chosen based on the reading and comprehension levels for a middle-school student population, with the majority of the books aimed at all levels (Grade 5-9), as well as the accolades they have earned in the publishing industry. 

To acknowledge the generosity of Parent Council, each book has a label inside the front cover (see image at right).

Here's the list of titles purchased with the Parent Council donation, and their suggested reading levels:

1. The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander (K-Grade 3)
2. Woke: A Young Poet's Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne (Grade 2-6)
3. We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices by Wade Hudson (Grade 3-7)
4. This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell (Grade 6-10)
5. Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o (PreS-Grade 3)
6. A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee (Grade 3-7)
7. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Grade 5-12)
8. Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
9. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (Grade 5-9)
10. New Kid, Vol. 1 by Jerry Craft (Grade 3-7)
11. Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester (PreS-Grade 3)
12. Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Grade 3-7)
13. Amina's Voice by Hena Khan (Grade 4-6)
14. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi (Grade 7-12)
15. Rise Up!: The Art of Protest by Jo Rippon (Grade 3-7)
16. Pemmican Wars: A Girl Called Echo, Vol. 1 by Katherena Vermette (Grade 7-12)
17. #NotYourPrincess: Voice of Native American Women by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale (Grade 9-12)
18. Dear Martin by Nic Stone (Grade 9-12)
19. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Grade 9-12)

Digital Resources:

The Undefeated: Kwame Alexander reads The Undefeated:

The Newbery Award-winning author of THE CROSSOVER pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree.
Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.

STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You

Below is an interview with Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You authors Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi about the reimagining of Kendi's original, adult-rated book, Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which was published in 2017. The latest version of Stamped is a book geared to middle-school aged children. (The interview mentions American educators and activists Angela Davis and William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B.) Du Bois.)

Author Biographies: Ibram X. Kendi is one of the foremost historians and leading antiracists advocates in the United States, an award-winning author and No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, as well as being the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities and the Founding Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. Jason Reynolds is the New York Times bestselling author of All American Boys, the Track Series, Long Way Down, For Everyone, and Miles Morales-Spiderman. Reynolds' book Ghost is a National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature. His genres include novels and poetry for young adults and middle-school audiences.

Pemmican Wars: A Girl Called Echo (Vol. 1)

Bellow is an interview with Pemmican Wars: A Girl Called Echo (Vol. 1) author and poet Katherena Vermette, a Métis writer from Treaty One territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Vermette is an award-winning novelist whose latest creation is a graphic novel series, which was illustrated by Scott. B. Henderson and coloured by Donovan Yaciuk. The series' main character is Echo Dejardins, a 13-year-old Métis girl who is struggling in middle school and time travels to the Saskatchewan prairie in 1812, a time of bison hunts, the fur trade and the bygone Pemmican Wars.

CBC: Canada Reads: Katherena Vermette

[Click on the link, scroll down the page to listen to the interview with Katherena Vermette on Pemmican Wars: A Girl Called Echo (Vol. 1)]

The colour orange is often attributed to October, when leaves turn that vibrant shade of rust and pumpkins are seen adorning steps in anticipation of trick-or-treaters knocking on doors in search of candy. At TMC, orange is also one of our school colours, brightening the background of our Titan's "T" in our school logo.

However, for a simple, spicy hue, the colour orange has come to mean so much more: a symbol for residential-school survivors, remembrance, acceptance, change. So many feelings from one pumpkin-skinned colour, and it all began with a little girl and a newly purchased, highly prized T-shirt.

On Sept. 30, TMC students and staff will join thousands of other schools in Canada in wearing orange to show solidarity to the Orange Shirt Day movement. 

Last year, our Learning Commons purchased The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad, chronicling an eight-year-old's 12 months at the Mission residential school in British Columbia, and the significance of the Orange Shirt movement.

Phyllis (Jack) Webstad's Orange Shirt Story

Follow on Twitter: #OrangeShirtDay

Click to Learn more about Orange Shirt Day

When Phyllis Jack was only six years old, she lived with her grandmother on the Dog Creek Reserve in British Columbia until she, like many other indigenous children in Canada, was shipped off to residential school. It was 1973/74, and her grandmother decided to scrape together whatever money she could find to buy Phyllis a bright orange shirt to take with her to the Mission school.

What was little Phyllis thinking as she waved goodbye to her granny, and the only family she knew? Was she scared? Excited? Nervous?

If she was like many children her age, she was all three. As a six-year-old, these new and strange experiences would have thundered in her heart as she made the journey; they would have caused her breath to catch and her eyes to water. Her mind would have raced at the thoughts of the unknowns but then be comforted that she had a piece of home with her to keep her connected to the family she left behind — a simple, colourful orange shirt.

Oh, how in shock she would have been when upon her arrival, she was stripped of her clothes and the one possession that tied her to her granny. Oh, how devastated she would have felt to see all the things that came with her, linking her to her heritage, her home, gone like garbage — thrown out, never to be seen again — even her identity and self-worth.

Phyllis wasn't the only child ripped from the only home she knew to be raised by strangers in a foreign environment. In fact, her own mother and grandmother had endured the same; each generation leaving the one to come without the loving support of an elder to guide the way.

So it was, when she became a mother before the age of 14, Phyllis had no idea how to be a parent to her son, Jeremy. It was only through the help of her Auntie that this teen mom learned how to show love to another, but it wasn't easy and she eventually sought healing at 27.

It was because of her struggles that she wrote The Orange Shirt Story, telling the sad tale of her first year at the Mission school and the importance one piece of clothing had to identity.

Today, Phyllis Jack (now Webstad) is a Northern Secwpemc (Schuswap) elder from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band). She lives in Williams Lake, B.C., with her husband, son, step-son, and five grandchildren. She tours the country, telling The Orange Shirt Story, as the executive director of the Orange Shirt Society. The society's goal is to create awareness of individual, family and community intergenerational impacts of Indian residential schools through Orange Shirt Day activities, and to promote the mantra that "every child matters."

The Orange Shirt Society began commemorating Sept. 30 as Orange Shirt Day in 2013 in Williams Lake, B.C., which has since spread throughout school districts across the country.
Secret Path Week: Oct. 17 - 22, 2020


Secret Path Week is a national movement which occurs annually from Oct. 17-22. The week was inspired by Chanie Wenjack, a victim of the residential school system.

Residential School Books at TMC:

Over the past few years, we have steadily accumulated a growing collection of books and audio/visual resources focusing on the residential schools, and their survivors, including:

Non-Fiction:

Title

• The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad
• Residential Schools: The Devastating Impact on Canada's Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Findings and Calls for Action by Melanie Florance
• We Were Children by The National Film Board of Canada (DVD)
• A Childhood Lost: A Residential School Experience by Grey Wolf Productions (DVD)
• Sixties Scoop by Erin Nicks
• Cultural Appropriation by Heather Hudak
• 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadian Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality by Robert P.C. Joseph
• The Secret Path by Gord Downie
• Not my Girl by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton
• When I was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton 
• Fatty Legs: A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton
• A Stranger at Home by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton
• Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools: A Memoir by Theodore Fontaine

RealFiction:

• Dear Canada: These are my Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens by Ruby Slipperjack
• I am not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer
• Shin-chi's Canoe by Nicola I. Campbell
• Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I, Campbell
• My Name is Seepeetza by Shirley Sterling
• The Journey Forward: Novellas on Reconciliation by Julie Flett

Digital Resources:

Residential Schools in Canada: A Timeline by Historica Canada

Namwayut: We Are All One: Chief Robert Joseph shares his experience as a residential school survivor and the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada

Fatty Legs: A True Story author Christy Jordan-Fenton reads Chapter 1 from her book, which was co-authored by Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton 

In this CBC Arts Live documentary, the late Canadian Tragically Hip frontman, Gord Downie, explains the journey he took to recounting the true story of 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack, who ran away from the Cecelia Jeffery Residential School in Kenora, ON, in 1966. In his graphic novel, The Secret Path, illustrated by Jeff Lemire, Downie sings his song of the same name, delivering a haunting musical commemoration of Chanie's life and his fatal trek to return home to Ogoki Post, some 600 kilometres away. The. documentary also includes conversations with Chanie Wenjack's family and the impact his tragic death, as well as the residential schools' impact on their community, their culture, their families.

This documentary includes a panel discussion on The Road to Reconciliation

On Sunday, Sept. 20, thousands of Canadians will don running shoes and pound pathways in a virtual Terry Fox Foundation run to support cancer research, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Terry's Marathon of Hope.  

But, who was Terry Fox?

A Canadian, yes. 

An athlete, definitely.

A cancer survivor, that, too.

A victim of cancer, ultimately.

But he was so much more.

He WAS and IS hope.

"It's Got to Keep Going Without Me."

Terry Fox was only 18 when he lost a large portion of his right leg to cancer, a loss that would forever change his life, his future, and put him on the path to national heroism, even if that wasn't his goal.

A mere four years after the amputation, the Winnipeg youth set off on a nationwide marathon to raise money and awareness for cancer research. The run would begin in St. John's, NL, Canada's eastern-most province, and end Sept. 1, 1980, in Northern Ontario, some 5,373.6 kilometres later, with the words, "It's got to keep going without me."

The pain he had pushed through each morning and night had travelled to his chest, and he could cope with it no longer. He had pounded the highways through six provinces to get here —143 days of jogging on an artificial limb made of fibreglass and steel that stretched from his thigh down into his shoe. 

What kept him moving? What kept him focused on his goal? 

Sheer will. Unbridled determination. His goal was not only to finish in British Columbia, but to end his run with desire to raise $1 for every Canadian: $22 million. But, that wasn't to be. No, this spunky, determined teenager would defy the odds and skeptics to raise not only more than his goal, but the hopes and dreams of every Canadian lining the shoulders, cheering him on. 

He was their hero.

He was their hope.

The Marathon of Hope ended with $23.4 million for the Canadian Cancer Society, and a fan club that would keep his dream alive for the next 40 years, and counting.

And on June 28, 1981, one month shy of his 23rd birthday, Terry died of the disease that had ravaged his once healthy body. The cancer had spread to his lung. Surrounded by family, he passed his legacy onto a new generation of Marathon of Hope runners that began the following September, which raised another $3.5 million.

And now, it's your turn. Register for Sunday's run HERE.

— Editorial and Photo source: Terry Fox Official Website 

Terry's Story

TMC's Learning Commons' collection has several books on Terry's life and the Marathon of Hope, but this past year, we added two new additions to our shelves: Terry Fox: His Story (revised) by Leslie Scrivener and Terry Fox by Jennifer Sutoski. Other books written about Terry in our collection are: 

• Terry Fox: A Story of Hope by Maxine Trottier
• The Terry Fox Run by Jane Gould
• Terry Fox by Bryan Pezzi
• Terry by Douglas Coupland
• The Greatest Canadian: Volume 2 (video recording) by CBC
• Run by Eric Walters (RealFiction)

Terry's Words of Wisdom

“I’ve said to people before that I’m going to do my very best to make it, I’m not going to give up. But I might not make it… if I don’t, the Marathon of Hope better continue.”

“There can be no reason for me to stop. No matter what pain I suffer, it is nothing compared to the pain of those who have cancer, of those who endure treatment.”

“I’ve got cancer in my lungs. We have to go home and do some more treatments. But all I can say is that if there is any way I can get out there and finish, I will.”

“Today we got up at 4 a.m. As usual, it was tough. If I died, I would die happy because I was doing what I wanted to do. How many people could say that? I went out and did fifteen push-ups in the road and took off. I want to set an example that will never be forgotten.”

“I got satisfaction out of doing things that were difficult. It was an incredible feeling. The pain was there, but the pain didn’t matter.”

“To me, being famous myself is not the idea of the run, and it wasn’t from the very beginning. To me, the only important part is the Marathon of Hope.”

“I could not leave [the cancer ward] knowing these faces and feelings would still exist, even though I would be set free from mine. I was determined to take myself to the limit for this cause.”

“They seem to forget what I’m doing this for. They think I’m running across Canada on some kind of an ego trip. It is a personal challenge, but I’m trying to raise as much money as I can for a very important cause. I need their financial support.”

“People take it the wrong way when I say I want to run alone. But I have to do it my own way. I have to really concentrate to ignore the pain and keep going. Sometimes I’m actually crying while I’m running but I just don’t think about it.”

“I set daily goals for myself, and it’s really important that I achieve them. I need to have a daily sense of accomplishment. I know if I fall short of those goals that I will never finish.”

“I decided to take it (cancer) as it was. I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me. I wanted to do everything I could, everything that could be done.”
“When I started this run, I said that if we all gave one dollar, we’d have $22 million for cancer research, and I don’t care man, there’s no reason that isn’t possible. No reason!”

“I’m not doing the run to become rich or famous.”

“It’s one thing to run across Canada, but now, people are really going to know what cancer is.”

“People were still lining the road saying, ‘Keep going, don’t give up, you can do it, you can make it, we’re all behind you.’ There was a camera crew waiting to film me. I don’t think they even realized that they had filmed my last mile… people were still saying, ‘You can make it all the way Terry’. I started to think about those comments in that mile too. Yeah, I thought, this might be my last one.”

“I’m not a dreamer, and I’m not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to.”

— Source: Terry Fox Official Website 

Welcome back!

The Learning Commons looks a bit different these days, as the start of school has meant a new direction for our learning space. 

We have Learning Centres for Education Assistants to work with students in a quiet, socially distanced space, and while students and staff cannot browse our collection to search for that ripping read, they can peruse the collection online via eLibrary.

If you need a refresher on how to use eLibrary, I've created a Mrs. Karen's eLibrary Tutorial that you can watch to get some tips on browsing and accessing eLibrary's many resources.

Ordering Books for Classroom Delivery!

Just because you can't browse our shelves doesn't mean you can't check out a book! The Learning Commons will be taking Book Orders from students and staff, with delivery right to your classroom! All you need to do to order your books is to fill out and submit your TMC Student Book Order. 

To fill out a book order, you will need to know:

• The Title
• The Author
• The Call Number

All this information is available on eLibrary's catalogue information. Just take note of these three items when you browse the database. Once your order is received, I will let your teacher know when it's ready for delivery. Students can check out two books at a time. The due dates will be determined and noted on the order when dropped off at your classroom.

Joke of the Month:

Logging into Literature

Being in isolation is tough.
We can't see our friends. We can't hang at our regular gathering spots. We can't escape this new normal of four-wall living.
Or can we?
Through online literature sites, you can read your way into a new setting, a new life, a new persona. Escaping through the pages of a book has never been more essential than now. When news of Covid-19 makes your heart pound with fear and anger, a book can calm your anxieties with tales of mystery, humour, adventure, and out-of-this-world exploration.
In short: A book can make your four walls crumble.

ONLINE READING RESOURCES

The Calgary Public Library has an extensive Digital Library with thousands of online resources that you can access FOR FREE, including the OverDrive eBook & eAudibook collection! The Calgary Board of Education has partnered with CPL in delivering resources to students of all ages and grades. All CBE students have to do is log in using their educbe email ID and a PIN that is specific to CBE. (If you need the PIN, contact me, Mrs. Karen, through your educbe account).

Another great resource for online reading is Tumblebooks (K-6). All CBE students and staff have access to more than 1,000 Tumble Book Library resources through the Calgary Public Library. Students can access these titles through any electronic device. There are real-along chapter books, National Geographic videos, non-fiction books, fiction books, playlists, graphic novels, and titles in Spanish and French. (If you need the log-in information, contact me, Mrs. Karen, through your educbe account).

TeenBook Cloud (Gr. 7-12) is another great resource through the Calgary Public Library, especially for teens. The collection includes titles for middle/junior/high-school students and features more than 1,000 titles, including fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, drama & poetry, enhanced eBooks with full audio narration and highlighted text, classic literature, National Geographic videos and a whole lot more!
(If you need the log-in information, contact me, Mrs. Karen, through your educbe account).

LearnAlberta Online Reference Centre is a curated collection of vetted resources that support Alberta's K-12 curriculum. This is a great resource for students AND parents/guardians! Besides online encyclopedias, the LearnAlberta Online Reference Centre also has atlases, news databases, National Geographic Kids Virtual Library, PebbleGo Science, Social Studies and Animals, and lots, lots more! (If you need the log-in information, contact me, Mrs. Karen, through your educbe account).