Stories for Life

by Maritime
Categories: 2019, News Archive
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    Inspired by a program offered by The John Howard Society of Nova Scotia (JHSNS) and Halifax Public Libraries called Page Turners, Alan Rankin and Janice Fiander worked with Paul Surette with the Anchorage Recovery Program to bring a Men’s Book Club to The Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope.

    Library staff and volunteers with the JHSNS have been offering Page Turners at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility via a grant from the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. The program runs in six week sessions and participants are given an opportunity to provide feedback at the end.

    “It’s a good feeling to take what we do in the library and bring it out into the community – meeting people where they are,” says Janice Fiander, Branch Manager, Alderney Gate Public Library & Dartmouth North Public Library. “Participants are happy to have the opportunity to get into reading, share their opinions, and participate in good discussions in a safe environment where they feel respected.”

    The Book Club began in early May with four members and more are expected to join as men from Metro Turning Point were also invited.

    “Reading is so important; we spend too much time watching TV,” says Alan. “I picked our first book based on interests expressed, it’s Dan Brown’s Inferno; I am looking forward to having intellectual conversations about the books we read together.”

    This Book Club will help to remove barriers to accessing public libraries, not only giving the men the opportunity to read and share their thoughts, but they can also experience a fresh start with new library cards if necessary. The Club will offer reading material for different reading levels as some members want to improve their reading skills – they will have the opportunity to do just that in the Book Club.

    “Our conversations are very organic,” says Janice. “We talk about the setting of the book, what the characters are struggling with and the men often make personal connections; it gives them an opportunity to relate the story to their own lives.”

    Book Club participants will have the opportunity to feel heard as they offer their thoughts and suggestions, connect with one another, share similar stories and derive hope and strength through the exploration of stories. And those who haven’t, may discover themselves as readers.

    “In speaking with the guys from Anchorage Recovery who attended the Book Club, they expressed appreciation for the opportunity to gather and discuss common interests with like-minded people,” says Paul Surette, Program Supervisor.