Random Acts of Poetry 2005
- across Canada and across the sea!

This year’s Random Acts of Poetry went transAtlantic! A celebration of poetry and literacy, 26 poets in Canada and nine in the United Kingdom and Ireland took poetry to the streets, performing random acts of poetry to people in parks, bus stops, libraries, hair salons, schools, and shops -- everyday places. For more information, go to www.randomactsofpoetry.com.

photo of Laurie McKay and Wendy Morton
Laurie McKay, owner of Better Gnomes & Gardens, gets “poemed” in the workplace by Wendy Morton.

Random Acts of Poetry is the brainchild of Wendy Morton (READ’s designated poet laureate). READ acts as project manager, with generous sponsorship from Abebooks.com. The project purchased books from each poet’s publisher so that every person who was “ poemed” received a copy of that poet’s book.

We are grateful to Abebooks for their support. We also wish to acknowledge the exceptional generosity of a philanthropic donor who wishes to remain anonymous each year.

We thank WestJet for donating the prize of a round trip ticket to anywhere WestJet flies in Canada for the winner of the on-line Random Acts contest.


Victoria FoundationThe Victoria Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to building capacity in communities throughout Southern Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands.

Founded in 1936 with a donation of $20, the Victoria Foundation is the second oldest community foundation in Canada. It manages an endowment fund worth approximately $43 million. In 2004, the Foundation distributed over $10.5 million in the form of 270 grants to charities.

In November 2005, READ received a grant of $12,000 for our Bursary Fund. Thanks to the Victoria Foundation’s Community Fund and the Hugh and Helen Mogensen Fund, this donation will reduce our waitlist for bursary assistance. Children who are struggling in school can get the help they need in reading, writing and math from READ.

We gratefully acknowledge the support and commitment to the community from the Victoria Foundation.

CBC ~ Plugged into READ

Our thanks to the locked out CBC employees who held a benefit for READ on September 15th. An enthusiastic crowd showed up at Floyd’s Diner for an evening of poetry, prose, song, improvisational comedy and a silent auction. The event was co-hosted by Paul Vasey (On the Island) and Joanne Roberts (All Points West). Featured performers included Lorna Crozier, M.A.C. Farrant and the inimitable Les Leyne. Over $1,800 was raised for READ bursaries for children.

old-style microphone

CBC “Unplugged” also entered a team of four players in SCRABBLE Scramble for Literacy.


Score a Hat Trick for Literacy with the Salmon Kings

Read your way to a Salmon Kings Game!

salmonThe Victoria Salmon Kings Hockey Club wants to reward children under the age of 12 who read three books and write three short book reports with a free ticket to a Salmon Kings hockey game against the Alaska Aces on February 25, 2006. For information on how to enter, visit www.salmonkings.com or call 220-2612.

There’s more … Volunteers from Victoria READ Society, Project Literacy Victoria and the Greater Victoria Public Library will be selling 50/50 tickets during Salmon Kings games over the next few months. All three organizations will share in the proceeds of the 50/50 draws on the following nights: December 19th ~ January 27th ~ February 3rd ~ February 25th ~ March 8th ~ April 8th. Hope to see you there!

Thank you to all the great volunteers from Garth Homer Society who help us get Between the Lines into the mail. They fill our READ house on Linden with laughter and good cheer while working hard to get the job done!