Eid Mubarak! As Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims in Canada and around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Observant Muslims spent the holy month of Ramadan fasting during daylight hours, and with the arrival of Eid, feasting can begin. Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, Id-al-Fitr, or Sweet Eid, is a Muslim festival that is practiced in different ways around the world. Eid may be one day or it can last for three days. The official start of Eid may vary in different places around the world, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon to end the month. Ramadan may end on the evening of April 9 or 10 in 2024, according to the Gregrorian Calendar.
Visit us this month in the School Library as we celebrate Sikh Heritage Month. Find out more about Sikhs, Sikhism and the history of the Sikh people in Canada. Visit us in person to check out our display of books and DVDs, and visit us online to learn more about Sikh Heritage Month.
Earth Day is April 22. Join us throughout April in the School Library as we celebrate the Earth all month long! Look for our display of books and other resources related to the Earth, the environment, life, ecology, and issues related to the future of this planet, our planet, our only home in the universe.
Join with us in Your School Library as we celebrate International Women’s Day by learning more about the historical and ongoing struggle for women’s rights and equality in Canada and around the world.
March is Irish Heritage Month in Canada. Join with us in Your School Library as we learn more about Ireland, the Irish people, Irish culture, and Irish-Canadians.
February is Black History Month in Canada. As February comes to a close, it is important to remember that while we make a point of emphasizing Black History this month, we know that Black History is Canadian History, and as such it is something to learn and celebrate every month of the year.
Here are some more online resources to help you continue to explore Black History in Canada:
From Canada.ca, here are introductions to just a few noteworthy Black Canadians that perhaps you haven’t learned about yet. “Read the biographies of some notable Black people in Canada who have helped shape Canadian heritage and identity, and who have made and continue to make enormous contributions to the wellbeing, and prosperity of our country.” Read the entire post at Black History Month: Noteworthy Figures
February is Black History Month. Find out more by visiting us in person, or online at tweedsmuirlibrary.ca
From September 2022 to the end of August 2023, Canadian libraries, especially school libraries, faced the highest number of book challenges ever for a 12 month period in Canada (source). The number of official challenge is likely just a small fraction of the challenges that go unreported– ALA studies suggest 82 -97% of challenges go unreported (source).
Intellectual freedom has been a pillar of library philosophy for nearly a century; and in our current climate, it is perhaps our most valuable tool in our efforts to amplify the voices of the most marginalized within our communities.
February 15 is Flag Day, in commemoration of the day in 1965 when the red and white maple leaf flag was first officially flown in Canada. According to canada.ca, “Our national flag is a symbol that unites Canadians and reflects the common values we take pride in — democracy, inclusion and equity.” Is that true? Or has the flag been seized by a movement that doesn’t appear to celebrate those values?
Many of those that in the past few years have flown Canadian flags on their vehicles, and wave them at overpasses or in other public displays, have expressed values that don’t promote inclusion and equity. To many, those values are actually seen as threats to democracy. By association, flying the Canadian flag now suggests a very particular political point of view that isn’t shared by most Canadians. Can the flag be reclaimed as a symbol of pride for all Canadians?
To be fair, the Canadian flag has almost always been a controversial subject. The debates over if and how to change the Canadian flag from the traditional “Red Ensign” and Union Jack, were heated, if not bitter, and for some have never been resolved.
Yet another aspect to this issue is our reckoning with our colonial past. Indigenous peoples, in particular, might have very complex, if not difficult relationships with the flag. Our desire for shared pride in what we officially express as our values — democracy, inclusion, equity — may not ring as true when we look at the history of imperialism, racism and inequality in our country.
Is it possible to be a proud Canadian who looks to the flag as a symbol of positive values? How many steps away from positive expressions of national pride are displays of excessive nationalism, or jingoism, xenophobia and other sinister movements of fear and hate?
In the current political climate, many Canadians are hesitant to display a Canadian flag lest they be associated with political values that they cannot abide. Is it possible to change that?
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 