Courtesy of Saskatchewan Libraries Association:

Now in its third year, One Book, One Province Saskatchewan is a province-wide reading initiative that encourages Saskatchewan residents to read, discuss, and engage in programs around a selected title and, by doing so, create community.

The essence of the project is to encourage Saskatchewan people to read the same book during the month of March, 2019. The Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA) is pleased to announce that the 2019 One Book, One Province Saskatchewan selection is Just Pretending, a short story collection by Lisa Bird-Wilson.

We would like to invite you, as a cultural organization in this province, to partner with us. Participation could include: forming a book club or discussion group, mounting a display, creating responsive artwork, or any project that invites discussion about the book. While SLA cannot provide funding to assist with your project, we will acknowledge your organization on our website using your logo and promote your project through our communication channels, including social media and a monthly newsletter that reaches over 1500 people and organizations.

Just Pretending reveals the stories of many characters on a common quest. They are trying to answer the question "Who do we think we are?" and explore their own identity in unique ways:

• A nitanis (daughter) invents the mother she never knew.
• A fourteen-year-old girl struggles to come to terms with her feelings of abandonment.
• A young man struggles with his Mooshum's imprisonment in a damaged body and what it means for his own Métis identity.
• A department store clerk falls for a homeless man who woos her with Heart of Darkness.

Timely and thought-provoking, we are certain that Just Pretending will provide food for thought and that Saskatchewan residents will reflect on their own identity and that of those around them.

About the Author
Lisa Bird-Wilson is a Saskatchewan Cree-Métis and nêhiyaw writer whose work appears in literary magazines and anthologies across Canada. Her collection of short stories, Just Pretending (Coteau Books), was a finalist for the national Danuta Gleed Literary Award and won four Saskatchewan Book Awards, including 2014 Book of the Year. Bird-Wilson's debut poetry collection, The Red Files (Nightwood Editions 2016), is inspired by family and archival sources and reflects on the legacy of the residential school system and the fragmentation of families and histories. Bird-Wilson is currently working on a new book of fiction.

For more information, please contact:

Anne Pennylegion by phone at (306) 780-9409 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What opportunities does Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan provide schools?

MCoS provides one day interactive provincial anti-racism and anti-discrimination youth leadership workshops in a variety of locations across Saskatchewan.  Students engage with peers from throughout the province as they participate in activities to explore identity, intercultural relationships, power, privilege, racism and discrimination.  

Prior to these workshops, MCoS offers a one day training opportunity to approximately 12-20 facilitators (including high school students, university pre-service education students, Settlement Workers in Schools and others with an interest in the work) to build capacity to facilitate these activities throughout the province.   

How does the Ministry of Education support the Arrêt/Stop Racism youth leadership workshops?

In 2016-17, the Ministry of Education supported MCoS to train students and school staff to facilitate activities in their schools.  The project includes three webinars:

• an orientation session for teachers to help them to work with the students to identify issues of racism, discrimination and oppression in their schools prior to the workshop;
• a session for teachers and students on project development after the workshop; and,
• an opportunity for students to present their projects, share their successes and reveal their challenges.

How does the anti-racism workshop and the CSCH approach work together?

The CSCH approach focuses on creating opportunities for children and youth to experience healthy, supportive and equitable learning environments where all students feel safe, cared for and respected.  The Arrêt/Stop Racism youth leadership workshops create this environment for high school students and empower them with tools, examples, experience and confidence to replicate this at their schools.  These workshops also engage elders and other community members to support a whole school approach to anti-racism and anti-discrimination.

Tool Kit: Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Toolkit

In July 2017, the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan created the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities (WIC) Toolkit.  This user-friendly toolkit has embedded an action plan that is workable for all organizations, big and small.  It also includes success stories from bigger centres and smaller communities in the province.

Joint Consortium for School Health (JCSH) Positive Mental Health Toolkit

Looking for a way to promote positive mental health in your school?  Click here to check out the newly revised JCSH Positive Mental Health Toolkit. The online toolkit contains five modules including: an introduction to positive mental health; school connectedness; resiliency in school environments; school team relationships; and assessing comprehensive school health.  It is available in English and French.  It is free, online and user-friendly.

Let’s get more kids in Saskatchewan more active, more often.             

Saskatchewan in motion has developed, tested & launched a new Community Action Process aimed at bringing community partners together to get kids moving more at home, at school and in the community.

The Community Action Process has been successful in seven communities to date and we are looking for 8 more communities to take part over the next several months.

The Process will assist community leaders to develop, implement and evaluate physical activity action plans specific to their community. When complete, the action plan can supplement grant applications, make a case for actions and track progress.

Saskatchewan in motion will bring a team of experts to the community to work with local residents to create a Community Physical Activity Profile, host a Moving Together Symposium, develop an action plan, and provide links, tools and resources for implementation.

There is no cost, however the full participations of the municipality and lead community organization is an important indicator for success.

Kacie Loshka, BSRS

Community Action Specialist
306.780.9847  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Saskatchewan in motion | 202-2050 Cornwall Street | Regina SK  S4P 2K5      

Saskatchewaninmotion.ca