F.E. Madill hosts third annual Living Library, welcoming fascinating residents to share

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

F.E. Madill Secondary School hosted its third annual “Living Library” event on Wednesday, Feb. 26, bringing together students and community members to share stories, experiences and perspectives. 

 

Organized by Teacher Librarian Anne Guay, the event aims to foster understanding, celebrate diversity and promote inclusion by bringing students together with “Living Books” - people with unique lived experiences. 

 

“A ‘Living Library’ allows people to connect with individuals in their community who they may not normally have the opportunity to interact with,” Guay explained.

 

Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to engage in one-on-one conversations, ask questions, and learn about different cultures, careers and experiences.

 

There were many participants who volunteered to be this year’s “Living Books,” including members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Wingham Historical Society, Indigenous educators, a military veteran, representatives from social support organizations and individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds. 

 

Journalist and photographer Cory Bilyea of The Wingham Advance Times participated in the event to inspire students to consider careers in local journalism.

 

Multihyphenate Bonnie Sitter attended to highlight her work with the Farmerettes, a multifaceted project highlighting the women who worked on farms during wartime. Sitter shared that a documentary on the Farmerettes is nearing completion and that she will soon be travelling to promote the film.

 

Several newcomers to the community participated in the event, offering insight into their cultural backgrounds. Zairah Lagana, originally from the Philippines, was excited to share the beauty of her homeland. “The Philippines is a tropical country with over 1,000 islands, and it’s a really beautiful place to relax,” she said. Having arrived in Canada in May of 2022, she described her transition as challenging at first but said she has since grown to love the community. “The people are really nice and polite.”
Shane Wu, a student from China, wanted to correct misconceptions people may have about his home country. “Some people learn about China from funny videos, but I want to share real information - what it actually looks like, the food, the culture,” he said. Originally from a city near Shanghai, Wu enjoys the peacefulness of Wingham, but admitted it can sometimes be quiet compared to home.

 

Matt Baker, the Indigenous Education Lead for the Avon Maitland District School Board, attended the event with colleagues Jesse Dew and Autumn Fisher, who serve as Indigenous graduation coaches. Their focus was on sharing their history and culture with students, while working toward truth and reconciliation. “We are still very much in the truth phase of truth and reconciliation,” Baker said. “We want to empower both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to take ownership of our shared history and to work toward a future where we all do well together.”

 

Baker spoke about the importance of Indigenous students feeling seen and valued within the school system. “In the last two years, we’ve seen a huge increase in engagement,” he said. “More students are wearing traditional cultural items like medicine bags and beading, and we’ve also seen improvements in attendance and self-esteem.”

 

Kyle Crich, a retired explosives disposal operator with the Canadian military, shared his experiences serving in a highly-specialized field. “There are only about 70 of us in the whole country who do this job,” he said. “Every bomb disarmed is a life saved.”

 

Originally from Lucknow, Crich was encouraged by students’ curiosity. “A few have come up to me asking about joining the military. They’ve been really interested in the videos and stories.”

 

Former F.E. Madill student and national team softball player Ty Sebastian returned to his alma mater to share his experiences as a professional athlete. He brought along his championship rings, which immediately caught the attention of students. “Some of the kids I coach at Between the Lines in Listowel were here today, so it was great to see them,” he said. 

 

Guay reflected on the event’s impact over the past three years, noting that both students and participants look forward to it. “Some of our ‘Living Books’ have come every year. As soon as I send out the e-mail invitation, they say ‘yes’ right away,” she said.
She also highlighted the event’s role in fostering cultural understanding in Wingham. “Our area hasn’t historically been very multicultural, but as more people move here, events like this give students a chance to ask questions and learn about different cultures in a welcoming environment.”