Alberta
“Take a book, leave a book” at your Local Little Free Library
If you’ve ever been out on a stroll through your neighborhood or walked through a Calgary residential area on your way to work or school, you may have noticed some unique treasure chests hidden among the houses. These little birdhouses or glass-door cabinets perched on fences and secured to trees in the neighborhood open to reveal an ever-changing selection of second-hand books.
From an outside perspective, these outdoor libraries may appear as a lovely, local community project. However, the Little Free Library program goes far beyond the simple sharing of favorite books among neighbors.
Established in 2009 in Hudson, Wisconsin, Little Free Library has expanded into a global nonprofit network with more than 100,000 registered book-sharing boxes in 108 countries around the world. Using a “take a book, leave a book” system to facilitate the free exchange of millions of books every year, Little Free Library aims to foster the positive social and academic impacts of reading by increasing public access to books.
“The Little Free Library nonprofit organization expands book access for readers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds,” says Margaret Aldrich, Director of Communications for Little Free Library, “for more than 10 years Little Free Libraries have been catalysts for bringing people together and getting books into readers hands.”
Featuring everything from repurposed filing cabinets and stoves to handcrafted wooden birdhouses and barrels, there are more than 300 Little Free Libraries located across Calgary. Every year, thousands of books change hands throughout the city, using these tiny remote shelves to reach new readers every single day.
Karen Begg is a resident of southeast Calgary who has owned and maintained a Little Free Library in West Dover since 2013. Since unveiling the library, Begg has been continually encouraged by the engagement and support of the community, as well as the opportunity the library presents for committing local acts of kindness. “It made me realize how many small, community acts of kindness a person can do quite simply,” she says. In addition to offering books, she has used the library to donate shelf-stable foods, socks and gloves during the cold months.
“For people who need a little extra support, the library is a great place,” she continues, “people of all ages and all walks of life both contribute and benefit.” After 7 years of operation in the community, Begg’s library is now self-sufficient and moves up to 60 books every week.
Aislinn Cairns is a south Calgary resident who converted an old Calgary Sun newspaper box into a Little Free Library in the summer of 2019. Living close to an elementary school and with kids of her own, Cairns chose to tailor her Little Library specifically towards children.
“It really gets kids excited about reading,” she says, “I get knocks on my door asking when there will be new books.”
The Little Free Library organization allows people from all walks of life, children and adults alike, to expand their horizons and discover something new, all while giving old books a new lease on life. In doing so, Little Free Library contributes greatly to literacy, connectivity and positivity in communities around the world every day.
To find a Little Free Library near you or learn more about how to get involved, visit https://littlefreelibrary.org.
For more stories, visit Todayville Calgary.
Canada and Alberta’s new net-zero energy deal is being promoted as progress, but it also brings rising costs. In this video, I break down the increase to Alberta’s industrial carbon price, how those costs can raise fuel, heating, and grocery prices, and why taxpayer-funded carbon-capture projects and potential pipeline delays could add even more. Here’s what this agreement could mean for Canadians.
Watch Nataliya Bankert’s latest video.
Alberta’s government will introduce a motion under the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act to defend law-abiding firearms owners.
A new motion under the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act will, if passed by the legislature, instruct all provincial entities, including law-enforcement agencies such as municipal police services and the RCMP, to decline to enforce or implement the federal gun seizure program. The motion also makes clear that Albertans have the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves, their families and their homes from intruders.
This builds on the steps Alberta has already taken to reduce crime, strengthen public safety and assert provincial jurisdiction over firearms. This includes passing the Alberta Firearms Act to establish the Alberta Chief Firearms Office, along with the Alberta Firearms Regulation and the Seizure Agent and Provider Licensing Regulation.
“It’s time for Ottawa to stop targeting the wrong people. Albertans have the right to protect their homes and their families. No one should hesitate to defend themselves when faced with a threat at their own doorway. Law-abiding citizens, hunters, farmers and sport shooters are not the source of violent crime, yet the federal government wants to confiscate their property while illegal guns pour across our borders. Alberta will not stand by while responsible gun owners are treated like criminals. This motion is about using every legal tool we have to protect their rights, uphold public safety and push back on federal overreach into provincial jurisdiction.”
“When someone breaks into your home, the law recognizes that you have enhanced rights to protect yourself and your family. Alberta is making that principle unmistakably clear: lawful, reasonable self-defence will be respected, not criminalized.”
“As an experienced former law enforcement officer, law-abiding gun owners have never been an issue, in my own personal experience, nor has there been any data to support that law-abiding gun owners are the ones that are committing violent gun crimes. The illegal guns that you see being used by criminals are typically being smuggled in from the United States. The federal government should help us strengthen the border, helping us to stop illegal guns from coming into Canada. This would further enhance safety and security for the people of Alberta and Canada as opposed to going after lawful gun owners.”
Under the Alberta Firearms Regulation, municipalities, law enforcement and police commissions must obtain approval from Alberta’s Minister of Justice before accepting funding to participate in the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program.
“Misguided federal initiatives such as the handgun transfer ban and the Order in Council firearms prohibitions of 2020, 2024 and 2025 have had a devastating impact on the safe, legitimate activities of the firearms community and the businesses that support it, while having no discernible effect on criminal activity. I am proud to see that the Alberta government is pushing back and supporting lawful firearms owners through these measures.”
“Licensed gun owners and all Albertans can rest assured that their government, under the leadership of the UCP, is laser focused on protecting law abiding citizens while prioritizing real public safety.”
“The Alberta Hunter Education Instructors Association will continue to support our government and the Alberta chief firearms officer in our joint quest to use safety training and education as the key tools to ensure we have safer streets and communities. Safe and responsible use of firearms in Alberta is a key part of our heritage, culture, and our rich and precious heritage.”
Key facts:
- Pursuant to the Attorney General’s recent guidance protocols, Alberta’s prosecutors will decline to prosecute offences under the federal gun seizure program when it is not in the public interest.
- The Attorney General’s recent guidance protocol directs prosecutors to not prosecute home defence offences when it is not in the public interest.
- Total spending on the federal Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program is expected to exceed $750 million.
- The firearms motion considers the Alberta Bill of Rights, the Constitution Act, 1867 and the Criminal Code.
- Currently 10 per cent of adult Albertans are licenced to use and own firearms. There are 381,900 firearms licences in Alberta.
- Alberta has 638 licensed firearms businesses, 138 shooting ranges and 91 shooting clubs.
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