Guest Author - Betty Dobson

Each year in Canada, the last week in February is designated Freedom to Read Week.

Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the intellectual freedom of all Canadians. Freedom to Read Week encourages us to embrace that right and recognize that no right should ever be taken for granted. Even in recent years, publications have been blocked from entering this country, books have been removed from libraries, and Internet content has come under attack.

The Freedom of Expression Committee, under the auspices of The Book and Periodical Council, organizes Freedom to Read Week and oversees general censorship issues in Canada. Committee members include representatives from Access Copyright, The Writers' Union of Canada, PEN Canada, Canadian Publishers' Council, League of Canadian Poets, Organization of Book Publishers of Ontario, Playwrights Guild of Canada, Periodical Writers Association of Canada, Canadian Library Association, Book and Periodical Council, Editors' Association of Canada, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Book Publishers Association of Alberta, Canadian Booksellers Association, and many others.

The Freedom to Read website includes a downloadable kit and clipart, instructions for ordering this year's poster, images of posters from previous years, free censorship reports, and more. There is also a free photography contest and a calendar of events taking place during the week throughout the country.

We have the right to choose for ourselves what we read. Never forget that. Never allow someone else to limit what you read and, as a result, what you think.