I drove to Quebec City after leaving Shawinigan High School. I didn’t get stuck in traffic and arrived at the Courtyard Marriott in the heart of old Quebec City at around 6:30pm. There was enough time to walk through town and find a place to eat, and what a treat it was.
Friday May 9, 2014
I packed up and checked out early, then headed to Corcelette for a visit to the students of Dollard des Ormeaux School.
Librarian Kerry Ann King asked me to time my arrival for just after the buses had departed, so I waited, then parked in the bus lanes. I followed the last students into the school.
Here’s a photo of Kerry Ann, standing beside the TD Book Week poster. She is wearing red in honour of our veterans.
Here’s the library before the kids arrived.
And down below is with the kids.
I did three sessions in speedy back to back to back without even a minute break in between. The first two sessions were 30 minute ones for the primaries and the final session was for grades 3 and 4. Some parents attended as well, and many students and adults wore red in honour of our veterans. I wish I had known, and I would have worn red as well! When I finished, Kerry Ann helped me pack up quickly. “There’s a parade starting up soon,” she said. “And you don’t want to get stuck in the middle of it.” I was so thankful for my good parking spot. I dashed out and made it out of town just before the parade.
I drove back into Quebec City to meet Guy Dubois of La Maison Anglaise Bookstore at Cosmos restaurant. How wonderful to have good food and good company. When we finished, I followed Guy’s car to St-Charles Garnier School where I presented to French students who were in the advanced English language program.
Here is Guy and myself, and two instructors from St-Charles Garnier School standing behind my book display on the stage.
And here are the students:
I finished at about 3:30, then hopped into the car and drove to Cornwall, where I stayed overnight (running into friends from Brantford there too!). On Saturday, I drove the rest of the way back to Brantford.
A fabulous adventure! I met many wonderful students and many devoted teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents. I’d do it again in a flash.
Thank you, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, for organizing all of the author visits across the country. One school visit at a time, we can transform the country into passionate readers.
