Student collects books in Kugaaruk
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, May 22, 2017
KUGAARUK
A teenager in Kugaaruk has taken it upon herself to start to restock the book supply in the community after the school library was lost in a fire that destroyed the school on Feb. 28.
Grade 7 student Amy Bruneski, 13, said she wrote to acclaimed Canadian children's author Robert Munsch a few days after the school burned down.
"He didn't reply back but he gave me a couple of books by him - So Much Snow, and Moose," Bruneski said. "I don't know if more books are coming but me and my brothers and sister are writing to other authors now in hopes of getting more books for the library."
Amy's mother Coby Bruneski said she is very proud of all her kids - three boys and two girls -but she is giving Amy -her oldest -a lot of credit for getting this initiative off the ground. Coby said the family had just arrived in Kugaaruk from The Pas, Manitoba days before the school burned down.
"She's been an avid reader. From the moment she could read, she loved books. Her friends in The Pas have apparently collected a whole bunch of books - 20 pounds worth -to send to her as well," Coby said. "I thinks that's pretty awesome. We're a family that loves to read and to be able to share that with other people - I think that's great."
Coby said Amy often reads to her younger brothers and sisters as well. She added that her kids were all devastated when they found out the library had burned.
"I said why don't we try writing to Robert Munsch because we heard that he responds to letters and I said let's see if he'll write back and maybe send us some books. That's how it all got started," Coby said.
"Amy was super excited with the idea and jumped on. My other daughter wrote to (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau. They wrote to as many people as they could."
Coby said Amy is also putting together a scrapbook for Munsch, including the books he sent in a photo with the Stanley Cup, which was in Kugaaruk earlier this spring.
"We got the hockey players to sign the books and the RCMP posed for pictures with the books and the cup," Coby said.
"We're just waiting for a few more pictures, then she is going to send the scrapbook off to Mr. Munsch."
Coby said Amy is approaching other Canadian authors and even one in England to see if they would be willing to donate much-needed books to the kids in Kugaaruk.
