Tumbler Ridge Public Library finalist in Next Stride Campaign

TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. – The Tumbler Ridge Public Library has been chosen as one of nine finalists in the running to win a $10,000 grand prize.

The library was chosen randomly as an August 3rd Star winner in the Canadian Adult Recreational Hockey Association’s (CARHA) Next Stride Campaign. As a finalist, the library got a $500 prize and a shot at the grand prize.

The Next Stride Campaign was created to celebrate the achievements of people in the community who have made a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each month from June through August, three stars were chosen at random to receive $500 to give to charity.

The Tumbler Ridge Public Library was recognized for the TD Summer Reading Club Program in the summer of 2020. The program was completely redesigned to be a mix of online and at-home delivery in the face of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns.

According to a release, the library has used the $500 prize towards starting the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Tumbler Ridge. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program helps children from the ages of 0-5 receive a free book in the mail every month.

Head Librarian Paula Coutts says this program is great for kids who may put a little more wear and tear on their books than adults.

“Many people might shy away from borrowing library books for this age group since children under the age of 6 love their books hard,” said  Coutts. “They bring them in cars, in backyards and to bed. People sometimes worry books will be damaged or lost, and they might prefer to purchase them instead of borrowing them due to that. This program means that we can get high-quality books into the hands of children in Tumbler Ridge under the age of six for free every single month.”

If the Tumbler Ridge Public Library won the $10,000 grand prize, it would be able to completely fund the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Tumbler Ridge for nearly five years.

Voting for the winner of the grand prize is open at The Next Stride website. Voting closes on September 24th.

The CARHA is a nationwide, non-profit sport organization that supports recreational hockey in Canada. The Next Stride’s #HockeyVacciNation campaign was intended to project positivity and celebrate individual and community contributions as Canadians overcome the challenges of COVID-19.