The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is helping provide kids in hospital with opportunities for continued learning and creativity with a gift of $75,000 to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The gift will go towards establishing The Book Mobile program at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital (JPCH), which encourages the love of reading by providing a variety of books to children and their families in hospital.

Children of all ages will enjoy the benefits of the program, as it encourages not only silent reading for those who are able to read to themselves, but also opportunities for parents and caregivers to read with their child, promoting bonding experiences.

“As educators, we are passionate about literacy and are extremely proud to support The Book Mobile.” said Patrick Maze, President, Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. “Books can teach us, provide comfort, make us laugh and transport us to far-away places. We hope the magic of a good book helps make the hospital stay a little easier for our province’s youngest patients and their families.”

The new program is based out of the Child Life Zone at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, a 2,800 square foot state-of-the-art therapeutic play area. All books are housed in a special library area known as the “Book Nook” in the Zone and a special mobile library cart is filled with books and wheeled to patients in their rooms.

The Book Mobile program has been designed in collaboration with child life specialists and teachers at JPCH. The selection of books on the cart changes daily to keep long-term patients engaged with new material. After books are used, they are cleaned and returned to the library in the Zone, or provided as a gift if the child is in isolation or has been discharged.

“Good health and education are essential to a child’s development. Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation believes that specialized programs are essential,
especially when a sick child requires a hospital stay,” said Brynn Boback-Lane, President and CEO of Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“We know this new reading program will help children and teens develop literacy skills, as well as find a sense of normalcy and comfort when being treated in the hospital. The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation has partnered with us to ensure that patients in the children’s hospital receive this opportunity, and for that, we are grateful for their important contribution to the overall wellness of Saskatchewan kids.”