Submission For Craft PR x First Book Canada: Creative for a Cause: The Great Canadian Book Club

Myself and three of my comrades from my postgraduate Public Relation studies at Seneca Polytechnic formed a team called LABS Collective to enter the Creative for a Cause Competition held by Toronto's Craft Public Relations Agency and First Book Canada.

First Book Canada (FBC) is a nonprofit working to remove barriers to literacy for children living in low-income communities by working with partners to provide them with a first book.

The challenge was to "Develop a PR plan that raises awareness and understanding for First Book Canada among potential new members and the importance of this work to equity in Canada."

Our answer to this challenge was The Great Canadian Book Club.

Imagine a Canada where every child sees themselves in the stories they read. It's a Canada where books bridge divides instead of deepening them. That’s the vision behind the Great Canadian Book Club, a proposed nationwide initiative I helped shape to amplify diverse voices and unite the country in a time of crisis. When tariffs threatened to make books 25% less accessible, our plan was to select 13 stories—one from each province and territory—celebrating our shared identity through inclusive children’s literature. This project wasn’t just about books; it was about equity. Research shows representation boosts literacy, engagement, and self-worth. From coordinating author partnerships to designing a viral voting campaign, the plan was to ensure these stories reached the educators and kids who needed them most. Because when we empower young readers, we’re building a stronger, more united Canada—one book at a time.