Since 2004, The Honourable James K. Bartleman, Ontario's Lieutenant Governor, has been leading the drive to put books in the hands of aboriginal youth across Ontario and in Canada’s far north. This monumental effort to increase literacy is supported by the generosity of thousands of Ontarians and is the inspiration for a new Team Ontario project.

Team Ontario Synchro Swimmers contributed to the Legacy Project at the Training Camp in Toronto on December 9th.

Team Ontario's “2007 Canada Games Legacy Project” will collect and present books to The Honourable Geraldine Van Bibber, Commissioner of the Yukon, on behalf of The Honourable James K. Bartleman and Team Ontario. This initiative will be a lasting legacy of Ontario’s participation in the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

With your support, our goal is to have every participant from Ontario bring a minimum of 10 new or gently used books appropriate for a child or adolescent. There are several ways for you to contribute to this book drive.

• You can bring your books to one of the upcoming training camps on December 9th or January 6th.
• You can bring the books to the Yukon when you travel to the Games but your luggage must be kept to a minimum.
• The Sport Alliance of Ontario will also set up a drop-off location in their building at 1185 Eglinton Avenue East in Toronto to accept your donations.
• Please make sure the books are suitable for children and youth. Also, please no magazines or text books. All books will receive commemorative labels to let the reader know Team Ontario donated these books in 2007.

This is a great opportunity to give back to the host community and say thanks for their hard work in organizing the Canada Games for us all. It is also a priceless way to increase literacy for hundreds of young people in the north.

Come on Team, we can do it! Start collecting your books today!

For information about The Honourable James K. Bartleman's literacy initiatives, visit: www.lt.gov.on.ca