UFV commemorates Freedom to Read week with public readings of banned and challenged books
The University of the Fraser Valley community culminated Freedom to Read Week with a powerful, collective act of storytelling at its annual Freedom to Read event.
Held at the Abbotsford campus library in late February, the event centred on live readings from banned and challenged books, with students, faculty, staff, senior administrators, and community members each taking a turn at the podium. Participants shared excerpts from works such as Harry Potter, A Handmaid’s Tale, To Kill a Mockingbird, and more.
These selections formed the heart of the event, creating moments that were at once reflective and thought-provoking. Listeners gathered to hear passages that challenged ideas, sparked discussion, and underscored the importance of protecting intellectual freedom. The diversity of readers — spanning disciplines, roles, and backgrounds — highlighted a shared commitment across the UFV community to uphold the right to read.
“Freedom to read is fundamental to what universities are all about,” said UFV President James Mandigo. “Access to a wide range of ideas and perspectives helps us to ask better questions and better understand one another.”
In addition to the readings, attendees explored displays of challenged books and engaged in conversations about censorship and access to information. The event reinforced that while Canada values freedom of expression, challenges to books and the ideas persist.
Provost Tracey Ryder-Glass emphasized the importance of ensuring students are exposed to a wide range of literature.
“For students arriving from diverse cultural, linguistic and political backgrounds, this freedom is especially meaningful because it showcases materials from around the world whereby international students can see the cultures, identities and experiences reflected in the academic environment,” she said. By inviting the community to read aloud and listen closely, UFV’s Freedom to Read event went beyond awareness, turning principle into practice. It served as a reminder that protecting the freedomto read is a collective responsibility — one that is strengthened when voices are heard, shared, and supported.
