An idea rooted in a love of literacy is helping give Portage la Prairie’s newest residents a meaningful head start, one book at a time.

Through a new initiative launched this year, the Portage Teachers Association is donating books to babies born in the community, ensuring families leave the hospital with more than just memories; they leave with the beginning of a child’s first library.

A simple idea with lasting impact

Charlotte Mason, Public Relations Chair for the Portage Teachers Association, says the idea came from the organization’s annual efforts to promote education and connect with the community in meaningful ways.

“Every year, the Portage Teachers Association has a budget to promote teachers and our roles in the community,” Mason explains. “This year, Angela Mills came up with the idea to buy books for babies born in Portage so that all babies have books, because every baby should have a library of their own.”

The books themselves are designed with young families in mind, colourful board books that also include space for parents to record important details, such as a baby’s name, birth weight, and height.

Mason says 100 books have been purchased for the first year of the program, with 50 already delivered, and hopes the initiative will continue annually.

Why early reading matters

For organizers, the initiative is rooted in a belief that every child deserves access to books from the very beginning.

“I believe that every child should have multiple books in their library, but we also know that’s not always possible. By giving every new baby a book, at least they have that starting point. It exposes them to language, to new words, and helps them learn proper ways of communicating,” she continues.

Angela Mills, Collective Bargaining Co-Chair, adds that building those habits early can have a lasting impact on both learning and family connection.

“Parents are their child’s first teacher, so spending that time reading and exploring books together is incredibly important. It opens the door to so many opportunities for learning and connection,” Mills notes.

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Partnership with local healthcare

The books are being distributed through the Portage District General Hospital, thanks to a partnership with the Portage District General Hospital Foundation.

Executive director Tara Pettinger says the collaboration is a natural fit.

“As the foundation, we’re extremely thrilled. It’s always amazing to have these partnerships. We’re honoured that people recognize the work of the foundation and reach out to us to help make these connections within healthcare. This is exactly the kind of enhancement we’re here to support,” she says.

Pettinger says nurses from the obstetrics unit are helping deliver the books directly to families, adding a personal touch to the program.

“They’re the ones on the front lines with our moms and babies, so having them be part of presenting this gift makes it even more special. It’s just a really cool thing we can offer our community,” she adds.

Looking ahead

With strong early support and positive feedback, organizers are already looking towards the future, with hopes of continuing and potentially expanding the initiative in the years to come.

For Mason and Mills, the goal remains simple: make sure every child has access to books from the very beginning.

And in doing so, they hope to help foster a lifelong love of reading, one newborn at a time.

"Having books and reading to children is so important. Formal language is something that’s being lost, and through books, we’re able to keep that alive."

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