We are a nation of readers: in 2015, we bought 52 million books, amounting to more than $983 million sales. We’ve embraced electronic but still prefer paper (source: booknet).
We have an annual battle of the books called “Canada Reads”, which is hosted by CBC radio every year. We even worry that we are not reading enough.
Where, why, how do we read? Look no further than Library and Archives Canada. I’ve been exploring their digital image collection for years–and what I’ve found is a wealth of historical images of people reading.
Here’s what I found: First peoples’ and fur trappers, settlers and soldiers, country and city dwellers. If we’re at war, if we’re in a remote region, if we’re building a city, if we’re out in the woods or going to bed–we bring along something to read.
Mostly, we read to educate or entertain, sometimes for propaganda (to attract settlers and immigrants, for example) and, tragically, for assimilation (Indigenous people in Canada are working to reclaim their languages).
I’ve selected some of my favourites, and in the process, it has resulted in a visual tour of Canadian history over the last century. We may not agree on everything, but we are a country united–by geography, by history, by “hope and hard work”, and by books!
Canada reads.
We read at home.
![1950 Rymer Point, N.W.T., [Nunavut]](https://lostandfoundbooks.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/1950-rymer-point-n-w-t-nunavut.jpg?w=695&h=674)
We read in log cabins.

We read in monasteries.

We read in bed.


We read in tents.



We read by lamplight.


We read in the snow.
- Gatineau Park, Quebec, (credit: Rosemary Gilliat Eaton)
We read on moose antlers.

We read at war.

We read at the library.



We read at mobile libraries.
We read at school.
We read in the country.
We read in small towns.

We read in the city.



Happy Canada Day!
And thank you for reading.
MERCI (français)
THANK YOU (english)
Wli Wni (abénaquis)
Meegwetch (algonquin)
Mikwetc (atikamekw)
Meegwetch (cris)
Tshinashkumitin (innu)
Qujannamiik/Nakurmiik / Ai(inuit)
Welaliog (micmac)
Niá : wen (mohawk)
Chiniskomiitin (naskapis)
Tiawenhk! (wendat)
Unless otherwise noted, source for all photographs: Library and Archives Canada
interesting, i would be lost if i could not read. as a senoir i am always looking for the next book. mom
Lovely thought mom: I think you are one of the most avid readers I know!
Happy Canada Day, Booksy! xo
thank you! same to you–enjoy the day!
What a FANTASTIC post!! It shows what gift reading is…as soon as people master it, they read everywhere at anytime. I always love observing people’s faces when they are reading, I love those far away expressions. What would we be without reading, without books…lost!!! Happy Canada Day Anne!! xoxoxo Johanna
You are so right — thank you Johanna!
I agree, we love to read. I can’t live without a book, a newspaper or a magazine. The photos say it all! I think I will stop folding laundry and go read a book. Thanks Anne.
Ha ha! Maybe you could read and fold laundry at the same time? It’s true-I rarely see you without a book, in fact you will be appearing here soon…he he he
A liberal, welcoming country of readers – you’ve no idea how welcoming Canada looks from the UK at the moment….
I’m sorry–you must be feeling lost at the moment. Hopefully your wonderful nation will find its way out of these troubled waters–you have in the past!
What a great post! I really enjoyed all the photos of people reading — old photos are so interesting. 🙂 Happy Canada Day (a day late).
Thank you! Yes, old photos tell such an interesting story — amazing to see how people read no matter what they are doing or where they are!
This is wonderful – those photos are stunning! And in the spirit of reading, what stories must lie behind those photos and the people in them? It’s fascinating – thank you for sharing them 🙂 We are very seriously contemplating moving to Canada now…
Thank you! Ha! You would be welcome. We love librarians! 🙂
I always have a book on the go. My parents, my husband and my children are also readers. I still read the newspaper every morning, as does my husband, although he reads more than one on line now. Could not imagine a day without a book. My last job was working at a second hand bookstore, so I rarely buy new anymore. Great post, love the old photos and especially the reading in the snow image. How very Canadian!
Thank you Beth! My dream job – working at a second hand bookstore! 😉
me too!
What a fabulous and enlightening post and photos. Thank you! We Canadians spend so much time indoors to avoid the cold outdoors, it’s no wonder we read so much. But I just recalled that I grew up in a tropical country and I was a complete bookworm, so that may not explain it either!