World Literacy Day

Sunday, September 8th is International Literacy Day, as declared by UNESCO since 1966. Today, in Canada, literacy is a skill many of us take for granted. So much of our world relies on us being able to read, it seems a stretch to imagine how one could cope navigating life without this ability.

At Figg Street Co., we feel closely connected to literacy. After all, so many of our customers are purchasing items which they use to write. We also have a fondness for the tactile experience of writing. It's a pleasure to feel the differences between pens and pencils, to scrawl, and to savour the motion of creating swirls on the page.

Chances are high that if you're reading this, you experience enjoyment with the written word. So we'd like to share a few literary-related things with you: local bookshops, podcasts, authors, upcoming events and a book-related DIY project.

Bookshops

The Niagara region has many great bookshops. Here are just a few you may want to check out:

The Old Niagara Bookshop
233 Regent Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake

This is a lovely, quaint shop that often plays classical music as you peruse the shelves. It's currently in its third location since it first opened in the 1960s.

The Write Bookshop
285 St. Paul Street
St. Catharines

If it's used books you're after, or perhaps something a little harder to find and out of print, you may have luck here. Enjoy the thrill of the hunt? This store is packed with books from a wide variety of genres.

Thistle Bookshop
103-50 Lakeport Road
Port Dalhousie, St. Catharines

Do you enjoy the atmosphere of books while sipping on a coffee or tea? This shop is also a café and located adjacent to Rennie Park, on Martindale Pond. The book offerings are curated and include fiction, non-fiction, children's, local interests and local art.

Podcasts

A few podcasts about books to try out:

Backlisted
The Book Review by The New York Times
What Should I Read Next? with Anne Bogel
NPR's Book of the Day
World Book Club by BBC World Service
Writers and Company with Eleanor Wachtel by the CBC (technically, this radio series has ended, but replays from the archives & specials are available)