One Book One Province
2024 Book Selection
The 2024 One Book One Province title is Miss G and Me by Jennifer S. Wallace. The program will see libraries, book clubs, and individuals all across Saskatchewan join together in April 2024 to read this book and share discussions about the story. April 2024 was declared as “One Book One Province Month” by the Government of Saskatchewan.
JENNIFER S. WALLACE is a French immersion teacher, judo sensei, writer, artist, and author. She loves teaching, singing, painting, reading, travelling, and buying too many children’s books. In 2009, Jennifer wrote and published her first book, a nonfiction children’s story called When He Opened His Eyes: Gordon’s Story, about her firstborn. She writes articles and poems for Sister Triangle, an online women’s magazine and has led writing workshops and writers’ events. In 2020, the non-published manuscript of Miss G and Me: A Daughter’s Memoir was awarded third place in the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild’s John V. Hicks Long Manuscript Award for Creative Nonfiction. Jennifer was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Treaty 6 Territory, and lives there with the loves of her life: John, Imogen, Isaac, and their two dogs.
Our 2024 Events
SLA will be holding a program launch event with Jennifer S. Wallace at Government House in Regina on March 21, 2024. There will also be seven in-person events featuring Jennifer S. Wallace with her book, held across Saskatchewan throughout the month of April.
These events will be held in:
- Saskatoon:
- April 3 from 11:30am – 1:30pm at the University of Saskatchewan’s Health Sciences Atrium, GD 50
April 3 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm at the Saskatoon Public Library Frances Morrison Branch (downtown)
- April 3 from 11:30am – 1:30pm at the University of Saskatchewan’s Health Sciences Atrium, GD 50
- Weyburn: April 4 at 6:30pm at the Weyburn Public Library
- Moose Jaw: April 5 from 2:30pm – 4:00pm at the Moose Jaw Public Library
- Regina:
- April 8 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm on the main floor of the Dr. John Archer Library, University of Regina
(This is a hybrid event. Registration is encouraged.)
April 8 from 7:00pm – 8:00pm at the Regina Public Library Central Branch’s Community Commons: Interview between Jennifer S. Wallace and CBC’s Sam Maciag
(This is a hybrid event. Registration is required to attend the online event.)
April 25 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm at the Regina Public Library Regent Place Branch: A memoir writing workshop led by Jennifer. S. Wallace
(Registration for this event is required. Click here to register!)
- April 8 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm on the main floor of the Dr. John Archer Library, University of Regina
- Prince Albert: April 9 at 7:00pm at the Prince Albert Public Library
- Watrous: April 10 at 7:00pm at the Watrous Branch Library
RPL Film Theatre Events
To celebrate One Book One Province, the Regina Public Library’s Film Theatre is running a parallel program throughout the month of April, featuring films inspired by the setting and themes of Miss G and Me. Click here to view the RPL Film Theatre’s screening schedule.
About the Book and Where to Find It
Weaving together poems, journal entries, anecdotes, and personal essays, the award-winning Miss G and Me shares a daughter’s insights into her Jamaican mother’s immigration story and familial relationships.
The book invites readers and listeners to experience Jamaican, English and prairie Canadian voices, cultures, landscapes, and mindsets. Whether online or in person, audiences have been receptive to the many themes that Miss G and Me explores.
If you are interested in reading the book with a group or book club, SLA has a study guide available to go along with Miss G and Me. Click here to access the study guide.
Find the book in your region:
- Palliser Regional Library
- Chinook Regional Library
- Southeast Regional Library
- Regina Public Library
- Parkland Regional Library
- Wapiti Regional Library
- Wheatland Regional Library
- Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System
- Saskatoon Public Library
- John M. Cuelenaere Public Library
- Lakeland Library Region
2024 Media Coverage
One Book One Province has sparked some media coverage this year! Check out the stories and interviews done on Jennifer Wallace’s book and tour across the province below.
- CBC Saskatoon Morning radio interview with host Theresa Kleim and Jennifer Wallace
- CTV News Regina story
- Interview between Jennifer Wallace and CBC’s Sam Maciag, held at the Regina Public Library
- CBC Radio Canada interview with Jennifer Wallace (in French)
- CBC Morning Edition radio interview with Stefani Langenegger
About One Book One Province
One Book One Province is a province-wide program that launched in 2017. It aims to increase literacy and create a reading culture by providing opportunities for residents to become more socially engaged in their community through a shared story. One Book One Province encourages Saskatchewan’s social, economic and cultural development while supporting libraries and collaboration.
While One Book One Province has run during the month of March in past years, in 2024 the program will run throughout the month of April.
For more information about One Book One Province, contact SLA Program Coordinator Milena Džordeski by emailing mdzordeski@saskla.ca.
Honorary Patron
His Honour the Honourable Russ Mirasty, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
Russ Mirasty was born and raised in La Ronge, Saskatchewan and is a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. His first language is Woodland Cree. His grandparents led a traditional life, fishing, hunting and trapping. His mother modelled a strong work ethic, and from her and his grandparents, he learned to value a connection to the land, and the importance of hospitality and community service.
Mr. Mirasty joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1976, and was one of only two Indigenous cadets in his troop. He served in various roles across the country, including as Director General of National Aboriginal Policing Services and as Commanding Officer of “F” Division (Saskatchewan).
Over his 36‐year career, Mr. Mirasty was posted to seven provinces, performed duties in every province and territory, and participated in an exchange with the Northern Territory Police Service in Australia. He retired from the RCMP as Assistant Commissioner in 2013.
Following his retirement, Mr. Mirasty continued to devote himself to the residents of Saskatchewan by helping lead the Student First Engagement process. The valuable perspectives shared during the process informed the development of a province‐wide education strategy.
Mr. Mirasty served as a member of the League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents, and as a board member on the Community Safety Knowledge Alliance. He was appointed to Saskatchewan’s Advisory Group on Poverty Reduction, and served on the board of the McDowell Foundation, which supports research, inquiry, and sharing of information for the K to 12 education system.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Mr. Mirasty received both the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee Medals, as well as the Meritorious Service Medal.
His Honour leads a very active lifestyle and regularly participates in running and cross‐country skiing marathon events. He and his wife, Donna Mirasty, have a home in La Ronge, and they have two children and two grandchildren.
Past One Book One Province Title Selections
2023 – Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
2022 – Arab Cooking on a Prairie Homestead by Habeeb Salloum
2021 – Blanket Toss Under Midnight Sun by Paul Seesequasis
2020 – A Geography of Blood by Candace Savage
2019 – Just Pretending by Lisa Bird-Wilson
2018 – Out of Old Saskatchewan Kitchens by Amy Jo Ehman
2017 – The Education of Augie Merasty: A Residential School Memoir by Joseph Auguste Merasty with David Carpenter