Voices from Within: The Member Experience
The transformative power of literature is best expressed through the voices of those who participate in our programs. This section features testimonials and survey data from incarcerated members across Canada, illustrating how book clubs provide an “oasis” for intellectual growth, empathy, and personal reflection. These insights highlight the vital role that reading and civil discourse play in humanizing the prison experience and supporting successful reintegration.
Making an impact
- 85% reported that the book club improved their reading skills.
- 90% reported that the book club improved their communication skills.
- 93% of respondents reported that the book clubs could help to prevent them from reoffending.
- 86% of respondents see the book clubs as a place to participate in civil discussion and hear new points of view.
What members are saying
“I would like to express my gratitude.”
The Book Club for Inmates has offered books that I would not seek out in a library, nor would I purchase them. But I have found them enjoyable to read. Plus the topics of discussions that take place after the book is read. This I would have to attribute to the volunteers who give their valuable time… I would like to express my gratitude to our volunteers for their time, the individuals and corporations who donate funds so we the inmates have books to read.
– Member at Mountain Institution
“An oasis we get one day a month.”
The Book Club is an enormous source of intellectual and social – sometimes even spiritual – inspiration to both myself and the many others who attend. It is an oasis we get one day a month. I have watched men in that group realize their potential to analyze and reflect that I don’t know if they even realized they had.”
– Member at Collins Bay Medium Institution
“Start to finish!”
This is the first book I have read from start to finish.
– Member at Bowden Institution
“Deeply humanizing.”
The book club is deeply humanizing.”
– Member at Beaver Creek Medium Institution
“Allows for a form of escape.”
It is nice to be part of something that allows for a form of escape from the typical ‘day-to-day’ prison life and apply some brains for a change.
– Member at Stony Mountain Institution
“Inspired me to start writing again.”
The book club has opened me to a whole new world of reading and taken me out of my comfort zone. It even inspired me to start writing again.
– Member at Bowden Institution
“Allows us to share our opinions.”
The book club “allows us to share our opinions and interpretations on morals, values, and thoughts on subjects in the books.
– Member at Stony Mountain Institution
“A good way to meet the right sort of people.”
When you’re reading books, you realize that the world’s not all about you. You’re not the only one going through these trials and tribulations. You get to have a little empathy for other people. The book club is a good way to meet the right sort of people. Cause I find that the people that read a lot, they’re never in trouble.
– Member at Beaver Creek Institution
“Allows us to share our opinions.”
I’ve stopped watching TV because books have engaged me in a way that TV never could: it stretches my mind and it makes me think more deeply.
– Member at Stony Mountain Institution
