It’s Paul Coccia and Eric Walters. And we’re here to say how honored we are to accept the Richard Allen Chase memorial award in its inaugural year. All awards are important but an award named after somebody like Richard makes it even more important. Richard was the heart and soul of the Rocky Mountain Book Award. He was somebody whose life was devoted to literacy.
He was also was somebody who drove a generation of writers around southern Alberta. I think that as much as he loved literature, he loved reading, he really liked side roads and shortcuts. I remember being driven to an airport by him. It was getting dark, and we pull up to a little airport. I’m pretty sure it was Lethbridge airport, going to Calgary.
As we walked up to the airplane I saw this flight attendant. I’m thinking she’s too young to work at a 7-eleven, and she’s the flight attendant! It turned out she was the pilot. That was the sort of adventure that Richard always got us into.
And Eric, I Didn’t get to know Richard in his time here. But I have gotten to know him through the legacy that his wife Alice and their family have set up through this award.
It’s such an honor to be receiving this award named after Richard. I know he was dedicated to literacy in children’s books, and also new voices in children’s literature, as well as family and acceptance. I think those are all things that our book really tried to push forward, as well as friendship. We’ve developed a friendship, so what a great way to honor someone. It seems pretty fitting that a couple of friends get to receive the award.
We’d like to do something to honor Richard in a very special school. Could you tell people about it please, Paul?
Yes, in conjunction with Orca books we are donating a clash set to Lake View School. This is a school that was very important to Richard and Alice, and they already donate through Rocky Mountain Book Awards, one copy. We’re going to send in a class. We want kids to read this book, and we think that will be a fitting tribute that we cna do for Richard.
Wonderful, we’re very pleased with that. Richard is gone, but he is still with us. I don’t think I’m ever going to drive down a dusty prairie road, in any province, not just southern Alberta, without thinking Richard is at the wheel. Thank you Richard, Alice, and everybody. Thank you, Rocky Mountain Book Awards.
