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Our Team
Our Team
We have a wonderful group of people who spend their days helping children discover the love of books and reading both at our storefront and through our partnerships across the Greater Toronto Area.
Mary Ladky – Executive Director
Mary, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the youngest of six children, has been an itinerant educator, having lived and taught in many places around the world. When she was very young, she read Make Way for Ducklings repeatedly, always marveling at the beautiful illustrations of a large family of ducks looking for a place to call home.
Loribeth Gregg – Director of Programming & Development
Reading (and watching) Charlie and Lola at the age of 16 drew Lori to the conclusion that she would always prefer children's literature, no matter how old she was. She feels lucky to be sharing her love of Charlie and Lola and other "kids' stuff" every day at the Book Bank.
Dave Page – Director of Inventory & Outreach
Dave has been working with children's books and family literacy programs in Toronto for 25 years. A favourite picture book is Ezra Jack Keats' The Snowy Day. Dave collects vinyl records and has plans to watch the Leafs win the Cup.
Gargi Patel – Program Coordinator (she/her)
Gargi loves to write poetry, listen to music, and read comic books. Her favorite picture book is, "The Elves and The Shoemaker," because of the multiple lessons within the story, with themes ranging from hopelessness to gratitude. She is excited to join the Book Bank team and to grow, learn and support in bridging the gap in accessing books.
Naziha Ullah – Saturday Supervisor
Naziha is an aspiring teacher who adores working with children! Books and literature hold a special place in her heart. She enjoys writing poetry and drawing in her free time; letting her imagination loose to take her where it pleases! A recent rediscovery of Anne of Green Gables has led to a newfound love for Anne Shirley and has fueled Naziha's imagination for "It's delightful when your imaginations come true, isn't it?”
Karly-Lynne Scott – Program Coordinator and Communications Assistant (she/her)
Still a kid-at-heart, Karly-Lynne is an avid reader of children’s literature. While she’s always excited to read the latest middle grade books, she never gets tired of revisiting childhood favourites like Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad series. When she’s not reading or teaching, she can be found birdwatching outdoors.
Volunteers
Volunteers – with skills of all kinds and too numerous to name. Current volunteers please click here to login.
Board of Directors
Brenda Abrams
Melissa Cassar
Yun Cheng
Sarah Facey, Chair
Janet Griffin
Claire Howard
Sonia Keshwar
Madhu Rupasinghe
Jennifer Samarco
Our Partners
Partners
Every month, The Children’s Book Bank distributes close to 10,000 books to help support literacy programming at many neighbourhood and social agencies across the city, as well as schools, newcomer services, EarlyON and Community Health Centres.
To see the impact The Children’s Book had across the city in 2021 click here.
Outreach Opportunities
If your organization could benefit from support from The Children’s Book Bank please reach out to us at outreach@childrensbookbank.com.
Start Your Own Book Bank
Interested in starting a Book Bank in your community? Please reach out to us at info@childrensbookbank.com.
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