Montréal, Quebec, 24 November 2014 (CBNS) — For six days, more than 18,000 students from Montreal schools came to this annual event to celebrate the richness and diversity of the book, which is written or published in the language of Molière.
This year, the theme of the Éditions bahá’íes [Baha'i Publishing] was “Together youth are changing the world” to encourage young people to take action for the well-being of their communities. During the fair, which took place from 19 to 24 November, over 250 youths left messages stating how they could change the world. Young visitors had been invited to write a message on a paper “brick,” which was then used to build a house representing a better world. A large poster showing a house under construction, on which the bricks were glued, decorated the back of the booth.
Many of the messages left by the youth, most of whom came with a school group, showed that they were very environmentally conscious. Many messages had to do with recycling and fighting pollution. Several dozen youth also emphasized the need to respect others and for good behavior in general.
The Salon du Livre de Montréal is an important cultural event in Quebec. It attracts many public figures and features many well-known authors. Of the approximately 115,200 enthusiastic visitors who took advantage of this unparalleled atmosphere to meet authors, follow discussions and to discover a different world of books, some 2,200 stopped at the Éditions bahá’íes booth and participated in the youth activities, bought books, or asked questions about the Bahá’í community.
Needless to say, it was a rewarding and unforgettable experience for all volunteers who have had the privilege to interact with the young generation, says Gigi Vidal!