Local Rotary Clubs will hand out 2,050 dictionaries

If Grade 4 students at Heritage Mountain elementary don't know the meaning of philanthropy, they can look it up thanks to Tri-City Rotary Clubs. Monday, students at the Port Moody school were the first in the district to receive Scholastic Pocket dictionaries as part of an educational drive by Port Moody, Coquitlam, Sunrise and Centennial Rotarians as well as the Port Moody Foundation. In total, 2,050 Grade 4 students in School District 43 will get the books this month and next - an expansion from last year, when only Grade 4 pupils in PoMo qualified. Dale Shea, PoMo Rotary vocational chair, told the nine- and 10-year-olds the dictionaries "will be another tool in your toolbox" for learning. "[The books] will not only prepare you for your future but you can enjoy them now because they help you find the meaning of words," Rev. David Spence of the PoMo Foundation added after the students lined up, single file, to accept their donations. Spence also asked the students to write their names --in ink-- on the first page and to look up the definition of "philanthropist." Linda Balzer, PoMo Rotary's past president, talked about the group's work in the community. Currently, the clubs are sponsoring two exchange students in the Tri-Cities for a year. PoMo Rotary treasurer Stephen Witiuk, who headed last year's dictionary distribution program, said many SD43 youth are new Canadians and "the dictionary will become a valuable asset to the students and will assist them with having a better understanding for learning the English language." Meanwhile, local Rotarians need funds to help pay for the dictionaries, which cost about $10 each. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $25 or more. To help, visit www.portmoodyrotary.ca or call 604-469-8437. jwarren@tricitynews.com