For the past four years, Mary Ellen Ruddell has been bringing stories to life for CNIB Lake Joe @ Home participants through the Reading Room program.
Her connection to Lake Joe spans decades. Mary Ellen first worked at the camp in 1994, never imagining that she would reconnect years later in a completely different way.
“About five years ago, I was encouraged to check out the Lake Joe Facebook page,” she recalls. “I saw a post looking for a volunteer for the reading room, and it just clicked.”
At the time, Mary Ellen was deepening her own writing practice and looking for volunteer opportunities that could continue throughout the uncertainty of the pandemic. The reading room program offered both.
“I’ve always loved volunteering and I was curious about accessibility beyond braille,” said Mary Ellen. “This felt like a way to explore that while also immersing
myself more in storytelling.”
A self-described eclectic writer, Mary Ellen has multiple projects on the go, from a young adult novel being published this summer to children’s picture books and a leadership textbook in development. In the reading room, that deep appreciation for story translates into a thoughtful and intentional experience for participants.
When selecting a story to read. Mary Ellen looks for pieces where the language is rich but not overly dense, and where the story doesn’t rely on visuals like charts or images. She also reads each story at least three times.
“It helps me understand what the original storyteller wanted to convey, so I can use tone and emphasis in a way that brings that same perspective to listeners.”
Throughout her time as a volunteer, Mary Ellen has learned just how skilled people are at listening.
“They listen so intentionally. The details they notice, it’s really incredible,” said Mary Ellen. “When people laugh at the same time, or you can feel everyone reacting emotionally together, it’s powerful.”
That experience has also shifted her own perspective.
“Listening to a story is reading,” said Mary Ellen. “In some ways, it requires even more focus. You gain just as much from hearing a book as you do from reading it on a page.”
For Mary Ellen, the power of stories extends far beyond the page.
In the brief discussions that follow a story, she’s often surprised by what people pick up on. Everyone takes something different from the same story.
“Reading expands our knowledge, our empathy, our perspective,” said Mary Ellen. And when we read together, it creates a shared experience. We all hear the same story, but we build on it in different ways. That connection helps reduce loneliness and supports our well-being.”