New West's Elaine Su is changing lives one book at a time

It could be fairly intimidating to speak to someone who's been named Citizen/Business of the Year—let's be real, that's a HUGE deal—but Elaine Su is so incredibly confident, warm, and welcoming that it feels like you've been talking to a friend you've known for decades. 

Listening to her recall the evening at the Chamber of Commerce's Platinum Awards on Nov. 24—where she was given the honour—it's a bit of a juxtaposition to hear her describe how stunned she was to win. 

"I was terrified. I was very unprepared; I really did not think I would win. I didn't even prepare for the possibility that I would win. Very unprepared, and very scared, which I think showed when I tried to talk at the end," Su explains with a chuckle. "I think I blacked out."

(For the record, this writer humbly disagrees. I was present for Su's speech—we were seated the entire night one table apart from each other—and it was incredibly thoughtful, as she gave shoutouts to many people in the New West community.)

"I was extremely humbled and honoured to be nominated, but it was a surprise. I mean, nominated with Leona [Green] and Trudi [Goels]? They're so incredible, and I just thought, 'what are the chances?' I just thought they were not very high."

It's safe to say Su shares a symbiotic relationship with New Westminster, one she says is incredibly different from the one she had living in Vancouver. New West is unabashedly inspired by her, and vice versa. Her love for books has allowed her to tap into the community in a way that approaches change outside the box, with that passion amplified in her work with children. 

"I am a teacher-librarian by trade," says Su, adding that her own two children have added another dimension to the way she looks at literature. When people reached out to Su earlier this year to ask questions like, 'what's a good book with two moms?' or 'are there any good books with biracial kids?' Su was inspired put together the Kids' Book Finder, which was made possible in part by the Neighbourhood Small Grants program. Su worked to find books that reflected local families—in some cases, the quest was a bit like a needle in a haystack—but Su being her awesome self, unsurprisingly delivered. 

"I love kids' books and I read them," says Su, adding that she's seen firsthand how tough it can be to find books that reflect that variety of families who live, work, and play in our communities.

"I think [the change in diversity in children's literature] is slowly changing. I was just saying to someone that ... I was [previously] looking for Lunar New Year books to read to my students, and they were the same ones that have existed for decades, the ones that we read year in and year out," says Su, "and I was just at a kid's bookstore, and there were a plethora published last year, new to me."

"The stories are nuanced, and they talk about identity and diasporic experience. They talk about experiences that are varied and real ... and I think we're finally getting authentic representation. I think that comes from authors sharing their own real experiences," noting that the previous works she'd seen felt more tokenistic, or something that focused on trauma. 

"These [newer] stories just let people live their lives and have adventures," says Su, adding that it doesn't mean people should become complacent when it comes to seeing themselves reflected in literature, because the reality is there has been decades of oppression and a lack of representation.

"There is so much work to be done for equity and diversity," she says, adding it's something she feels she's meant to do. "I just can't help myself ... children's literature is an area that's been needing [a shift] for so long that as soon as I started the work."

"Things have changed a great deal, quickly. Whether that change is sustainable, whether that change is noticeable on a scale that's big enough, we have to continue working to making that happen."

Her approach to said work is simple: identify the gap, do the work, celebrate, and repeat. And never underestimate the power of a library.

"Libraries are such an important focal point for our cities in terms of what libraries can do for equity, and what libraries can do for the most vulnerable people," she explains. "I think there's a lot of good work that can be done with the library, and through the library."

And no, there are no plans to Su for stop soon: she's set to begin serving her third term on the New West Public Library's (NWPL) board, while leaving space open for new projects, likely sooner than later. She'll also be working on some Lunar New Year projects. 

"I'll be doing a Mandarin story time and crafts with the [NWPL] for Lunar New Year, and I hope people will come to that. I have a couple of projects bubbling in my mind that I'm talking to people about, but nothing [firm] yet."

As for advice on getting involved in the community, Su says it can be tough to know where and how to start, but having a tight-knit city in New West means you'll never be alone. 

"New West has a way of being a very welcoming, generous, and kind place. Talk to your neighbours. We have so many ways to do that. And people will find you. They will find out what you are doing. It's impossible to keep a secret about doing good things in this town. They'll find you."