Two Polish friends traveled to a small town in Nova Scotia to attend a fundraising event for libraries featuring bestselling author Rachel Reid. Zofia Chrapkiewicz, a first-time visitor to Canada, was inspired to make the trip by the popular book series “Game Changers,” particularly the second book, “Heated Rivalry,” which has gained significant attention due to its TV adaptation.
Chrapkiewicz expressed that these books hold personal significance beyond their romantic themes, stating, “Heated Rivalry came as a blessing in my queer experience and self-discovery. I hope that I can have a love story like Shane and Ilya with my Canadian woman.” The event, organized by the Annapolis Valley Regional Library in Wolfville, N.S., featured a silent auction and a Q&A session, raising over $70,000 to support library operations until the next fiscal year.
Accompanied by her friend Zuzana Sokolova, Chrapkiewicz shared the positive impact of Reid’s work, especially in contrast to the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Poland. Sokolova, who visited Canada last year for the premiere of “Heated Rivalry,” decided to return for a themed trip, influenced by her long-standing fandom of Reid’s series.
The duo adjusted their travel plans upon seeing Reid’s event promotion, arriving earlier to participate in the fundraiser. Sokolova expressed her gratitude, saying, “I’m really happy that I can be here and help this cause because I’ve been fond of Rachel since 2019, so for a long time. So I want to help in any way I can.”
Following their Nova Scotia visit, Chrapkiewicz and Sokolova will continue their book-related journey to Toronto and Montreal for additional events. They are also looking forward to meeting other fans of Reid’s work whom they connected with through social media.
In a separate development, Rachel Reid recently donated $300,000 to the Annapolis Valley Regional Library to prevent the closure of five branches facing financial challenges. The library’s CEO, Julia Merritt, emphasized the need for sustainable funding to address ongoing deficits and operational costs, urging the province to update its support for libraries.
Merritt highlighted the success of a public campaign to raise awareness of the libraries’ financial situation and emphasized the importance of converting public engagement into long-term funding solutions for the region’s libraries.