Once Upon a Huckleberry Bush

Portia Belmont is the owner of the new children’s bookstore, called Once Upon a Huckleberry Bush.  A magical place, where all you’re asked to do is “just imagine”. She is generously donating the book and video; If the World Were a Village as well as selling tickets for the event.

HUCKLEBERRY MISSION 

Our purpose is to nurture the world through storytelling, reintroducing myths that will promote a strong sense of local community and global involvement.

This company endeavors to promote tolerance, love and compassion.

To inspire a sense of wonder in a child’s face and to reinforce every human’s uniqueness by encouraging the passions of a child that will carry him or her through adulthood with their precious talents intact.

When asked how she came up with the idea for her store, Portia’s response is: “It was the one true path…” Inspired by her own childhood experiences growing up in the Pacific Northwest and her desire to connect with children on a literary level, Portia has created a children’s bookstore, located in the thriving, trendy Main street neighbourhood of Vancouver. Her company offers products and services that include: books, toys, story-time, book clubs, and writing programs, Providing these in a unique environment, Portia is committed to creating

a love for reading and maybe more importantly to helping a child find their own passion. Prior to this exciting endeavor, Portia enjoyed a successful career in the film industry, traveled extensively and is a published writer. If there was a pivotal moment that demanded a new direction in life, it was the adoption of her daughter, Maia, from Nicaragua. The demands of her former career conflicted with her parental beliefs, and with the enthusiastic support of her husband, David, Portia is now living her dream by encouraging children to realize their dreams. 

There are currently more than six billion people on the planet! This enormous number can be difficult to grasp, especially for a child. But what if we imagine the whole world as a village of just 100 people? In this village • 22 people speak a Chinese dialect • 20 earn less than a dollar a day • 32 are of Christian faith • 17 cannot read or write • 39 are under 19 years old In a time when parents and educators are looking to help children gain a better understanding of the world’s peoples and their ways of life, If the World Were a Village offers a unique and objective resource. By exploring the lives of the 100 villagers, children will discover that life in other nations is often very different from their own. The shrunk-down statistics — some surprising, some shocking — and David Smith’s tips on building “world-mindedness” will encourage readers to embrace the bigger picture and help them to establish their own place in the global village.
 Winner of the 2007 ACT Award of Excellence,the DVD  If the World Were a Village is based on the book, written by David J. Smith, illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. David believes that teaching children "world-mindedness" is vital to the well-being of our planet.