Celebrating literacy across
Canada
(NC)On January 27, 2005, families across Canada will
participate in Family Literacy Day, a national initiative created by ABC CANADA
Literacy Foundation and supported financially by Honda Canada, to promote the
importance of reading and learning as a family. Every year, since its inception
in 1999, literacy organizations, schools, and libraries have coordinated
literacy-themed events, such as story-writing contests, public story readings
and read-a-thons to celebrate this special day.
"The practice of
family literacy assists in maintaining literacy skills among people of all
ages," says ABC CANADA
president, Christine Featherstone. "Families can celebrate this special
day by reading aloud, writing a letter, or playing a literacy-related game
together."
Here is a sample of the
kinds of events coordinated across the country to celebrate this special day:
A literacy organization
in the Yukon
creates a special reading circle in honour of Family
Literacy Day, and invites parents to participate by reading with their
children.
A primary school in British Columbia holds a
pyjama day, where students wear their pyjama's and bring in their favourite bedtime story to school.
In the Northwest Territories, members of a literacy
council visit a local school to read traditional Northern stories and hand out
Family Literacy Day promotional materials.
A literacy organization
in Alberta
holds an annual Festival of Words, where community partners come together to
provide an afternoon of fun, prizes and a celebration of learning.
A school in Saskatchewan holds a
number of special activities, including a talk from an Aboriginal actor, and a
traditional Aboriginal drumming performance.
In Manitoba a local library hosts an evening of
family entertainment, including talks from local authors, illustrators and
artists.
In Ontario, an adult learning centre and an
early years centre partner to coordinate a variety of family activities, such
as sing-a-long sessions, stories and crafts. Children are also given loot bags
filled with Family Literacy Day materials.
A school in Quebec holds a week long
read-a-thon to get children excited about reading. The local Mayor also gets
involved by leading the children in taking an Oath of a Dedicated Reader to
kick off the activity.
A literacy organization
in Newfoundland
holds four activities at different times of the day including breakfast,
lunch, dinner and in the evening to demonstrate that
family reading can be done at any time.
A library in PEI creates an eight by
10-foot crossword puzzle and invites patrons in the week of Family Literacy Day
to help compile answers to the 28,000 clues.
In Nova Scotia, a literacy organization
partners with a local Honda dealer to hold a community discussion on the
importance of family literacy.
A Mayor in New Brunswick officially
proclaims January 27 as Family Literacy Day, thanks to a request made by
students from a local school.
Schools, libraries and
literacy organizations across the country are planning many more activities to
celebrate Family Literacy Day. For information on events in your community, and
for family literacy tips and ideas, visit www.fld-jaf.ca.
Source - News Canada