ABC Life Literacy Canada

Disponible en français

National celebration of literacy sparked more than 1,500 events and thousands of families reading, singing and learning together

(TORONTO, ON, March 11, 2010) – ABC Life Literacy Canada (formerly ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation) and Family Literacy Day founding sponsor Honda Canada are pleased to announce that a record-breaking 314,000-plus Canadians made family literacy a priority by participating in Family Literacy Day (January 27, 2010) celebrations across the country.

“Congratulations to the more than 1,500 libraries, literacy organizations, schools, homes and workplaces who sang for literacy this year to celebrate Family Literacy Day. Canadians highlighted the importance of parents and children practicing literacy skills by reading, singing and learning together,” said Margaret Eaton, President, ABC Life Literacy Canada. “A special thank you to our Family Literacy Day Founding Sponsor Honda Canada for their continued commitment to the literacy cause.”

The Family Literacy Day 2010 theme was Sing for Literacy. More than 1,500 families, schools, libraries and literacy organizations across Canada participated in Sing for Literacy by hosting singing-themed Family Literacy Day events, setting a new record for participation in its 12-year history.

Family Literacy Day was developed by ABC Life Literacy Canada and Honda Canada in 1999 to celebrate families reading and learning together on a daily basis. Canadian author Robert Munsch, Honorary Chair of Family Literacy Day, celebrated at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto on January 27, 2010, with several school groups and their parents, who all took part in a sing-along. The Royal Conservatory’s Music Champions program debuted their original song that was created for Family Literacy Day.

“I surf on literacy,” said Robert Munsch. “I am well-known for my storytelling and writing but I also love to sing, and I do so in a lot of my books.”

“Family Literacy Day is about making a real difference in the lives of Canadian families - for those individuals who struggle with literacy, and especially for Canada’s youth,” said Jerry Chenkin, Executive Vice President, Honda Canada. “This year, our extensive dealer network participated in activities throughout Canada with great response. At Honda, we recognize the importance of giving back to the communities where our dealers, associates and customers live, work and play, and we are proud of our 12 year partnership with ABC Life Literacy Canada as founding sponsor of Family Literacy Day.”

More than 80 Honda Canada dealerships participated in Family Literacy Day 2010, and more than 24,000 books were donated through the Honda ‘Fill a Fit’ (car) campaign.

January 27th was also marked as Family Literacy Day by the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

“The Government of Canada is proud to support activities like Family Literacy Day that help Canadians develop and maintain the skills they need to reach their full potential,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. “Improved literacy and essential skills helps adults function better in their families, communities and the labour market.”

‘Munsch at Home Contest’ inspires overwhelming response
On December 16, 2009, ABC Life Literacy Canada was pleased to announce that the Jordan family of Scarborough, Ontario won the ‘Munsch at Home Contest’ for their original story Myles the Rockstar as selected by best-selling author and Family Literacy Day Honorary Chair, Robert Munsch.

Approximately 600 stories were submitted to the ‘Munsch at Home Contest’ by families from across Canada. Qualifying story entries were less than 250 words in length, written by at least one child and one adult, and featured a singing theme to complement Sing for Literacy. Stories were judged for originality, creativity and readability.

“I grew up on Robert Munsch,” said Christine Walker-Jordan upon hearing news of being selected as the winner of the ‘Munsch at Home Contest’. “To think that Robert Munsch read our story and thought it was cool is just so amazing!” The story, co-written by Christine and her sons Aidan (age 5) and Myles (age 3), describes Myles’ aspirations to be a rock star, and his family’s eclectic musical performance style.

New In-Kind Partnership for Family Literacy Day 2010
ABC Life Literacy Canada announced a new partnership with Information Display Systems Canada Inc. (IDS Canada), a point-of-care media company. Through this new partnership, IDS Canada distributed Family Literacy Day tip sheets and bookmarks to their national primary care networks reaching over seven million Canadians nationwide.

“The importance of this partnership cannot be emphasized enough,” said Paul Whitehead, President of IDS Canada. “We wanted to raise awareness of the link between literacy and health, and help those with low literacy levels who may have limited access to health information.”

Social Media for Literacy
ABC Life Literacy Canada’s online communities continue to grow in support of Family Literacy Day with more than 1,000 fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter. On January 28, 2010, ABC Life Literacy Canada announced that online ‘follower’ Wayne Turner of Brampton, ON won the Sing for Literacy online contest, winning a donated iPOD Nano for his entry.

Next year’s Family Literacy Day will take place on Thursday, January 27, 2011. For more information on how to celebrate family literacy every day, go to www.abclifeliteracy.ca.

-30-

About ABC Life Literacy Canada:
ABC Life Literacy Canada is a non-profit organization that inspires Canadians to increase their literacy skills. We mobilize business, government and communities to support lifelong learning and achieve our goals through leadership in programs, communications and partnerships. ABC Life Literacy Canada envisions a Canada where everyone has the skills they need to live a fully engaged life. For the latest news and information on adult literacy please visit www.abclifeliteracy.ca, follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook page.

About Honda Canada:
Honda is the world’s pre-eminent maker of engines for automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment. With 135 manufacturing facilities in 28 countries worldwide, Honda attracts more than 23 million customers annually. Now in its 40th year of operation in Canada, Honda Canada manufactures the Honda Civic sedan and coupe, the Acura MDX and ZDX, and the Canadian-exclusive Acura CSX at its two plants in Alliston, Ontario. Honda also produces fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines at its third plant, also located in Alliston. Since 1986, Honda has built more than 5,300,000 cars and trucks at its Ontario assembly facilities. More than half of all vehicles sold in Canada last year were made in Canada.

The Honda Canada Foundation and its corporate entities provide annual funding to registered non-profit charities across Canada in support of safety, education, engineering and sustaining of the environment for [children and] youth.

For more information, please contact:
Nikki Luscombe, Communications Manager
ABC Life Literacy Canada
Tel: 416 218-0010 x122
nluscombe@abclifeliteracy.ca

Ashley Tilley, Communications Co-ordinator
ABC Life Literacy Canada
Tel: 416-218-0010 x127
atilley@abclifeliteracy.ca

Eleanor Hendrickson, Corporate and Environmental Affairs
Honda Canada Inc.
Tel: 416-284-8110 x3218
eleanor_hendrickson@ch.honda.com