ABC Life Literacy Canada

Nationwide initiative enters 13th year of encouraging parents to practice literacy and lifelong learning as a family

(WHITBY, ON - January 27, 2011) – Today, in communities across the country, Canadians of all ages gathered together in celebration of the 13th Family Literacy Day®, a national annual initiative encouraging Canadians to spend at least 15 minutes a day engaged in a learning activity as a family.

ABC Life Literacy Canada, and bestselling children’s author Robert Munsch, joined hundreds of parents and children today at the Robert Munsch Public School in Whitby, Ontario to mark the day. Children and parents laughed as they engaged in a game of Simon Says, led by Family Literacy Day Honorary Chair Robert Munsch. Watch the storytelling event online.

With the Play for Literacy theme infused throughout the event children, parents and teachers were actively learning while sporting smiles from ear to ear. Playing games is a great way to show families that learning can be fun, and creates a strong family bond, promotes language comprehension and improves reading skills. Munsch also invited members of the audience to take an active role in his storytelling as they acted out characters and scenes from his classic titles such as Paper Bag Princess and Mortimer.

“I like to get kids and their parents to act out the books because it’s a fun way for them to learn and helps bring the stories to life, which helps create an interest in the characters,” said Munsch, who has been the Family Literacy Day Honorary Chair since 2003.

“Every night before bed, that’s our reading time together as a family,” said Shannon DaSilva, mom of Robert Munsch Public School students Taelen, age five, and Braeden, age seven. “Hearing some of our favourite bed time stories come to life through Robert’s animated Family Literacy Day storytelling today will help inspire my children to continue to love reading and books. What a great gift.”

As part of Family Literacy Day celebrations across the country, more than 1,000 families, schools, libraries, literacy organizations and community groups held events this week to play games and celebrate the importance of family literacy and lifelong learning. Several of these communities also officially proclaimed January 27 Family Literacy Day.

“Congratulations to the thousands of Canadians who led and participated in literacy-themed Family Literacy Day events,” said Margaret Eaton, President, ABC Life Literacy Canada. “Family Literacy Day is the perfect opportunity for parents to take charge and begin to instill good literacy habits in the family by setting aside 15 minutes to do a fun literacy activity together.”

If you missed the opportunity to participate in Family Literacy Day, don’t worry – there are still several upcoming events happening across the country, including:

Cold Lake Community Learning Centre, Cold Lake, AB – January 29, 2011
The 9th Annual Festival of Words is a family event promoting literacy and fun. This year's theme is "Once Upon a Time" and games and activities will be available for anyone in the Cold Lake area. Dress up as your favorite Fairy tale character and win prizes.

Bamfield Community School Association, Bamfield, BC – January 29, 2011
The students will wake up from their sleepover at the school, and at 9:30 a.m. members of the community will join them. Everyone will enjoy a Breakfast of Champions, including unlimited pancakes, and then the games will begin - a giant crossword, a rousing game of Balderdash and more!

Carman Family Resource Centre, Carman, MB – January 28, 2011
Participants will travel around with a passport visiting different literacy stations and a Literacy cafe. Admission is one gently used book, which is then traded for another to take home!

Fredericton Public Library, Fredericton, NB – January 29, 2011
Math games at the library! Young and old are invited to play with shapes, rearrange numbers and take part in other activities intended to demonstrate the fun side of mathematics. Volunteer students from the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Education will be on hand.

Corner Brook Public Library, Corner Brook, NL – January 29, 2011
Get your game face on for a "Robert Munsch" scavenger hunt, along with stories, games and a ton of FUN!!

NWT Literacy Council, Yellowknife, NT, January 29, 2011
Stories, crafts, songs, science, games and more!

Hants Learning Network Association, Windsor, NS – January 29, 2011
Family Games Day! Families are invited to play games and learn how to make your own games at home. Parents will learn how to help their children with math and reading by playing games together.

Sam Pudlat School, Cape Dorest, NU – January 27, 2011 (evening)
Cape Dorset is encouraging the community to read together and come out to the school library and listen to stories read in English and Inuktitutt from the local community.

Tri-County Literacy Council Community Homework & Afterschool Program, Cornwall, ON – January 30, 2011
An afternoon 'Play For Literacy' Carnvial will see parents, students, community guests, staff and program volunteers participate in Scrabble® and chess competitions, bingo, card games, charades, and one 'new game' created by CHAP students.

Stratford Public Library, Stratford, PE – January 29, 2011
Stratford Public Library will be hosting a reading circle. Grab your favourite book, graphic novel, magazine, or even a Play-a-way and read to yourself or someone else to keep the circle from breaking.

Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, QC – February 2, 2011
In partnership with the Centre for Literacy, there will be a speaker addressing staff at Pediatric Grand Rounds followed by a display in the clinic’s waiting room of information for staff & parents about reading, multicultural reading resources, literacy organizations and games, Children in attendance will also receive books.

Father Gorman community School, Lloydminster, SK – January 28, 2011
Parents and community members are invited to the school for lunch and to play board games with the students. There will be draws for board games and books.

Faro Public Library, Faro YK – February 12, 2011
The Faro Public Library will be playing games: charades, a scavenger hunt, board games, puzzles and a story area for reading stories and making up stories using pictures. There will also be a card-making station for making Valentine's Day cards. A free light lunch and refreshments will be provided.

For tips and resources to help you celebrate Family Literacy Day every day, please click here.

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