Family Literacy Day: Ten years of encouraging Canadian families to sharpen their literacy skills

By News Canada

Although nearly 42 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 16 and 65 face literacy challenges, the issue rarely gets discussed around the dinner table. To help raise awareness of literacy challenges, ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation co-produced Penny's Odyssey, a made-for-TV movie, which was broadcast nationally during primetime on CTV on January 27, 1999. The movie told the story of a teenage girl from a middle class family who hides her low literacy skills from family and friends.

Initially, Penny's Odyssey was meant to be the anchor of a one-time event to highlight the importance of working as a family to improve literacy skills. However, the story resonated with businesses, literacy groups and, most important, families across the country. This prompted ABC CANADA and founding sponsor Honda Canada to turn Family Literacy Day® into an annual, national initiative, held every January 27, to encourage families to read, write, surf and sing together.

Over the years, other individuals, groups and businesses have become involved in Family Literacy Day and hosted events that engage the whole community. In fact, several Canadian celebrities, including skater Catriona Lemay Doan and recording artist Jann Arden, participated in a survey where they shared their feelings about the importance of reading as a family in order to help increase awareness of the literacy issue. In 2003, Family Literacy Day appointed best-selling children's author, Robert Munsch as Honourary Chair. To mark the event, a special Family Literacy Day story time was held at Brookfield Place in the heart of Toronto's financial district. Since that first reading, Munsch has participated in readings across the country.

For three years running, families have been eligible to enter the Munsch at Home contest, which was inspired by the fact that many families across Canada hold their own Family Literacy Day celebrations. Families who enter, write in and tell ABC CANADA what they are planning for their Family Literacy Day party. Entries are judged for the creativity of the event planned. To date, there have been two winners: the Lee family of Calgary in 2006 and the Blackley family from Port Moody, B.C. in 2007. In addition to visiting the family, Robert Munsch visits a public library or literacy organization chosen by the family to provide a reading. To mark the 10th year of Family Literacy Day, winners of the Munsch at Home contest will also receive a weekend trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

In addition to the hundreds of groups and thousands of Canadian families from sea to sea to sea who have embraced Family Literacy Day, many corporate and media partners have donated services and time to enable ABC CANADA to get the word out about Family Literacy Day. Most notable is the continued commitment of founding sponsor Honda Canada. Many individual dealers and staff members have held Family Literacy Day events and taken their commitment beyond January 27 by participating in reading circles in various communities.

After 10 years of Family Literacy Day, Canadian parents across the country now recognize that literacy acquisition is an issue they can help to address by doing fun activities with their children.

To find out how you and your family can get involved in a Family Literacy Day event in your community, or to find tips to help improve literacy skills, visit www.abc-canada.org/fld.

-News Canada