Reading, learning and playing together is what it is all about this week for British Columbia families.
The Province has officially proclaimed Jan. 22-29, 2017, as Family Literacy Week. There are events throughout the province to help British Columbians celebrate with their families.
This year, government provided over $2.6 million in support of community literacy to Decoda Literacy Solutions. Decoda uses this funding to support the coordination of community literacy services and initiatives throughout the province.
For the past 17 years, the Province has proclaimed Jan. 27 as Family Literacy Day. This year, the Province is extending the celebration from one day to an entire week, allowing more time for communities to hold fun literacy events.
Literacy organizations, schools, libraries and media organizations from all across the country participate and coordinate numerous literacy-themed events and activities.
Family literacy programs focus on parents as the means to improve the reading and writing skills of all family members. By reading to children and engaging in fun literacy activities, parents are actively keeping their own skills sharp while at the same time strengthening the relationship between the family which, in turn, encourages lifelong learning.
For more information and a full list of Family Literacy Week events happening throughout the province, visit www.decoda.ca/wp-content/uploads/FLW_Events_Around_BC_2017.pdf.
Mike Bernier, Minister of Education, said Canada’s literacy rate is amongst the highest in the world and the provincial government wants it to stay that way.
“As a parent of five, I know how important it is to get out and have fun together as a family,” said Bernier. “It is great to see communities all over the province organizing events to celebrate Family Literacy Week. I encourage all families to check out what’s going on in their community and celebrate this important week together.”
Andrew Wilkinson, Minister of Advanced Education, said maintaining and improving literacy rates is one of the key cogs of this province’s education system.
“Our government is investing in adult literacy programs to help British Columbians gain the skills they need to achieve their educational and life goals,” he said. “Community adult literacy programs give adult learners the opportunity to learn close to home in schools and communities throughout the province.”
Anne Cooper, board chair, Decoda Literacy Solutions, said she hopes children and families across the province get out and enjoy themselves during this special week.
“Family Literacy Week helps British Columbians honour parents, literacy outreach coordinators, volunteers and community organizations that provide critical supports to families across this province,” she said.
“Any parent who has watched their child struggle to learn how to read, and has sat with them every night to help them over the hurdle, understands the value of family literacy programs and services.”
Family Literacy Day is the largest national family literacy initiative in Canada, created in 1999 by ABC Life Literacy Canada.
Staff at the Osoyoos branch of the Okanagan Regional Library, located in the Sonora Community Centre, are expecting to be busier than usual during Famly Literacy Week as parents are encouraged to bring their children to the local library to take out books and enjoy the myriad of services offered at the local library.
Decoda is the only province-wide literacy organization in B.C.
To learn more about Decoda Literacy, go online and visit www.decoda.ca/literacy-in-bc/.
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Osoyoos Times
