Family Literacy Day 2020 Inspired Families to Learn Together
February 2020 Edition of Partnership News by the Peterborough Immigration Partnership
Family Literacy Day is celebrated in the last week of January each year as a way to promote the importance of reading and literacy. In Peterborough, a committee of Education and Literacy organisations/groups has been coming together each year to plan family literacy activities for the past 20+ years. The goal: to celebrate and encourage children’s reading in the hopes that it maintains its place in their lives as they grow to adulthood and, one day, share their love of reading with their own kids.
The New Canadians Centre through the Peterborough Immigration Partnership has been part of the committee tasked with planning Peterborough’s Family Literacy Day activities as a means to enhance newcomers’ access to and engagement in language and literacy. This year, the Peterborough Immigration Partnership had the pleasure of chairing the committee.
The theme of Peterborough Family Literacy Day 2020 was “Once Upon a Turtle – slow and steady wins the race, reading is fun at any pace.” Activities were held downtown in the lower level of the Peterborough Square on January 25. On the main stage, local dignitaries presented a reading of “Over in the Meadow,” followed by a book reading and bookmaking activity by Toronto children’s author Andrew Larsen. Glen Caradus and the Paddling Puppeteers were also part of the day’s entertainment lineup with their “Plugging Into Nature” puppet show. Face It was on site to do face painting, and we received a special visit from the Peterborough Public Library’s Patch the Raccoon and the Fire Department’s Sparky the Dog who engaged with kids throughout the morning.
While Peterborough Family Literacy Day is about reading and literacy, it’s also about education and awareness. In keeping with the theme, “Once Upon a Turtle”, there was an exhibit of live turtles from the Ontario Turtles Conservation Centre (OTCC). The event gave the OTCC an opportunity to reach out to the local community and share information about the work that they do and the role that everyone can play to help our native turtle species.
The annual event at Peterborough Square attracts upwards of 500 people every year, including children of all ages. A free book is given to every child, and children and their families are invited to enjoy free snacks, entertainment, and activities as we promote literacy for all.
Learning about our native turtle species with Ontario Turtles Conservation Centre 
Inproving access to lanuage and literacy, each child gets to choose a free book 
Toronto-based author Andrew Larsen presented a reading of his children’s book 
Plugging Into Nature Puppet Show grabs the kids attention 
Channeling creativity through book-making
Many thanks to this year’s Family Literacy Day committee members:
Trent Students for Literacy, Peterborough Public Library, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Peterborough Victoria Clarington Catholic District School Board, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, Peterborough Child and Family Centres, Peterborough Native Learning Program, Peterborough Police Service, New Canadians Centre Peterborough & the Peterborough Immigration Partnership, Lois Thompson, and Paul Rellinger
With sincere thanks to our sponsors and volunteers, without whose support we could not do this:
Kinsmen Club of Peterborough, Literacy Ontario Central South (LOCS), KCCS Compass Early Learning & Care, New Canadians Centre, Peterborough Immigration Partnership, Frontier College, Friends of the Peterborough Public Library, Peterborough Square, Allin’s Orchard, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Speech, Language & Hearing Association of Peterborough, Peterborough Regional Farmers Market, and our many volunteers.
Established in 2008, the Peterborough Immigration Partnership (PIP) is a community-based partnership of individuals & organizations which envisions a community where the meaningful economic, social and cultural integration of newcomers ensures a prosperous and inclusive community for all. The New Canadians Centre is the lead member of the Partnership.
Please contact us for more information and to become involved in this partnership.