Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999. It is held annually on January 27 to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family.
Parkland College marked Family Literacy Day with an author reading on January 28. In partnership with the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild Author Readings Program, the College was pleased to welcome Saskatoon-based author Carey Rigby-Wilcox for a reading. Dozens of students from the Yorkton main campus of Parkland College attended the event.
Rigby-Wilcox struggled with reading and writing throughout her school years but became very aware of the importance of literacy when she became a mother. She describes herself as a committed learner, activist, volunteer, business owner, illustrator, and author who is deeply dedicated to promoting literacy at the local, provincial, and national levels.
“Forty-two percent of Canadian adults have low literacy skills, and I am someone who fits into this alarming statistic,” she said. “I have worked with a literacy tutor for over 23 years. Today I am motivated and passionate to help create awareness and inspire change.”
According to ABC Life Literacy Canada, taking time every day to read to children or do a learning activity with them is crucial to their development. Even just 15 minutes a day can improve a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well.
Wednesday’s author reading at Parkland College was sponsored by the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild with support from Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund, SaskCulture, and the Saskatchewan Arts Board.
