Family Literacy Day and Family Literacy Week in Saskatchewan

January 27 is Family Literacy Day! Canada has celebrated this day since 1999, thanks to ABC Life Literacy Canada. We are celebrating across the province, too!

La Journée et la Semaine de l’alphabétisation familiale en Saskatchewan

Le 27 janvier est la Journée de l’alphabétisation familiale ! Le Canada célèbre cette journée depuis 1999, grâce à ABC Alpha pour la vie Canada. Nous célébrons aussi partout dans la province!

This is the logo for the 2023 Family Literacy Day theme: Celebrate your Heritage. It is a blue circle with white silhouettes of three people jumping in celebration, in front of two strings of coloured flags. It has the words "Celebrate your Heritage" around the blue circle.

This year’s theme is Celebrate your Heritage / Célébrez votre héritage

Voici le logo du thème de la Journée de l'alphabétisation familiale 2023 : Célébrez votre patrimoine. Il s'agit d'un cercle bleu avec des silhouettes blanches de trois personnes sautant pour célébrer, devant deux chaînes de drapeaux colorés. Il a les mots "Célébrez votre héritage" autour du cercle bleu.

We’ve chosen the a Saskatchewan theme book for 2023! In English and French: the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum‘s children’s book “Li’l Shadd: A Story of Ujima” / “Ti-Shadd: L’Ujima au Quotidien” written by Alix Lwanga and Miriam Körner, with illustrations by Miriam Körner.

Join the livestream on January 27, with a an information and question-and-answer session with support from the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum!

This is the cover image for the book "Li'l Shadd: A Story of Ujima"

Livestream!

The 2023 Saskatchewan theme book is “Li’l Shadd: A Story of Ujima.”

You can sign up for the livestream and info session on January 27, and get special resources here!

This in an image of both the 2022 proclamations for Family Literacy Day in Saskatchewan and Family Literacy Week in Saskatchewan, one layered over the other.

It’s official! The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed Family Literacy Day and Family Literacy Week in Saskatchewan.

cette image est la couverture du livre « Ti-Shadd : l'Ujima au quotidien »

Diffusion en direct!

Le livre thématique pour la Saskatchewan en 2023 est « Ti-Shadd : l’Ujima au quotidien ». Inscrivez-vous à la diffusion en direct et à la session d’information du 27 janvier et obtenir des ressources spéciales ici !

Family Literacy Events Across Saskatchewan!

This year, organizations and groups around the province celebrate Family Literacy Day and Family Literacy Week. One of these groups are the Saskatchewan Family Literacy Hubs, and they have events planned all week (and beyond)!


Looking for more programs and events?

Be sure to follow each Family Literacy Hub on social media for great events and information all year!


francophone Saskatchewan: Collège Mathieu

Collège Mathieu Pour la journée de l’alphabétisation familiale du 27/01/2023, le Collège Mathieu, en étroite collaboration avec l’Association des Parents Fransaskois (APF), animera des activités virtuelles comme d’habitude au niveau des CAFES et Groupes de Jeux. Nous allons faciliter le développement du langage des enfants et l’interraction entre les animateurs(trices) et les familles participantes à notre journée.

La Ronge and Area: La Ronge and Area Family Literacy Hub

The La Ronge and Area Family Literacy Hub provides family literacy programming, services, and support for families with children age 0-6 throughout the Town of La Ronge, Village of Air Ronge, and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band 156. The Hub shares space with nisto ihtāwina Early Years Family Resource Centre and KidsFirst NORTH.”

For Family Literacy Day in La Ronge, they are celebrating the entire week. You are invited to join them for their week-long Heritage Celebration! They will be highlighting the diverse and beautiful heritage in the tri-communities, including Pilipino, Moroccan, and Ukrainian, too!

Event poster for La Ronge and Area Family Literacy Hub - Family Literacy Week Heritage CelebrationEach Family Literacy Week evening event is geared to families with children age 0 to 6 years old, and runs from 5:00 to 7:00pm from Monday (January 23) to Friday (January 27). Registration is limited, call or text 306-425-2229!

Download the event poster here! Each evening will follow the same general structure:

  • Introduction to (heritage)
  • Tasting menu
  • Story/folktale
  • Show and Tell
  • Traditional craft

Sign up for the provincial book reading event, too! Look for more information coming soon, including a book giveaway!

Lloydminster and Area: Lloydminster Learning Council Association

Lloydminster Learning Council Association (LLCA) has several events and activities planned with partners.

The LLCA team will share fun and affordable ways to bring more family literacy activities to your home. Here are some of their fun ideas!

  • January 23 – Make Your Own Country
  • January 24 – Rhyme Workout
  • January 25 – Grocery Cards (that you can use with a favourite family recipe)
  • January 26 – Li’l Shadd: A Story of Ujima Matching Game (get ready for the livestream reading the next day!)
  • January 27 – Family Literacy Day event with the Lloydminster Public Library

January 27: Join in the fun at the Lloydminster Public Library. There will be lots of family-friendly activities including…

  • Show where you’re from! There will be a giant map with stickers where you show where you and your family are from.
  • Livestream reading at the Library. The LLCA will bring a StoryWalk® of the book Li’l Shadd: A Story of Ujima for inside the library.
  • Postcards to win a prize!  The LLCA will bring postcards, too! Use a postcard template to draw a picture about your favourite book or story. On the back, pretend you’re character in the book and write a greeting to another character! When you’re done, you can enter your postcard for a draw to win a family fun night prize! This activity will run during operating hours at the library on January 27.
Moose Jaw and Area: Moose Jaw Literacy Network

Moose Jaw Literacy Network will be celebrating Family Literacy Day Week and Family Literacy Month in Moose Jaw! The City of Moose Jaw has joined the celebration with a proclamation, too!

Events for children ages 0 to 5 year old and their families:This is an event poster for "Hooray for Me!" Literacy Day 2023, a come-and-go event from 9:30 to 11:30am at the Moose Jaw Early Years Family Resource Centre. For families with children ages 0 to 5 years old.

Look for Story Trails in the community in January, all with the theme of “Celebrate your Heritage.” One will be a version of “Li’l Shadd: A Story of Ujima” specially adapted, with permission, by the Saskatchewan Literacy Network for using with Story Trails.

Moose Jaw Literacy Network and partners will also be sending ideas directly to parents to promote family literacy – look out for these ideas and activities!

Events for School-aged Students and Families:

  • Look for events for children in grades 1 to 6 at the Library during the week of January 27, featuring the book “Li’l Shadd: A Story of Ujima”
  • Moose Jaw Literacy Network is connecting with schools to share activities, resources, and ideas, including suggestions for families, teachers and school staff to share.
Prince Albert and Area: Prince Albert Literacy Network

The Prince Albert Literacy Network invites families, daycares, and schools to participate in the online provincial reading of the book “Lil Shadd: A Story of Ujima,” written by Miriam Körner & Alix Lwanga at 10:00am on January 27, 2023. You can sign up for the livestream here already. More details will come in January. Also, watch for family literacy drop-in events planned throughout the week.

They also have a feature event planned: join them on Saturday, January 28, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Gateway Mall. They are hosting a FREE family fun event including a story walk, cultural celebrations, and a snacks! All participating families will receive a family fun kit to take home and explore together.

Regina and Area: Regina Region Family Literacy Hub

The Regina Region Family Literacy Hubis working with partners for events in Regina. There will be a proclamation by Mayor Masters, too!

In partnership with Regina Catholic School Division and Regina Public School Division, look for Pre-K family events:

  • Family Literacy Evenings for the families of three community schools in Regina. The evening will include a Storywalk®, literacy activities and a family book bag to take home.
  • Heritage Classic literacy evening with floor hockey and hockey themed activities for families of St. Francis Community School.

They are also co-sponsoring events with Regina Public Library:

  • Family story time at Children’s library during Family Literacy Week
  • There will be a Regina Heritage Scavenger Hunt for families to take part in and learn more about aspects of the city and its rich heritage and diversity. Prizes for families who participate and drop their completed scavenger hunts off at the Regina Public Library Children’s branch.
  • Storywalks® in partnership with the George Bothwell Branch and Southland Mall Friday, January 27 to Sunday, January 29. There will be an art activity available for families, that connects to the story.
Rosetown and Area: West Central Literacy Committee

The West Central Literacy Committee (WCLC) is working with partners in the region to plan events for Family Literacy Day and Family Literacy Week.

  • January 17 at 6:30pm in Harris. Together with the SCC at Harris-Tessier School, the WCLC is having a family tree building event with a story reading and treats after.
  • January 23 in Dinsmore. Dinsmore School will be doing Story Skates with their classes. This is a collaboration with the Dinsmore Branch Library, the school, and West Central Literacy Committee. All families are welcome! All the kids attending will receive a snack and some other fun Family Literacy Day resources, too!
  • January 27 in Davidson. Together with the Library and the WCLC, Davidson is hosting a Story Skate at the AGT Centre! Families are invited to join students during their scheduled skate times, or if you have younger children, you can join between 10:30 and 11:00am. Enjoy the story “Li’l Shadd: A Story of Ujima” while skating, as well as an activity and snack in the rink lobby. There are even prizes you can win!
  • January 28 in Kindersley. Families can join a StoryWalk® in Kindersley Mall. The story will stay up for one month and families that come down to read it can even scan a QR code to have a copy of the book sent to them. Check it out and get your free book, too!

West Central Literacy Committee is also providing Sun West School division with a copy of this year’s provincial theme book “Li’l Shadd: A Story of Ujima” for every school library.

Visit the West Central Literacy Committee on social media to learn more!

Saskatoon and Area: Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan

Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan is partnering with the Saskatoon Public Library to provide family literacy activities, information, and a book giveaway! They will be in Mayfair Library Branch in the morning and Cliff Wright Library Branch in the afternoon. No registration required.

Families can also join in their postcard activity: families can pick up a postcard from Foundations or a library branch. The first 100 to be mailed back will receive a free book!

Swift Current and Area: Southwest Literacy Committee

Southwest Literacy Committee (SWLC) is planning events with partners in the region!

Swift Current Early Years Family Resource Centre, as part of the Southwest Literacy Committee has lots of events planned!

  • January 27: Stuffy Sleepover Event. Families are invited to drop off a child’s stuff animal on Friday, January 27… and then come back on Saturday morning to join in Let’s Play (a drop-in play group). Everyone at the event on Saturday morning will learn from the stuffies about all the fun literacy activities they got up to overnight! We will sing songs, read stories, and play games that engage both children and parents in literacy learning.
  • Tickets Giveaway! Look at the Early Years Family Resource social media for 3 different giveaways, each for tickets or passes to a local event or activity (Swim Passes from the Aquatic Centre, Game Tickets for the Swift Current Broncos Hockey Team, and a Gift Certificate to The Social Bowl local bowling alley). Learn how family literacy is involved in all of these activities, and share what your family does, too for your chance to win!
  • Book Draws! Each week in January, families who visit the Early Years Family Resource Centre are encouraged to enter a draw to win a book. At the end of each week, another family is invited to stop by and choose a book to take home – your family could win next!

The Southwest Literacy Committee also works together with Grade 3 classrooms in the region, sharing a book with schools and home schools, too!

This is a logo for the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum; it has the words of the museum's name and a stylized globe with an outline of the African continent behind a stylized sheaf of wheat in blue and yellow.

We are happy to work with the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum on this project. They have a lot more information about Dr. Shadd, too!

ABC Life Literacy Canada's logo for Family Literacy Day - Since 1999 - January 27

Planning your own events? Register your Family Literacy Day event with ABC Life Literacy Canada. Let us know what you’re doing, too; we’d love to hear about it!

This is the logo for the 2023 Family Literacy Day theme: Celebrate your Heritage. It is a blue circle with white silhouettes of three people jumping in celebration, in front of two strings of coloured flags. It has the words "Celebrate your Heritage" around the blue circle.

This theme for 2023 is “Celebrate Your Heritage.” Learn more about your heritage: in your family, in your community, and in the lands where you live.

Useful Family Literacy Day event resources:

Since ABC Life Literacy Canada started Family Literacy Day in 1999, we have worked together to raises awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. Every year, we celebrate Family Literacy Day in Saskatchewan. This is our second year for Family Literacy Week in Saskatchewan!

What is family literacy? Visit our family literacy resource page for more information!

Barbara Reid, award-winning Canadian author and illustrator, is the Honorary Chair of Family Literacy Day. You can download her tip sheets here for some great ideas on how to make learning a fun part of your family routine.

ABC Life Literacy Canada’s Family Literacy Day Resources
ABC Life Literacy Canada’s family literacy and family literacy statistics

 

If you have questions, or would like support for your event, please contact us.