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HEROES READ
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The Powell River Literacy Council and the First Credit Union are proud to present this 10-month campaign to raise awareness about the importance of literacy, especially among elementary school-aged children.
Every month, from May 2010 until February 2011, we launched a new poster, featuring a different reading hero from the Powell River community. Our first reading hero was: Deputy Fire Chief, Tom Ellis (May):
"In dangerous situations, being able to read can save your life," Tom says. Tom visited students at Grief Point School in May to launch this campaign.
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Our second reading hero was Kuxy Doell, owner of Pegabo Pets (June):
"Reading can help you learn about the things you love to do!" Kuxy says. Kuxy and her horse Cairo visited Kelly Creek School to talk about reading and why it is important to her job. The kids loved the event, and wrote in thier journals about it the next day...
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Our reading hero for July-August was Scott Friesen, owner of Alpha Dive Services:
"Reading lets you explore the world," Scott says. Scott visited the kids who attended Fun in the Sun, hosted by Powell River Family Place, on August 8th at Willingdon Beach.
Alpha Dive offers a number of programs for kids to learn more about the oceans - check out their kids' programs page here.
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Nia Wegner, who owns and operates Loaves & Fishes Catering, was our reading hero for August-September.
Nia's reading event was also held at Family Place's Fun in the Sun program - this time on Friday, August 27. Nia read a couple of very fun stories about food to the kids who were at the event, and talked about how reading is important to her business, because it helps her to research and know about healthy foods, and read and create recipes!
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"Reading can help you to be a healthy person," Nia says.
Nia showed the kids at Fun in the Sun that day how to make fruit skewers - or fruit kabobs - which fit perfectly with the Hawaiian theme of the day!
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Curtis Smith, who does the maintenance at Tla'Amin Community Health Services, was our reading hero for September-October.
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Curtis visited the Grade 1 class at James Thompson Elementary on Tuesday, September 28, read some Sliammon stories to the kids, talked to them about why reading is important in his work, and then took them for a walk around the grounds to show them the kinds of things he would fix in his job.
"Reading can help you to know where you come from," Curtis says.
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CaroleAnn Leishman, is an Architectural Designer and the Director of Showgirlz & Musical Theatre. CaroleAnn was our reading hero for October-November.
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CaroleAnn visited Assumption School to read to the Grade 2 class and talk to them about how reading is important in her work and life. As a special treat she brought a book to show them that has been written by a 9-year-old girl. "If there's something you want to do in life, and you want to do it really badly, don't ever let anyone tell you you can't do it - just do it!"
CaroleAnn's hour at Assumption was full of fun and laughter. After the story, the kids got to try their hands at designing the inside floor plan of a house, with CaroleAnn's help.
"Reading allows you to perform many roles in life," CaroleAnn says - and she is a perfect example of that!
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Matt Larocque, is a helicopter pilot with Oceanview Helicopters, and he was our reading hero for November- December!
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In November Matt flew his helicopter over to Texada Elementary. Because it's a smaller school, all the children participated in the event. Matt read to the kids about flying, and talked to them about how literacy is important in the work he does. It was a great visit that we won't soon forget!
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"Reading can take you to places you've never been before, " Matt says.
After the talk, the Texada kids had the opportunity to check out the helicopter up close and find out what it might be like to be a helicopter pilot.
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Sneeta Takhar, is a doctor and an avid cyclist. She was our reading hero for December-January.
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Dr. Sneeta Takhar visited the kids at Edgehill Elementary just before Christmas. She read them a couple of stories about Christmas, talked to them about her job as an internal specialist and then showed them a model of the heart and talked a bit about how it works. The kids all got to listen to their own hearts! Another great Heroes Read event.
Sneeta borrowed a quote from Richard Steele for her poster: "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."
Sneeta is also an avid cyclist, and posed for the poster with a favourite book - and her bike!
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Constable Jennifer Crossman, is an RCMP officer. She was our reading hero for January-February.
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Constable Crossman visited Henderson School at the end of January, and she read a couple of books to them, and then talked about how reading helps her in her job as a police officer. The kids got to check out the police car (and even run the siren a few times!)
Why does Constable Crossman like reading? "Reading is the foundation of knowledge," she says. One of her favourite recent reads is the popular, The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.
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For our final Heroes Read poster we featured Kings Hockey Player Jon Jutzi along with two young reading heroes, Sofia Amato (Grade 2, Powell River Christian School) and David Capling (Grade 6, Henderson Elementary School).
Sofia and David were two of over 100 children who were recognized as reading heroes at schools across Powell River by the READ Program, sponsored by the Powell River Literacy Council, First Insurance, and the Powell River Kings Hockey Association.
These two avid readers were the lucky winners of the grand prize draw, which meant that they each got to go on a helicopter ride with their friends/family - and they were featured on the last Heroes Read poster.
Congratulations go out to ALL the reading heroes out there - keep up the great work!
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