Hockey players share the game of literacy with elementary students

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Before Yarmouth Mariner Lynden Procter left his home in Saskatchewan to head east to play Junior A hockey, he made sure he completed an important off-ice task. “School is very important,” says the 6’1” centre on the Junior A squad. “I made sure before I left home that I got my Grade 12.”

Procter and his teammates have been busy recently, visiting the three elementary schools in the town of Yarmouth where they’ve been reading books to classes of elementary students.

The visits were part of a reading challenge launched by the Yarmouth Branch of the Western Counties Regional Library.

After stepping outside one of the Grade Primary classrooms at Meadowfields Community School on Nov. 28, Procter talked about the importance of literacy. “We’re looked upon in the community by the younger kids and I think it’s important that we set a good example,” he said, admitting that most young people only see the Mariners as hockey players and might not think about the fact that education is an important part of their lives. “It is very important that they realize that there is more to life than just hockey,” he said.

In addition to Meadowfields, Mariners players also visited Central and South Centennial schools. They read the English and French immersion classes.

The library’s reading challenge is also part of a larger crime prevention initiative called the Adopt-a-Library Literacy Program, which is a partnership between police and public libraries. The program encourages children and schools to read as many books as they can, with the goal of stimulating reading at a young age so children can engage their minds and imagination in a positive way.

Having the Mariners on board is an added boost to the program says Ian White, public relations manager for the library. “We’re grateful to the Mariners for participating because they provide us with a great male role model for the importance of literacy,” said White. “They’re working with children, some who are going to be at risk, and it may push them more towards books and literacy. “Also the Mariners themselves, who are young men, realize the importance of literacy and maybe reflect on what it’s done for their lives,” he added. “They get to see the impact when they’re in the classroom reading to these kids, it’s a two-way street.”