Events kick off Hants Family Literacy Awareness Day

By Nadine Armstrong

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

There was cake, music and warming tributes during this year's Family Literacy Awareness Day celebrations -- but best of all, there was oodles of reading.

For many years, the Hants Learning Network Association (HLNA) has been dedicated to addressing the learning needs of adults and families in Hants County. This year, it hosted two events to commemorate the annual awareness day. The HLMA partnered with the Department of Education for the provincial celebration Jan. 25 and hosted a family event at the Windsor Library Jan. 27.

The non-profit organization’s coordinator, Karen Ferguson, said the provincial celebration highlighted the partnership between the HLNA and the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board. For her and other network members, it was an opportunity to pay tribute to the partnerships they have developed. “These partnerships have made the connection between adult Literacy and child literacy,” she said. “It all goes to show that children that are read to grow into adult readers.”

Special guests that afternoon included Adult Education Coordinators Rod Franklin and Norbert LeBlanc, teachers from West Hants elementary schools, and Hants West MLA Chuck Porter.

LeBlanc said that the Department of Education was “just the animator,” for nationwide literacy and commended the volunteer spirit represented that afternoon. “What it comes down to are the volunteers out there on the street.” He also said communities need to recognize the direct connection between economic growth and literacy. “The biggest factor in increasing productivity and our economy is literacy.”

One tribute to the Learning Network’s efforts came from the testimonial of Gerri Miller, a grandmother of six who said she spends on day a week reading to her granddaughter's elementary class in the hope of inspiring her next children’s novel.

At home, and school

Miller was on hand as a representative of the Early Learners and Parents’ Partnership program, which works to increase parents and caregivers’ literacy activities at home and, in school.

She said the program exposed her hidden ability to write which she hopes to share with her grandchildren for many years to come. “In my day, reading bedtime stories was just routine, but now I see it as something more. It’s not just something to be rushed through, you need to involve the children and read together.”

As the event kick off HLNA Adult Learners treated youngsters to a story time as by reading from their own creative works.

The celebrations continued Jan. 27 as parents, children and HLNA learners joined together at the Windsor Library.

Porter was guest story reader that afternoon along with HLNA tutor and writer, Gwen Miller. Porter told guests that as father to three daughters story time has been paramount in his household. “I for one can testify to the benefits of reading to your children even 20 minutes everyday. And I believe if there are those willing to spend the time and effort everyone can learn to read.”

A few young “In the Trunk” contributors were also on hand to read their submissions for this year's competition.

HLNA chair Sandra Milbury gave hats off to the Hants Journal for once again sponsoring the young writers story competition spearheaded last year by local writer Carole Peterson. “It's another example of great partnership in our community,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful creative outlet for our local children and it is so nice to see how much pride parents show when their children participate in writing.”