Edmonton’s MacEwan University held a carnival Sunday to mark national literacy day.
Organizers said the focus is often on children and teens but that parents benefit as well.
“They may be more open to learning for themselves because they see their kids learning, they want to help their kids,” Kim Chung from the Centre for Family Literacy told CTV News.
The event was held in collaboration with students in the University’s Golden Key International Honour Society.
There were several booths set up in the Robbins Health Learning Centre with Society students as hosts.
“There are seven of them with different themes,” Society student advisor Dorothy Ritz explained.
“They are somewhat based on some of the programs we offer here at Grant MacEwan.”
The themes included numbers, Edmonton history, and music.
Self-described book lover, 11-year-old Tasarina Peacock, came by to get involved.
“She has to have a book,” Peacock’s aunt, Sherry Duplessie, laughed.
“If she gets into trouble with her mom her punishment is she may not be able to read a book for a day.”
Peacock said she preferred reading to texting.
“I think I kind of like losing myself in the book.”
Lloyd Chung said literacy was a big part of his family’s life.
“Right before bedtime we read as a family and then read individually in the bedroom, in the bed before they go to sleep.”
Chung’s son, 9-year-old Ethan, said he loved to practice his literacy comprehension.
“I really like reading,” he told CTV News adding that the Harry Potter series were his favourite books.
“I think they are very well-written books.”
Chung said he felt it was important for his kids to continue their learning.
“It helps for everybody to be able to communicate and also to be able to learn and gain knowledge.”
With files from Jeff Harrington
