Thirty children and their families are marking Family Literacy Day in British Columbia today by celebrating their success as published authors in a book being distributed to public and school libraries throughout the province.

While many B.C. children spent their summer playing with their friends, attending summer camps or travelling on a family vacation, more than 150 kids spent time writing their entries for a contest co-sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the British Columbia Library Association called Express Yourself: The B.C. Kids Writing Contest.

Thirty winning entries, ranging from poems and short stories to graphic novel submissions, were selected and have now been published in the book, Express Yourself! Each young writer and their school will receive a copy of the book, and all public libraries in B.C. will receive a copy for their community.

To celebrate Family Literacy Day, Minister of Education George Abbott and Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett spent their lunch-hour at Gordon Terrace Elementary school in Cranbrook, reading stories from Express Yourself! to a group of young students and their parents during a tour of the Southeast Kootenay school district.

Quotes:

Minister of Advanced Education Naomi Yamamoto -

"Wow - published before even turning 14! Congratulations to these budding young writers and their families."

"It's never too early, or too late to expand our literacy skills. By encouraging young writers to express themselves in wonderful stories like these, or helping adult learners improve their reading, writing and math skills to upgrade their education and training, we're building a foundation for successful lives, careers, families and communities."

Annette DeFaveri, British Columbia Library Association -

"We are all storytellers, whether we realize it or not. One of the best things about the Express Yourself writing contest is that it encouraged kids, and their families, to engage in the rewarding activity of writing a story. This, in turn, contributes to our children's increased literacy skills and confidence. Bravo to all the public libraries and families who participated in this event!"

Bill Bennett, MLA for Kootenay East -

"Whether in the Kootenays or the Lower Mainland, what's most important about Family Literacy Day is celebrating how the simple but profound act of reading empowers people."

"Teaching children this invaluable skill increases their confidence, helps them understand the complex world they live in, and opens up countless opportunities for them."

Quick Facts:

• Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative created in 1999 by ABC Life Literacy Canada. In 2000, the Province first proclaimed Jan. 27 as Family Literacy Day.
  
  
• To celebrate the British Columbia Library Association's 100th anniversary in 2011, the Ministry of Education provided them with a $10,000 grant to support the 'Express Yourself: The B.C. Kids Writing Contest', which included the publication of the winning entries.
  
  
• Since September 2001, government has invested approximately $1.5 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives for British Columbians, including:
• $24 million for Ready, Set, Learn since 2004-05.
• $4.8 million to support Raise-a-Reader since 2004-05, which raises funds to support community-based literacy programs.
• $25 million for innovation grants to improve literacy for students who struggle with these skills.
• $14 million to support public library services in 2011-12.
• $18.3 million for the Community Adult Literacy Program to support adult, family and Aboriginal literacy programs delivered through partnerships between community groups and B.C.'s public post-secondary institutions.
  
• The Province has also committed $43 million for the expansion of StrongStart BC programs. B.C. now has 326 funded programs, which support 385 communities throughout the province.

Learn More:

To learn more about the contest itself, you can visit: http://expressyourself.bclibraries.ca/

For tips on how to incorporate family literacy into your life, visit: http://abclifeliteracy.ca/family-literacy

For information on literacy initiatives in the province, visit Decoda Literacy Solutions: http://decoda.ca/

To read about the Community Adult Literacy Program, visit: http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/literacy/calp.htm

To find a public library near you, visit: http://www.bclibraries.ca/home/bc-libraries

To learn about BC's Education Plan, visit: www.bcedplan.ca

For a visit with the class at the Central Gateway Family Literacy Program in Chilliwack: http://youtu.be/WcII93dKRYU

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963