Play • Read • Write • Talk • Sing • Together
2011 Suzanne Pinel Book Award
Each year the Family Literacy Day Planning Committee in Ottawa asks the question, “What are you doing for Family Literacy Day?” The day is celebrated across Canada on January 27 and it’s meant to highlight the importance of reading and learning together as a family. And when we say family we include parents and children, as well as other caregivers and extended family. Family literacy is about how families learn and how they use literacy to maintain relationships with each other and with the community.
The celebration stretched over a week in Ottawa but amidst all the fun and celebration it was important to remember that some programs in our community serve children and families who are at risk for any number of reasons. Those programs need all sorts of resources in order to give the children they serve the best possible chance of success in life.
 Front: Cathy Jowsey, TD Bank; Mary Mark.; and Suzanne Pinel Back: Appa Mark, Cindy Andersen - Inuit Centre |
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| From left: Cathy Jowsey, TD Bank; Micki DiCesare, Parent Resource Centre; and Suzanne Pinel | From left: Cathy Jowsey, TD Bank; Darcy Delaney, Christie Lake; and Suzanne Pinel |
Several years ago the Family Literacy Day Planning Committee decided to initiate the Suzanne Pinel Book Award/ Prix du Livre Suzanne Pinel. What better person could lend her name to the award than Suzanne Pinel? Since 1997, she has been a citizenship judge but in Ottawa she is best known and much loved for her work in television and the arts. Her popular children’s series, Marie-Soleil, entertained children for two decades on both English and French television.
In December the committee invited agencies serving children and families at risk to apply to win one of three Suzanne Pinel Book Awards. Each winning organization receives a certificate they can use to purchase books at Kaleidoscope Kids Books. This year we were able to increase the number of certificates from two to three and the value of each to $750 thanks to our sponsor, TD Bank. Kaleidoscope helps the certificates stretch a little further by giving a 15 per cent discount on all purchases.
Fourteen agencies applied for the award and the review committee had to make difficult choices. On Sunday, January 23, Cathy Jowsey from TD and Suzanne Pinel presented the 2011 Suzanne Pinel Book Awards at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. After the presentation, the library hosted a performance by Aboriginal Experiences, a troupe of talented young dancers.
 Ottawa Public Library |
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| Aboriginal Experiences Performers | Audience participation at OPL Main Branch |
The Family Literacy Day Planning Committee is pleased to announce the award winners for 2011:
Christie Lake Kids
Each summer, more than 350 children experience the joys of outdoor learning at Christie Lake Camp. Each child also has the pleasure of ending each day in their cabin listening to a story read by their counselor. For many of the children reading for pleasure is not a part of their home experience. The library at camp has not been replenished for some time, and because the books are well used, many have fallen into disrepair, while others are too dated to be relevant. Christie Lake Kids will use their book award to help replenish the library. The books will be enjoyed for many years by thousands of children and youth who will attend camp.
Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre
One of the goals of the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre is to build literate families who are able to understand and effectively respond to the world around them. The Centre tries to provide access to a variety of reading material including barrier-free picture books, easy readers, traditional folktales, poetry and cultural books. Many of the families are unable to buy books of their own or access transportation to travel to the library. The centre has a lending library and soon the children will find some new books to take home to read and enjoy with their families. The Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre will use their book award to purchase more resources that children can enjoy in the program and at home.
Parent Resource Centre – Growing Up Downtown Program
The Growing Up Downtown program works with children whose families are facing a variety of challenges. They often have little access to books. The program has a small collection for the children but it lacks variety and richness. Everyone’s favourite time is storytime as parents, caregivers and children sit together to listen to a story. The delight is apparent, giggles erupt and smiles appear. But the reality is that there are no books or storytime at home. Growing Up Downtown wants to help families have books to read. The Suzanne Pinel Book Award will help the program build a collection of quality, vibrant children’s books.
