Peterborough Public Library Recognized As Legacy Space
/The Peterborough Public Library and its funding partners announce they will be the first public library to be recognized as a Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund Legacy Space.
file photo.
Peterborough Blogs
The Peterborough Public Library Announces First One Book One Ptbo Title Selection
/The Peterborough Public Library announces the selection of the One Book, One Ptbo title: Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice.
moon of the crusted snow by Waubgeshig Rice, book cover.
Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation. He has written three fiction titles, and his short stories and essays have been published in numerous anthologies. His most recent novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow, was published in 2018 and became a national bestseller.
He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002 and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host. He left CBC in 2020 to focus on his literary career. Rice lives in Sudbury with his wife and three sons. His forthcoming novel, Moon of the Turning Leaves, will be published in October 2023.
One Book, One Ptbo aims to build community through the shared experience of reading the same book and participating in programs and events inspired by the themes found within the narrative.
“I’m thrilled and honoured that Moon of the Crusted Snow has been selected for One Book, One Peterborough. Connecting with readers through public libraries is a very special relationship, and I’m overjoyed that members of the Peterborough Public Library will have an opportunity to read my story through this important initiative,” said Rice.
Copies of Waubgeshig Rice’s book will be available starting in May. Community members can use their library cards to borrow this title in various formats, including traditional paperback, eBook, audiobook and even as a Book Club in a Bag kit.
The library will host programs to explore the book's themes this fall and is actively looking for community partners. If your organization is interested in hosting one of these programs, reach out to the Library before April.
Partial funding for this project was made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough.
For more information visit the website.
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Make Everyday Family Literacy Day with Five Counties
/Five Counties Children’s Centre is encouraging literacy everyday of the year, recognizing the life-long benefits of reading through Family Literacy Day on Jan. 27.
Five Counties’ Communicative Disorders Assistant Lynne Cooke (front left) reads with Dominic, as (back from left) Speech-Language Pathologist Ida Lloyd and mom Kimberly tout the benefits of reading. Photo courtesy of Five Counties.
As the day to promote literacy approaches, Five Counties wants families to make reading, language and literacy part of their everyday routine.
The staff at Five Counties believe the lessons from Family Literacy Day should be encouraged and embraced 365 days of the year.
“We can’t talk enough about the importance of literacy and speech skills for a child’s future success in life,” says Speech-Language Pathologist at Five Counties Ida Lloyd. “Reading, singing, listening, talking and playing with your child every day is not only fun, but supports literacy. It’s one of the most valuable things we as parents and caregivers can do for our kids.”
As part of its work in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides therapy and support services for hundreds of children with speech, language and communication needs. They say developmental milestones, like those listed here by the Ontario Government, can be a good tool to measure the progress a child is making to communicate. Five Counties also offers tips, milestones and resources on its KidTalk website for families to support children’s speech skills.
“There are many fun ways that families can encourage literacy skills, without children even realizing they are learning. Reading a book at bedtime, visiting the library, playing a board game together or swapping jokes while doing the dishes can all be great options,” says Lloyd. “Engaging a child for 15 or 20 minutes every day by reading and promoting literacy skills is worth every minute, especially given the life-long rewards it has for everyone.”
Five Counties has shared 12 tips (as compiled by the Start Early organization) that families can use to support literacy for young children:
Start early. Reading to babies is important for healthy brain development and lays the foundation for language and writing skills.
Make reading part of the daily routine. Reading or sharing a story every day is ideal. Create a set time during the day (like just before bed) to which parents and children can look forward.
Try board and cloth books for babies. By age one, babies can grab books. Board and cloth books are great options for youngsters who like to touch things and put them in their mouths.
Take turns with your toddler. At their second birthday, most toddlers can hold a book and point at pictures. Let your toddler turn the pages of a board book and respond to her when she points or reacts to the story.
Ask your child questions while reading. Make the reading experience interactive. Ask them questions, like: “what do you think will happen next?,’ or “What was your favorite part of the story?”
Reread favorite books. Most three-year-olds can complete sentences in familiar stories. Read their favorite books over and over to help them learn through repetition.
Point out similar words. By age four, children begin to recognize letters. Pointing out words in a book that start with the same letter can help preschoolers become familiar with the letter, helping them recognize certain words that start with that letter.
Count objects on the page. If reading to a child, count objects on the page together to help strengthen early math skills.
Get a child to tell the story. After their fifth birthday, children can sit still for longer books and create their own stories based on the pictures. Ask a child to share the basic plot of the book or make up stories based on what is seen on each page.
Read with passion! Using inflection and maintaining the same highs and lows in your voice at the same point in a story helps your child begin to remember the words.
Set an example. Let your child see you reading books to help them develop their own love of reading.
Read, read, read and repeat. Reading to your child helps develop a love of stories and books, while taking you to new worlds and on new adventures. Read to a child early and often!
The Rotary Club of Peterborough Spelling Bee Returns
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough’s Rotary Spelling Bee returns for local elementary students at the Whetung Theatre at Fleming College on May 13.
Photo courtesy of the rotary club of peterborough.
This spelling bee, streamed on YourTV, is set to be an exciting opportunity for students grades 4 through 8 to hone their spelling skills and win prizes.
With two divisions, a junior division for grades 4, 5, and 6 and a senior division for grades 7 and 8, the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s Literacy Committee aims to foster a love of reading and writing in young people in the community.
There is no participation fee, and the funds raised through corporate sponsorships will help the Rotary Club provide young people with materials and opportunities to develop their reading, writing and communication skills.
To inquire about sponsorship opportunities or having your child participate in this year’s spelling bee, reach out to Rotarian Catherine Legault via email.
4th Line Theatre Launches Propel Weekly Writing Program
/4th Line Theatre has announced they are launching a new initiative this month, the Propel Weekly Writing Program, adding to the company’s virtual programming as part of the Nexicom Presents 4th Line Theatre @ Home event series.
Anyone interested in participating is invited to join Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell for one or all in this 11-week series of online writing/creation workshops. The workshops are designed to inspire writers and creators and to allow them to commit time to their projects. There will also be time in each session to discuss work and collect feedback from Blackwell.
Kim Blackwell (photo courtesy 4th Line Theatre)
“It is so challenging to carve out the time to devote to your artistic endeavours, especially your writing projects,” says Blackwell. “The Propel Writing Program will allow interested participants to join me twice a week for a 20-minute period of writing and then, if you want, we can discuss your project, your progress and any challenges you are facing.”
The writing workshops will run twice-a-week on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. beginning on Wednesday, February 17th through to Thursday, April 29th. Thanks to Nexicom, registration is free-of-charge. Space is limited to 50 participants per session, on a first-come, first-serve basis. The sessions will be hosted on the Zoom video platform.
Click this link to register. Once registered, you will receive an email prior to the event with a link to the meeting on the Zoom video platform.
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Peterborough Public Library Foundation Donating $25,000 To Library For New Children's Furniture
/The Peterborough Public Libary, which recently re-opened after a beautiful renovation and facelift, is receiving a $25,000 donation from its Library Foundation for the cost of the new furniture in the Children's Department.
"We conducted a fundraiser last year, from Spring through to Fall, specifically to raise money to purchase new furniture for our Library's new Children's Department," says Foundation Chair Bruce Gravel.
View from children's area
The Foundation exists to support the Library, and encourages bequests and donations on behalf of the Library, which go to the delivery of better facilities and services.
The Foundation typically funds special projects and services that are not covered in the Library's annual operating budget—a recent example being the January 30th donation of $250,000 towards the library's expansion expenses. In past years, the Foundation has helped with the purchase of internet stations, security gates, shelving, auditorium furniture, and kitchen equipment.
Those wishing to donate to the Library Foundation can visit the Library's website and click on the "Donate" button. For further information on the Foundation, call 705-745-5382, ext. 2301.
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PCVS Graduate Kerry Clare To Present At 23rd Annual Lakefield Literary Festival
/The Lakefield Literary Festival has been an institution in the Kawarthas for more than 20 years. In commemoration of Margaret Laurence, Catharine Parr Traill, Susanna Moodie and the community’s ongoing literary heritage, the festival celebrates Canadian authors and promotes the joy of reading and writing among children and adults.
Kerry Clare
