Canada’s annual Family Literacy Day is coming up this week.

On January 27th, Moose Jaw is helping spread the word on the importance of parents reading, playing, and being outdoors with their children. The goal is to encourage individuals, families, and communities to engage in literacy-related activities. This year’s theme is Learning in the Great Outdoors.

The Moose Jaw Literacy Network has teamed up with several organizations and the school divisions to put on activities and to promote reading and learning with children.

“The bonding is really important, that you get by reading and interacting with your kids and that stays with the child for a lifetime.” says Literacy Coordinator Christine Boyczuk.

The Literacy Network is working to help children become more literate, but they are also stressing the importance and growth it can have with the parents. According to the Literacy Network’s press release, some 775 million adults lack minimum literacy skills; one in five adults are still not literate and two-thirds of them are women; 60.7 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out.

To spread awareness, multiple outdoor activities will be happening around the city on the 27th. There are multiple story trails throughout the city that families can enjoy. A story will also be featured in the windows of businesses along Main Street in partnership with the Moose Jaw Public Library. The featured book will be ‘When the Trees Crackle with Cold’ by Saskatchewan resident Bernice Johnson-Laxdal (Author) and Miriam Korner (Illustrator). It will start at Jade Garden at 471 Main Street North, then a page from the book will be featured in business windows all along Main Street. At the end of each story trail, the children will be able to take a copy of the book home as they’re available.

Buffalo Pound Provincial Park will also be hosting some activities including a buffalo walk that will allow families to go see the wild buffalo.

There will also be lots of virtual action through the Literacy Network's Facebook page. There will be a live reading of ‘When the Trees Crackle with Cold’ as well as a 10 day count down with other activities that families and organizations can participate in. The Facebook page is also hosting a photo contest with $100 worth of prizes to give away.

Discover Moose Jaw talked more with Boyczuk about what’s happening around the city on Family Literacy Day. You can listen to the interview below.