February 26 to March 4 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada.
What do Harry Potter, The Diary of Anne Frank, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Bible have in common? Some groups have attempted to ban these books, from schools, or libraries, or bookshops, in Canada. Find out more: freedomtoread.ca
Canada’s Freedom to Read Week is February 26 to March 4, 2017.
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects your freedom to read and many other hard fought liberties that sometimes we take for granted as Canadians. Know your rights and freedoms. Cherish them. Protect them. Exercise them.
Find out more: freedomtoreadweek.ca
February 26 to March 4, 2017, is Freedom to Read Week in Canada.
source: freedomtoread.ca This inspiring Freedom to Read Week video was made by Julia and Danika from the Calgary Science School, who won the Calgary Public Library Teen Freedom to Read Week Video .
Freedom to Read Week in Canada in 2017 is February 26 to March 4
Find out more. Visit freedomtoread.ca
When parents read aloud to their children, they are making a profound contribution to the growth of their kids as readers, listeners and learners. Reading aloud to kids helps to introduce children to the wonders and magic of the world of stories. So many amazing things can happen when parents read to their kids.
Yet it doesn’t need to stop once kids learn to read to themselves. Indeed, it should never stop. Adults, teens, people of all ages love being read to and reap the benefits when they get the chance to listen.
World Read Aloud Day is a chance to recognize the power of the joy of reading aloud. Spread the word!
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Canada’s Flag was officially adopted on this day in 1965, making it 50 years old today. The Maple Leaf replaced the Red Ensign which had been Canada’s flag since Confederation. National Flag Day of Canada has been officially recognized by Parliament since 1996.
Gung Hay Fat Choi! Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Welcome to the Year of the Rooster.
The Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, begins on January 28, according to the Gregorian Calendar in 2017.
Millions of Canadians, particularly those of Chinese heritage, and people all over the world will bring in the New Year. People of diverse religious, ethnic and political backgrounds come together to celebrate the common bonds of Chinese culture.
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In 2005 the United Nations designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The term “Holocaust” refers to the period in history in which the Nazi regime of Germany murdered over 6 million Jews, as well as millions of other victims, including Roma, homosexuals, people with physical and mental disabilities, and more. The Nazi persecution of the Jews began in the early 1930’s and reached its most horrific and brutal peak during the period of 1941-1945, as the Nazis adopted as official policy the “Final Solution,” the attempt at completely annihilating the entire Jewish population.
The Holocaust is not the only example of genocide in human history. What makes the Holocaust stand out amongst the long and plentiful list of human atrocities and evil? Germany was amongst the most powerful nations of the world and a leader in science, technology, medicine and engineering. The German contributions to art, music, literature and philosophy put German culture at the heart of what we would call Western Civilization. And yet this supposedly civilized people turned their great achievements and progress towards planning and carrying out ruthless genocidal murder with scientific and economic efficiency.
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The beloved Scottish poet was born on this day in 1759. From Scotland to all parts of the world where you will find people with Scottish roots,”Burns Night” is not just a celebration of the man, but also of Scottish heritage.
“‘Burns Night‘, also termed a ‘Burns Supper,’is a celebration of the life and works of the poet Robert Burns; Scottish by birth and held in fond regard by Scots all over the world, his life and poetry speak to the struggles common to all people. It is an evening of food, drink, entertainment, and friendship. It is an event that transcends time, geographical borders, political, and religious beliefs to bring people together in celebration of the everyman.” (From burnsnight.net)
For more information on Robbie Burns and “Burns Night”:
Canada’s first Prime Minister, John A. MacDonald, was born on this day in 1815.
Merry Christmas to Eastern Orthodox Christians in Canada and around the world who celebrate the birth of Christ on this day. The Orthodox Churches of Russia, the Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe continued to follow the Julian Calendar after most of the rest of the Christian world adopted the Gregorian calendar from the 16th century and onward. While most of the countries of Eastern Europe eventually adopted the western calendar for political and economic purposes, some have maintained the Julian Calendar for religious and cultural purposes.
Also known as King’s Day or Twelfth Night, Epiphany is a Christian celebration that traditionally brought a close to the Christmas Season. In the western Church, King’s Day commemorates the visit of the Magi, the “Wise-Men” or Kings of the East, to the infant Christ, God’s revelation of the Messiah to the Gentiles (non-Jews.) In bygone traditions, the “Twelve Days of Christmas” were marked from Christmas Day to Epiphany.
This holiday is not prominent in Canada, but is a significant event in many Catholic areas, including parts of the Europe, Central America and South America.
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Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 