THUNDER BAY - Students were rewarded in parliamentary fashion for their diligent reading habits.
After MP Don Rusnak challenged students across Thunder Bay to read any written work from Canadian authors, he handed out prizes to the top readers.
“We just wanted to get kids involved in Canada 150... and what better way than reading Canadian books,” Rusnak said.
Rusnak on Tuesday paid a visit to St. Francis Elementary School to reward the top students.
Keyahnna McGowan was the biggest bookworm at St. Francis. The fourth-grader read 33 books in just a two-month period.
“This one recess I got a head start, and then whenever I got a chance I would just read,” Keyahnna said on her keys for success.
Keyahnna said she hadn’t always been a big reader but will certainly follow through with her new habit.
Rusnak said it's exactly what he hoped students would get out of the challenge.“
I think one of the challenges of this generation of youth is getting them involved in reading. I think reading is extremely healthy, and it was one of the drivers behind this challenge.”
Catherine Jacobson, the school’s teacher-librarian, said it was exciting to oversee.
“Obviously I love reading books, and it was great to see the kids reading more,” Jacobson said. “They were able to sit and enjoy the books, and that was something that excited them.”
Other prizes have been handed out at McKellar Park and St. Elizabeth where the challenge also took place.
In total, 641 books were read by 50 St. Francis students.
