Culture activities for students

Mister speaker, this is the time of year when our Island starts to come alive with cultural activities.

There are many student-focused activities happening right now.

Children across Atlantic Canada voted for the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award.

Island authors Dave Atkinson, Orysia Dawydiak and Sharon McKay have been nominated.

A Hackmatack nominated author, Nancy Runstedler, will be visiting PEI from April 26-28.

She will be doing readings at three schools, as well as at the Stratford Public Library.

The first week of May is Reading Town week, when reading is celebrated in our communities through educational and fun events.

For a list of Reading Town events, visit their Facebook page – Reading Town PEI.

One such Reading Town event is the Rotary Creative Writing Awards for Young People on May 7.

This is a celebration and recognition of excellence in creative writing by Island youth.

TD Canadian Children’s Book Week is May 7-14.

Award-winning author Wallace Edwards will be visiting four Island libraries, as well as speaking schools across the province.

Last, but not least, there will be a French author, Carole Tremblay, visiting the six francophone school libraries from May 16-18.

Great partnerships with Canadian authors, our school system, and the PEI Public Library Service can only enrich our cultural offerings for young Islanders.

One person who has been an essential part of many of these partnerships is Trina O’Brien Leggott, chief librarian for the Confederation Centre Public Library.

She has had an integral part in organizing the PEI Book Award, also celebrated on May 7 as part of the Island Literary Awards.

Trina recently announced her retirement plans, and I wanted to recognize her great work at the library.

She will be greatly missed, but we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.