COLD LAKE - The Cold Lake Community Learning Centre hosted the 21st annual Festival of Words: How to Train Your Dragon to Read, on Jan. 25 at the Cold Lake Seniors Society’s hall.
The annual event started at 11 a.m. and celebrated Family Literacy Day, bringing families together for a morning of fun-filled activities designed to foster a love of reading and learning in the community.
The event offered something for everyone, from mini-golf and a spelling bee to costume contests, dancing, and interactive word games. It emphasized the importance of family literacy and encouraged families to explore the joy of reading and learning together.
“We've been looking forward to this big event, and it's always a lot of fun. I challenge all those young kids out there for the spelling contest,” said Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland.
“It’s events like this that bring communities together,” stated Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr. “The fact that we are able to see our kids running around, playing, enjoying themselves, and actually having learning happen at the same time, that should warm all of our hearts.”
Reflecting on his own experiences, Cyr said, “When my kids were younger, we enjoyed doing this festival, too.”
The festival embraced a playful theme, "How to Train Your Dragon to Read," inspired by the popular film How to Train Your Dragon, creatively adapted to promote literacy and engage attendees' imaginations.
“There’s a spelling bee for ages one to three, four to six, and an adult spelling bee,” explained Debra Pelechosky, executive director of the Cold Lake Community Learning Centre.
“We’re going to have an Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader contest, a costume contest, and word draws,” she added.
Families could also enjoy a photobooth featuring a Viking ship and a castle.
For Program Coordinator Ana Dodman, the festival’s purpose was clear.
“It’s to celebrate Family Literacy Day, to encourage people to read with their kids, for families to read with their kids. Reading is a very important skill. It’s the core for writing, for speaking, for listening, so we want to encourage that in the community.”
Pelechosky echoed the sentiment, noting the broader impact of the event.
“We just want the adults to start reading for their children and get the children excited about reading. It’s about the children reading, writing, and all of that. Talk to your pet even, or maybe make your own story, write your own book. It’s all about promoting that within the children.”
Visitors who completed five activities received a free book, many of which were dragon-themed, and tables hosted by local organizations provided additional resources and activities.
Food and refreshments were on hand to fuel the fun, with free pizza, coffee, and muffins served in the food court.
“I think for me, it’s about families doing stuff together, coming out and having fun,” Pelechosky said. “In the middle of winter, especially with January’s harsh days, it’s nice to come out and have some fun.”
The Cold Lake Community Learning Centre encourages residents to explore its wide range of programs, which include language classes, newcomer support, and various other services.
