It’s going to be jam-packed day of hockey action in Callander tomorrow.
This Saturday, Jan. 25, the town is hosting a day of family fun including a family skate, an exhibition from the North Bay Battalion, and even the library is getting in on the action, with an early celebration of Family Literacy Day – with an emphasis on hockey, to continue the theme.
The Battalion is hitting the ice at the Bill Barber Rink at noon for a team practice. Fans can meet the players and get autographs from your favourites as well. After the Troops do their thing, the ice is open for a public skate beginning at 1 p.m.
The Bill Barber Rink is right behind the Callander Community Centre at 1984 Swale Street.
Beforehand, at 10 a.m., you can celebrate Family Literacy Day at the Callander Public Library and meet a special guest. Children’s author and illustrator Kevin Sylvester will be there to give a reading. Sylvester is well-known for his Hockey Super Six series, so fans of the game will not want to miss this opportunity.
Not only is the library hosting Sylvester, but staff have also arranged to have three local authors stop by to celebrate Family Literacy Day. Adele Lamothe, author of Two Little Raindrops will be there, as will Colleen Neily, author of Dr. Zoe Cavendish. Linda Stoner, author of Chippy’s Family Helping Others will also join the celebration.
The library is also hosting a hockey-themed escape room and will have a do-it-yourself craft station set up as well.
Melissa Sones, Callander Public Library’s CEO, said, “Participating and enjoying literacy activities together as a family leads to better literacy skills in children.”
Further, she added, “Family Literacy Day celebrates all the different ways that families can enjoy reading together and learn about other programs and resources at the library that make literacy fun.”
If you love literacy, rooting for the Troops, and skating with the family, then Callander is the place to be this Saturday. During the ice time, the Nipissing Roller Derby has some free hot chocolate for you.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
