Armed with prizes and activities, staff at the Timmins Public Library are preparing to welcome families and children on Saturday for the official kickoff of the TD Summer Reading Club. The launch runs from noon to 4 p.m. on June 20 in front of the library on Second Avenue. For more than 27 years, the program has helped young readers maintain and improve literacy skills during the summer months, encouraging children to keep reading while school is out. Library staff said the initiative plays an important role in preventing what educators call the ‘summer slide,’ where students can lose reading ability over the break. “As children leave in June and come back in September, if they haven’t read over the summer, teachers often need to restart instruction because some reading skills have been lost,” said Francine Denis, a child and youth services librarian at Timmins Public Library. In 2024, the library was recognized for having the top English-language library program in Canada. (It also offers the club in French.) That recognition came with funding that allowed the library to purchase new furniture and ‘reading bikes’ to support youth engagement. Children who register for the summer program track their reading minutes and earn ballots toward prizes when they reach specific goals. One parent told CTV News that the program has motivated her son. Christine Fortin said her son’s reading improved significantly through participation. “He’s practicing every day and he loves bringing his reading material to the library,” said Fortin. “It’s been really positive.” Organizers are encouraging families to take part in the launch event and celebrate the library’s role in putting Timmins in the national spotlight. “Come for a barbecue, join the club, and there are all kinds of fun things to do,” said Denis. The national launch event will be attended by representatives from Library and Archives Canada and program partners, such as the illustrator for the club’s promotional materials this year.
