September 28, 2011 - An odd mob of readers suddenly appeared outside the Greenstone Building for Yellowknife’s first ever Reading Flash Mob to celebrate NWT Literacy Week.

Readers, ranging from a daycare class of 4 and 5 year olds to office workers, public servants and passing pedestrians read with linked arms in front of the Greenstone Building to demonstrate their passion for reading.

A ten foot tall eagle, wearing a sign that said “Honk if you love to read!” flapped its wings at the vehicles on Franklin and everyone was encouraged to help themselves to free books from the NWT Literacy Council Bookmobile.

The event was organised by the members of the Literacy Week Committee, including the NWT Literacy Council, ECE and the Yellowknife Public Library.

Some of the programs that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) funds the NWT Literacy Council for include:  developing resources for community and family literacy, researching literacy and essential skills in the NWT and Aboriginal languages literacy, developing and delivering training workshops for literacy providers, information sharing on literacy topics through their website and weekly newsletter and literacy and essential skills promotion (including Literacy Week events).