Students in Cranbrook schools are busy putting pen to paper this week for the Creative Writing Project.
The challenge marks Family Literacy Day, Jan. 27, and invites students in all grades to submit a creative writing piece.
"It's any subject and it can be any type of creative writing. It could be a cartoon, it could be a graphic story, it could be poetry, it could be a story, an essay on any subject," said Katherine Hough, community literacy coordinator for Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL).
Students in every Cranbrook school are invited to submit a creative writing piece before the end of this week.
"We decided to do something that would challenge kids to think about literacy," said Hough.
Each school will then submit one piece for each grade to the Creative Writing Project.
"It may be that this is the best, however one decides what that is, or it may mean that this is a child who has struggled with literacy issues and has done a great job," said Hough.
Students who are nominated by their school will be recognized at a family event on Jan. 27, and their work will be published in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman/Kimberley Daily Bulletin over coming months.
The Jan. 27 event will be held at the Manual Training Centre at the Cranbrook Public Library, running from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Students in the Creative Writing Project will go in the draw to win book prizes, tickets to Symphony of the Kootenays' Fiddle Fire family concert on Feb. 2, and a grand prize of an e-reader.
The project is a partnership between CBAL, the Townsman, and School District 5.
On Jan. 27, not just the nominated students but all families are invited to the event at the Manual Training Centre to take part in "15 Minutes For Literacy."
"We will have all sorts of activities for families to engage in — we've got games, we've got mazes to run in, we've got a little writing booth — we've got all sorts of things," said Hough.
"If they have submitted something and they weren't nominated by their school, well, come on down anyhow. If you didn't take part in the Creative Writing Project, doesn't matter. We've got all sorts of activities for the family and we really encourage families to come down and take part."
The event will also announce the first person named Cranbrook's literary champion.
"It's something that we thought would be really appropriate for family literacy day, because it is honouring somebody who has promoted literacy in our community. And it's the very first time we are awarding it," said Hough.
Students who are interested in submitting a creative writing piece can talk to their teacher.