Help Ensure Teen Literacy
Fuelled by community support and the generosity of our donors, Wordfest’s Youth Program focuses on fueling teen literacy in Grades 5 to 12 to spark the next generation of engaged Calgarians and avid readers.
Our unique programming model enables us to connect the world’s most inspiring authors—such as Sarah Polley, Ali Velshi, Yann Martel, Cadence Weapon, and Tegan & Sara—with students in interactive theatrical experiences. Over the past two years, we presented Canadian superstars, including Indigenous authors Cherie Dimaline, Michelle Good, Waubgeshig Rice, and David A. Robertson, to 9,000+ junior and high school students. Donors like you helped provide much-needed class sets (2,450 books by award-winning, contemporary authors!) to Calgary schools, along with free busing. You will also be supporting online workshops as part of LitCon with Calgary Public Library, immersive Author-in-Residence opportunities, and our Teen Recommended Reads initiative. All of this innovative programming is delivered free of charge, while paying the authors for their valuable time and expertise.
Teens come alive when they are exposed to life-affirming ideas, leaving informed and empowered. They ask questions, get autographs, sign up for library cards, and can’t wait to dig into books that animate and illuminate their engagement with the world.
At Wordfest Youth, we’re devoting our literacy efforts to students in middle and high school, as Canadian data shows that the number of students who read for pleasure declines after age 11 (Scholastic, 2017). A society with high literacy levels is also likely to have a higher GDP, citizens with better physical and mental health, and higher civic engagement (Government of Alberta, 2009). In the attention economy of the 21st century, reading is in direct competition with apps and games of all kinds that deliver a quick dopamine hit. We’re here to help teens see the value in reading.
Background on Teen Literacy
Young people receive the same benefits from reading that adults do: namely, improved imagination, focus and flow, relaxation, and mood regulation. Young people who read also are more likely to practice self-reflection, which can lead to increased social interaction and a resulting increase in social and cultural capital (The Reading Agency, 2015).
We know that we need to motivate students to read. However, rewards and other extrinsic motivation have not been shown to be successful in promoting positive attitudes toward reading for youth (McQuillan, 1997). So, what works? Students who read for pleasure identify their key motivating factors as autonomy, a feeling of competence, interest, value placed on reading, and social belonging (Centre de transfert pour la réussite éducative du Québec [CTREQ], 2018).
Based on these factors, Wordfest Youth helps teachers serve their students by implementing the following effective motivational strategies:
- helping youth establish connections between reading and their personal lives,
- encouraging youth to express themselves during reading-related activities, and, above all,
- introducing youths to reading role models or inspiring writers (CTREQ).
A Wordfest Youth field trip opens doors for students, reigniting the spark of their love for books or stoking a new fire. We see the importance of reading both the world and the word (Freire, 1983). Now more than ever, teens need the ability to read and write, access to both empathy and fact-based knowledge, and the aptitude to engage in mutually respectful communication. We’re ready to help make it happen.
References
Centre de transfert pour la réussite éducative du Québec. (2018). Reading for pleasure. https://www.ctreq.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Reading-for-Pleasure.pdf
Freire, P. (1983). The importance of the act of reading. Literacy and Ideology, 165 (1), 5-11. https://www.jstor.org/stable/42772842
Government of Alberta. (2009). Living literacy: a literacy framework for Alberta’s next generation economy. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/73e4795c-ff92-487e-b12e-70959b6cc5b5/resource/6acbf66d-9bc7-45d1-8e29-01fd1d977a49/download/4402922-2009-09-living-literacy-framework-ab-next-generation-economy.pdf
McQuillan, J. (1997). The effects of incentives on reading. Literacy Research and Instruction, 36 (2), 111-125. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19388079709558232
The Reading Agency. (2015). Literature review: The impact of reading for pleasure and empowerment. https://readingagency.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Impact-of-Reading-for-Pleasure-and-Empowerment.pdf
Scholastic Canada. (2017). Kids & Family Reading Report. https://www.scholastic.ca/readingreport/files/KFRR_2017_Book_CAN.pdf
How Do I Get Involved?
Donate to Wordfest. Your generosity will help meaningfully connect Calgary students with the world’s most inspiring authors. Find out more here.
Help spread the word! Share this Instagram Reel capturing the energy of the youth events at our 2024 Imaginairium Festival. And this audio recording of Yann Martel sharing the meaning of Life of Pi or Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew talking about reconciliation! To find out about regular Wordfest programming, join our email list and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.
Connect with us if you’re a Calgary-area educator working with students in Grades 5-12. To find out first about upcoming opportunities for your classes, sign up for the Youth email list. (To avoid FOMO with our regular programming, please sign up for the Wordfest email list and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)
Life-Changing Experiences
Over the past decade, Wordfest™ has connected more than 110,000 Calgary students with the world’s most inspiring speakers and authors, including Indigenous authors Cherie Dimaline, Bob Joseph, and Jesse Thistle; NASA astronaut Dave Williams; Governor-General Literary Award-winning graphic novelists Mariko and Jillian Tamaki; and Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Omar El Akkad.
“Wordfest’s Calgary Youth Program has been a game-changer for our students. As a high-needs school, we often face barriers to accessing enriching educational opportunities, but Wordfest has made literature come alive in ways we never imagined. The subsidized programming was crucial for us, ensuring that financial barriers didn’t prevent our students from participating. The excitement of attending live author sessions, where hundreds of students gathered, created a sense of community. Many of our students felt seen and heard, inspired to express their own voices during the Q&A. Thanks to Wordfest, we saw firsthand how literature can spark curiosity, empathy, and a lifelong love of reading.” –Terry Fox School
“Being such a small school with such a tight budget we are really limited in what we can expose the kids to. The fact that this is free AND we get books is amazing. We love this program! –Alternative High School
“Wordfest went above and beyond to facilitate my students attending the Michelle Good event. From providing class copies of the book, to helping with transportation, I cannot overstate how grateful I am that, in a time where our budget and administrative constraints are high, an organization exists that can foster greater student learning and appreciation for the arts. –James Fowler High School
“Hearing from celebrity chef Matty Matheson provided our students with invaluable insights into the culinary industry regarding career development, creativity, and the passion that drives success in the kitchen. It was inspiring to witness the students’ enthusiasm as they engaged with him after the show to get his autograph in their newly coveted cookbooks! In addition to the content, I must commend you on how well-organized the event was. From our communication to the thoughtful organization of students and cookbook handouts, everything was executed with care and attention to detail. Events like this play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of culinary professionals. –Learning Leader, Unique Pathways
“Wordfest’s Calgary Youth Program has been a I was ecstatic to meet the man who was able to resuscitate my heart through his beautiful and riveting writing. Omar El Akkad gave us rare insights and pushed us to open our minds to the world beyond our cellphones. His words both on paper and in our ears held a magnitude of rich messages that every student at some point needs to hear.” –Grade 12 student
Some Recent Initiatives
Indigenous Voices: With support from our donors and the Calgary Foundation, Wordfest recorded interviews with 13 leading Indigenous authors (selected with input from series advisor David A. Robertson) to build a library of video resources that could be used in the classroom. Watch the series trailer here, and check out these sample segments with Wab Kinew and Waubgeshig Rice.
Belong (featuring Mark Tewksbury) was a one-man show (commissioned and produced by Wordfest in 2019), which insightfully examined LGBTQ+ identity and toxic masculinity in sport. It was then adapted into a touring performance for Calgary’s junior and high schools reaching 5,000+ students attending live. In partnership with BMO Canada, Wordfest also produced an inspirational video by Tewksbury on the themes in Belong, geared for classroom discussion.
Making Reparations – Books in Schools Initiative: Our generous donors helped Wordfest send every junior high school in the city copies of books by Cheryl Foggo (Pourin Down Rain), as well as Canadian author Desmond Cole (The Skin We’re In), Koa Beck (White Feminism) and Fredrick Joseph (The Black Friend). Cole, Beck and Joseph were also featured in Wordfest’s online storytelling show The Way We Make Reparations (2021), which featured questions from students from St. Margaret’s Junior High School.
Continue This Calgary Story of
Innovative Youth Activation
If you enjoy everything Wordfest does to meaningfully connect audiences of all ages with the world’s best authors, please consider donating to our Youth Program.
Gifts made before August 31, 2025, are matched up to 50% through Rogers Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink! To maximize your donation to Wordfest through this unique giving opportunity, click the button below or contact Everett Wilson at ewilson@wordfest.com for more information.
