I had the real pleasure to kick off Reading Week with students from Monsignor Fee Otterson School in my Edmonton Whitemud constituency and at the same time, launch the children's book "I Wish I Could Be Like Tommy Blake" by Albertan David A. Poulsen.

Reading Week focuses on the importance of encouraging and supporting reading by our youth - one of the greatest gifts that we can give our children.  A strong foundation in literacy opens doors to a successful future, and storybooks like David's help young children find the joy in the discovery of reading and learning.

Award winning children's author David A. Poulsen was commissioned to create a "I Wish I Could Be Like Tommy Blake" in support of furthering children's literacy. Copies of the book were provided to every grade one student in Alberta, as well as, copies will be distributed to public libraries and literary organizations like the Family Literacy Centre.  All product costs are born by the Dave Hancock Charity Golf Classic.

For the past ten years, with some great community volunteers, we have held the Dave Hancock Charity Golf Classic, which raised over $1 million to support Success By 6® and other children's literacy programs such as the Classroom On Wheels (COW) bus. 

David A. Poulsen, a native of southern Alberta, began his writing career in 1984.  Since this time, he has produced more than 20 books, with many targeted to young readers.  He travels between 60 to 80 days each year to schools across Canada talking to students about writing and sharing his stories. David is an amazing individual and I encourage to find out more about this Alberta author and his colourful life http://www.davidpoulsen.com/

Success By 6® is an Edmonton community initiative managed by United Way, which recognizes the importance of literacy as part of the social, physical, intellectual, creative, and emotional development of a child.  More information is available at http://www.successby6edmonton.info/ .  As we are in the full throes of the United Way campaign in the Greater Edmonton region, it is all the more important to focus on the good work done in our communities as a result of our generous giving.

TransCanada, one of North America's leading energy companies, was a title sponsor for the annual charity golf tournament in each of the 10 years and is a sponsor of the children's book.  Many thanks are extended to TransCanada, a corporate partner which strongly believes in strengthening our communities and improving the lives of individuals in our province. 

As I once read, reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.