Hundreds of children and adults gather at Royal Conservatory of Music’s Mazzeloni Hall to celebrate Family Literacy Day on January 27, 2010.

(Toronto, ON, January 13, 2010) – ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation and The Royal Conservatory’s Learning Through the Arts program are partnering to raise awareness of literacy by creating a new song in honour of Family Literacy Day (January 27, 2010). The new literacy song will be written and composed by Toronto-based grade six students from The Royal Conservatory's Etherington and Vukets Music Champion Program with guidance from singer/songwriter/educator, Ciara Adams.

“We are thrilled to work with The Royal Conservatory to help promote the link between music, singing and literacy,” says Margaret Eaton, President of ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation. “Singing is a great literacy activity for families because it provides a fun way to expand spoken vocabulary and creates a strong bond. Singing allows you to learn patterns of words, rhymes and rhythms, and is strongly connected to language skills.”

Dr. Ann Patteson, Director of Academic Research for The Royal Conservatory, adds: ”In two of our major research studies, involving thousands of children across Canada, we have shown that children who study music, whether it be in school, choirs, or music lessons, do significantly better on tests of vocabulary and reading than do their peers who do not have similar exposure to music. Our research results mirror the findings of other leading researchers who have investigated the link between music and literacy.”

Sing for Literacy encourages Canadians from coast to coast to sing at various Family Literacy Day events and to help raise funds by pledging online via www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca. Money raised through online pledging will provide much needed support for literacy programs, reaching thousands of Canadian adult learners in the community, at home and in the workplace. Family Literacy Day sing-alongs can take place in homes, schools and classrooms, community centres, or even unexpected places.

“Music is literacy” says Angela Elster, Vice-President Academic of The Royal Conservatory. “When students learn in and through music, they are making both a linguistic and an emotional connection to material that is deep and meaningful, and that stays with them for a lifetime.”

Established in 1999 by ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation and Honda Canada, Family Literacy Day (every January 27) is an annual initiative developed to celebrate parents and children reading and learning together and to encourage Canadians to spend at least 15 minutes enjoying a learning activity every day. This year, more than 300,000 Canadians are expected to participate in Family Literacy Day events including pyjama party readings, storytelling circles, treasure hunts and campfire sing-alongs.

To pledge, register, or find your local Family Literacy Day event, go to www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca.

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About ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation:
ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation is Canada’s private-sector voice championing adult literacy. The national charity’s initiatives and campaigns are focused on bringing about meaningful change to raise Canadian adult literacy skills. It envisions a Canada where individuals, regardless of their circumstances, are provided the opportunities to increase those skills that prepare people for realizing their full potential at work, at home and in the community. For the latest news and information on adult literacy please visit www.abc-canada.org, follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/ABC_CANADA> or join our Facebook page. <http://www.facebook.com/pages/ABC-CANADA-Literacy-Foundation/75250827617?ref=s>

About The Royal Conservatory and Learning Through the Arts:
Founded in 1886, The Royal Conservatory (RCM) is the largest and oldest independent arts educator in Canada. It is an internationally renowned centre for performance and learning, providing opportunities for personal development through music and arts education in over 300 communities across Canada and a dozen countries around the world. Each year, more than 500,000 Canadians take part in RCM programs, exams, and public school initiatives. The Royal Conservatory’s Learning Through the Arts program (LTTA) brings specially-trained artists into 400 schools across Canada; in partnership with great teachers, they create lessons that integrate and enliven core curriculum. At the conclusion of a recent Queen’s University study, LTTA was strongly associated with increased literacy scores for participating students. For more information, please visit http://www.rcmusic.ca and http://www.ltta.ca.

About Honda Canada:
Honda is the world’s pre-eminent maker of engines for automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment. With 135 manufacturing facilities in 28 countries worldwide, Honda attracts more than 23 million customers annually. Honda Canada manufactures the Honda Civic sedan and coupe, and the Acura CSX and MDX at its two assembly plants in Alliston, Ontario. Honda also manufactures engines at a third plant, also in Alliston. Now in its 40th year of operations in Canada, Honda Canada Inc. has sold more than 3,200,000 Honda and Acura passenger cars and light-duty trucks. Nearly half of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in Canada in 2008 were made in Canada – a higher percentage than any other vehicle manufacturer in Canada.

The Honda Canada Foundation and its corporate entities provide annual funding to registered non-profit charities across Canada in support of safety, education, engineering and sustaining of the environment for [children and] youth.

For more information, please contact:

Ashley Tilley, Communications Coordinator
ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation
Tel: 416-218-0010, ext. 127
atilley@abc-canada.org

Nikki Luscombe, Communitcations Manager
ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation
Tel: 416 218-0010 x122
nluscombe@abc-canada.org

Jeff Embleton, Publicity Manager
The Royal Conservatory
Tel: (416) 408-2824 x461
jeff.embleton@rcmusic.ca