Bombers inspire young readers at WES, "We use reading every single day in playing football and our work"

Schools across the province kicked off 'I Love to Read Month' in various exciting ways on Thursday. 

Two Winnipeg Blue Bombers made their way to Winkler Elementary School to help students and staff kick it off Blue and Gold style! 

The school was chosen for a visit through a contest run by the Blue Bomber organization.

Thursday's guest readers from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were Offensive Lineman, Patrick Neufeld, and Canadian Linebacker - Tanner Cadwallader.

"The one thing we want to touch on while we're here, is just how important it is to read," Cadwallader said. He told the intently listening students he has a personal goal this year to read over 15 books.

"So that puts me, hopefully over one month. And I hope you guys can find some way to challenge yourself to read more. It's so important. We use reading every single day in what we do in playing football, and in our work   And so do your teachers, so do your parents... So I can't stress enough how important it is to find something you like to read and just try to lose yourself reading some books."

(L-R) Janel Cowan, Joel Dueck, Ezikhiel Paywal, Tanner Cadwallader, Pam Fedack, Ethan Fehr, Principal Cindy Hamilton, and Patrick Neufeld.

Janel Cowan is the Resource and EAL teacher at Winkler Elementary School (WES). She said their theme for I Love to Read Month is Superhero Readers.

"Many of our students are newcomers," said Cowan. "We have over 130 newcomers since last year to Canada and to Winkler Elementary, so many of them have not experienced CFL football. So we've spent some time getting to know what is football. Where is it located? Where do the Blue Bombers play, and why are they heroes in our community and Manitoba? What we want to do is just promote our love of reading, and the fact we have readers all over the place." 

Cowan was asked how they would keep the excitement for reading going after their big kick-off.

"We have a mystery superhero that's going to be showing up in our building throughout the month to identify people who are doing their job of reading and spending time in books. There'll be some prizes for students. This superhero will be stalking around our building throughout the month to identify these readers. A member of the Winkler Police Service will be coming down to share their information about reading, and to share some information about local superheroes in our community."

There will be many other activities throughout the month, Cowan said, including a superhero poster contest.

(L-R) Grade 8 students Ethan Fehr, Ezikhiel Payawal, and Joel Dueck waiting to great the Bombers.

It was a joy to meet Tanner and Patrick, and witness the excitement they brought to WES.