Helping kids to start a journey

To celebrate Family Literacy Day in Canada, on Jan 27, Const. David Johnson donated about 600 books to the Yonge St. Mission and he and other 51 Division officers engaged the organization’s pre-schoolers in reading.
 

“Learning to read is a journey that can happen anywhere, anytime, anyday and by anyone,” said the 37-year-old veteran officer.

“You can read alone or in a group and this is what we are trying to do.”

This is the third year Johnson has distributed books to the non-profit Christian faith group.

Thomas Allen, Scholastica Canada and The World's Biggest Bookstore donated the books.

“These books are not only for this centre, but some will be used as prizes for essay-writing contests,” Johnson added.

“The books can also be used by newcomers whose first language is not English.”

The mission’s corporate relations and marketing manager Julia Silvestri welcomed the officers to the mission on behalf of the staff and volunteers.

“This is an opportunity for the kids in the daycare to see police as people they can engage with in a positive light,” she said.

Each kid that passes through the daycare program receives a book.

Joining Johnson at the event were unit commander Supt. John Tanouye, Insp. Gary Meissner, S/Sgt. Rudy Pasini, Det. Barry Radford and Consts. Martin McLaughlin and Kris Lobo.