The following is a press release from Regina Public Library:

RPL is supersizing storytime to celebrate the importance of reading together as a family. With help from many exciting partners, from cowboys to cats, RPL will throw a city-wide party to share in the wonder of reading.

On January 27 at 1:30 pm, every RPL branch will offer unique games and entertainment to encourage the community to make storytime an integral part of family time. There will be stories, special guests, and activities that focus on sharing literacy tools that families can try at home.

We joined forces with Canadian Western Agribition, the Saskatchewan Science Centre, Regina Fire & Protective Services, Regina Police Service, the Regina Humane Society and many other amazing organizations to demonstrate how literacy can be a fun part of family time.

“We know that a love of reading and books is highly contagious,” says Nancy MacKenzie, Manager of Community Engagement and Programming. “By sharing stories and playing literacy games together we hope that all the families attending the event will fall in love with literacy and all the ways you can have fun with it, and that they will make story time part of family time.”

Family Literacy Day is an awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada, and has been held nationwide annually since 1999 to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in literacy activities as a family.

Literacy activities are critical to cognitive development, success in school, and lifelong learning, and not just for the little ones. Finding time to read and learn together every day fosters literacy skills for both children and adults, and helps the whole family grow together.

Foodie Film Night offers a fresh take on dinner and a movie

Local foodies and film enthusiasts looking for a new take on the classic dinner-and-a-movie outing need look no further than RPL Film Theatre’s Foodie Film Night on Saturday, October 21.

The annual event offers a filmgoing experience unique to RPL Film Theatre, pairing a food-focused documentary screening with a tasting event that features custom creations from local chefs and artisans. With tickets priced at only $20, it’s also an affordable alternative to the date night standard.

Foodie Film Night begins at 7:00 pm with a screening of Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent. Executive-produced by chef, author and TV personality Anthony Bourdain, the film chronicles the career of Jeremiah Tower, America’s first celebrity chef and a pioneering figure in sourcing local ingredients for haute cuisine in the 1970s.

After the screening, attendees will move from the theatre to the Central Library mezzanine for an after-hours reception where they can sample local fare and chat with the chefs about their creations, while connecting with other fans of film and food.

“We’re really pleased to be able to collaborate with community partners that are pursuing their passions, and to show our support for the local food scene, which has really taken off in the last few years,” said Belinda New, RPL Film Theatre Supervisor.

For this year’s reception, RPL Film Theatre has partnered with Regina businesses Absolute Zero, Flip Eatery & Drink and Victoria’s Tavern, and Moose Jaw’s Prairie Bee Meadery.

“Filmmaking and the culinary arts are both passionate pursuits, and this event gives us an opportunity to explore and celebrate that connection in a unique way. It’s something you won’t find at any other theatre in Regina,” said New.

Tickets are $20 each, on sale now at the RPL Film Theatre Box Office, or at the Central Library Service Desk, located on the main floor, 2311-12^th Avenue.