Strong Start to Reading

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which called for a statutory holiday to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and to ensure the history and legacy of residential schools are publicly remembered.

Today is an opportunity to remember, reflect, and continue learning about this history, its lasting impacts, and the experiences and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples.

This year, we’re sharing Stolen Words by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard. Through the relationship between a young girl and her grandfather, the story explores the loss of language caused by residential schools and the importance of culture, family, and connection.

Books can offer a thoughtful way to begin age-appropriate conversations with children about difficult parts of our history. We encourage families to explore Stolen Words and continue learning from Indigenous stories and voices.

A big thank you to the team at Trusscore for spending the day with us at Strong Start!

On Wednesday, September 23, 19 Trusscore team members collectively volunteered 38 hours, helping assemble parts for 2,237 games and activities used in Strong Start programs to help children build the skills and confidence they need to learn to read.

We are so grateful for your time, teamwork, and hands-on support. Every game assembled helps us bring meaningful early literacy experiences to more children in our community.

Thank you, Trusscore, for helping make a difference, one activity and one child at a time. 💙📚

As a Strong Start Volunteer Coach, you will work one-on-one with a child through the Letters, Sounds and Words™ program, helping them practice foundational reading skills and build confidence along the way.

Strong Start supports volunteers with the training and resources they need to help children build foundational literacy skills and confidence.

Strong Start provides all training, materials, and carefully designed games and activities. In just 30 minutes a week for 10 weeks, you can make a meaningful difference in the life of a child.

Interested in becoming a Volunteer Coach this school year? Learn more at the link in our bio.

💙 Thank you to our friends at IMAX for making a BIG impact during your 2026 Impact Day campaign at our National Program Deployment Centre!

Your team’s hands-on help assembling games and activities for Strong Start programs directly supports children as they build the confidence and skills to read.

Over the course of the morning, 11 team members contributed 22 hours of support, helping assemble 6,684 activities and bags across multiple programs!

We are grateful for your generosity, teamwork, and commitment to literacy, and continuing to choose Strong Start as your Impact Day charity here in Waterloo Region year after year.

Together, we are making a lasting difference for children in our community. 📚✨

For 25 years, Strong Start has helped children build the skills and confidence they need to become lifelong readers.

At the heart of that impact are the people who have carried this mission forward: volunteers, families, educators, schools, donors and community partners.

44,361 volunteers.
750,000+ volunteer hours.
68,813 children reached.

Countless moments of learning, connection, and growth.

As we mark this milestone, we are grateful for everyone who has helped create strong foundations in reading—and in life.

Yesterday, the Strong Start team was proud to join United Way Waterloo Region Communities at their campaign kickoff, the March of 1,000 Umbrellas. It was an inspiring morning filled with community, connection, and a shared commitment to supporting families and children!

Thank you, United Way, for bringing us together. We're grateful to stand alongside so many passionate partners.

Thank you!

There’s still time to register for our upcoming Letters, Sounds and Words™ in-person training this Wednesday, September 16!

Join us at the Strong Start office in Waterloo for:

Part 1: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Part 2: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Strong Start, 565 Kumpf Drive, Unit 1, Waterloo

If you’re preparing to support young readers through the Letters, Sounds and Words™ program, we’d love to have you join us. Register at https://www.strongstart.ca/programs/letters-sounds-and-words/training/