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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The NWT Literacy Council shone a spotlight on reading, writing and storytelling all week by holding workshops, games and other events in Yellowknife.

"We've had a great time," executive director Mandie Abrams said.

"We have had a great turnout at our events and I really think we got the word out and raised awareness."

Marianne Bromley, left, and Helen Balanoff of the NWT Literacy Council collected names of people who read on Tuesday for the Read for 15 Challenge. The NWT is competing with Nunavut to see which territory logged the most readers. - Jason Emiry/NNSL photo

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment recognized some individuals and organizations who have made a difference in the North during a reception at Northern United Place this week.

The ministerial literacy award for educators went to Hillary Gemmel. Mardy Voudrach of Tuktoyaktuk earned the council of the federation literacy award. The ministerial award for organizations went to the Hay River Literacy Society.

Results from the Read for 15 Challenge, which pits the NWT and Nunavut in a contest to see how many readers can record 15 minutes of reading during the week, are being tabulated.

"Regardless of whether we win or not people were really enthusiastic," Abrams said. "We had an enormous amount of individuals who are not part of any group or organization who made the effort to call in and that's really fantastic."

When Literacy Week wraps up tomorrow, the council is moving forward with upcoming workshops and its annual general meeting in November, when a new president will be elected.

"I think that when we talk about literacy and we promote literacy we talk about the fact that it starts at home," she said. "That time you spend with your child reading and writing and telling stories and colouring is so important to their literacy development. This is just the one time of year that we celebrate it but we support families throughout the year through our workshops and when we give away books all year round."

Literacy Week continues today with events for seniors during Lunch with a Bunch in the Baker Centre at noon. Tomorrow the Rotary Readers Story Time for young children will be held at the Book Cellar 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

- with files from Jason Emiry