NUNAVUT - The entire student body at Netsilik School in Taloyoak participated in the Nunavut Literacy Council's Read for 15 Challenge on Sept. 30, according to vice-principal George Hill.

Retired teacher Sarah Takolik reads to Grade 4 students and parents at Netsilik School during the Read for 15 Challenge on Sept. 30. - photo courtesy of Ellen Ittunga

Students from kindergarten to Grade 12 picked up the reading material of their choice at 1:30 p.m. and read for 15 minutes, Hill said. Parents and other community members were invited to the school to take part as well. A tea was served in the gym after the event.

"We had a tea in the gym for parents and other community members, grandparents that came in," Hill said.

"We had some community members come in, maybe their children aren't in school anymore, but just came in anyway."

The Read for 15 Challenge took place across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, according to Kim Crockatt, executive director of the Nunavut Literacy Council. The goal is to beat the other territory in terms of numbers of people reading during the 15-minute time frame. Nunavut won last year's event, Crockatt said.

"Last year we got over 7,800 people in Nunavut participating, which is pretty substantial," she said.

"We've been doing the challenge for the last three years. At one point the Yukon was involved, but they haven't done it for the last couple of years," Crockatt said. "So right now it's just between the NWT and Nunavut."

Not only do schools participate, but government offices and other organizations take part in the event as well, Crockatt said.

"We've got a category for government departments. We get a lot of government people who participate and Inuit organizations as well," she said. "It's right across the board."

Grade 6 student Raymond Junior Mannilaq read a book about one of his favourite activities during the challenge.

"I was reading an Inuktitut book about going fishing," he said.

Mannilaq said his favourite book is about going seal hunting.

"It's fun," he said about reading. "We can learn more about stuff."

Grade 11 student Patricia Lyall said she read a book about art. She said she believes reading is important "For kids to get information," she said.

Crockatt said the numbers from this year's competition should be available within the next few weeks and will be shown on the Nunavut Literacy Council's website.