3M Post-it Stick With-it Literacy Tour: Tour Details

Tour Details

Post-it Teams Up with Brady Brady
to Inspire Kids to Read

National Stick With-it Literacy Tour launched today to help curb illiteracy

TORONTO Oct. 1, 2007 - Did you know that on average, boys are 1.5 years behind girls when it comes to reading levels?
Or that boys now fall well behind girls in reading and writing at the primary and junior levels? To help fight falling childhood literacy rates, especially among boys, 3M Canada and the creators of the popular Brady Brady books have teamed up to host a national literacy tour to encourage kids to make reading a priority.

Brady Brady co-creator and illustrator, Chuck Temple, will visit schools and community centres in 10 cities nationwide starting in Toronto today. Not only will Temple perform entertaining and interactive presentations, but, during the tour, 3M will distribute over 25,000 Brady Brady books to Canadian children (at 80 venues in 7 provinces).

"Research proves that children who read have significantly brighter futures than those who don't" said Dr. Laura Shoemaker, research coordinator, Waterloo Catholic District School Board. "There is a clear need to generate an interest in reading at a young age and the Brady Brady series does just that."

Brady Brady was conceived in the early 1990s by author Mary Shaw, who at the time was unable to find engaging reading material for her young son, Brady. Since the inaugural book, 12 more have been added to the series. All books focus on sports (primarily hockey, also baseball and football) and target male and female readers, ages four to eight. The books are recognized by school boards across Canada as a tool to help motivate young male readers - an at-risk group.

"Hockey and Canada are synonymous, especially among young boys, so using sports as a carrot to encourage more kids to read is a no-brainer," said Temple, co-creator and illustrator of Brady Brady. "We want kids to make reading a fun goal and by taking this message directly to them in an interactive way, we hope to motivate more young children to stick with literacy."

With over 50 years of giving, 3M is committed to making a positive contribution in the communities it operates in and to Canadian society.

"Literacy is a proven gateway to increased learning and opportunity among young people," said Sue Romyn, community relations manager, 3M Canada. "The Stick With-it Literacy Tour is a natural extension of our commitment to education and the development of young people to improve Canada's future competitiveness."

For a complete list of tour stops and dates, parent and educators are encouraged to visit www.bradybrady.com.

About 3M Canada:
Established in 1951, 3M Canada Company was one of the first international subsidiaries opened by 3M and remains one of the largest. 3M Canada's head office and original manufacturing site is in London, Ontario where approximately 1,000 of the company's 1,950 employees work. Other Ontario plants are located in Toronto, Brockville, and Perth with one in Morden, Manitoba. 3M has sales offices in major cities nationwide and a national service network to support customers.

About Brady Brady Inc.
Brady Brady Inc. is the exclusive publisher for the bestselling Canadian children's illustrated book series, Brady Brady. Mary Shaw (author) created Brady Brady in 2000 to encourage her son to read. Together with Chuck Temple (illustrator), the co-creators produced 13 sports-themed children's books for readers aged four to eight including hockey, football and baseball. Scheduled new releases over the next year expand into soccer and basketball. The series is distributed internationally and is translated in French. Brady Brady Inc. is based in Waterloo, Ontario. For more information visit www.bradybrady.com.

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Media Contact:

Sarah Tattersall, 3M Canada, Corporate Communications Manager
Phone: (519) 452-6035
Email: setattersall@mmm.com