The Latest News from Hackmatack
Award ceremony 2019. Photo: Snickerdoodle Photography
2020 Award Ceremony Cancelled
Due to the ongoing uncertainty caused by COVID-19, we’ve made the decision to cancel this year’s Hackmatack Award ceremony and author tour, originally scheduled for the end of May.
The ceremony is such a wonderful event. We’re disappointed, and we’ll miss seeing everyone, but we have to put safety first.
We’ll be in touch with reading group leaders about votes for this year’s program. Our voting deadline of April 15 will likely be moved forward. We’ll make an announcement about that as soon as we have more information on when schools might reopen.
We’re happy to see so many Hackmatack authors reading online, and hope readers can tune in on social media to see their presentations.
Take good care everyone, and keep reading!
2020-21 Hackmatack Shortlists
Congratulations to all the nominees! Check them out here:
Did you know?
You don’t have to be in a Hackmatack reading group to enjoy the titles. And you don’t have to be a conventional reader.
The Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) is an accessible library service, providing books and other materials to Canadians of all ages with print disabilities.
We’re happy to tell you that the majority of the 2019-20 Hackmatack titles are available for free in accessible formats for kids with print disabilities.
You can get these titles from your public library, or through the CELA website:
https://celalibrary.ca/2020_Hackmatack_English
https://celalibrary.ca/2020_Hackmatack_French
We’d like to thank CELA for the wonderful work they do. Their collection has more than 700,000 professionally produced titles, with an emphasis on Canadian authors and stories, and favourites for kids and teens.
2018-2019 Winners
Click here to find out who were the winners of the 2019 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award.
Click here to see photos from the ceremony.
If you missed the 2019 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award Ceremony, it’s available for viewing here. Enjoy!
2019-2020 Hackmatack Shortlists
Congratulations to all the nominees! Check them out here:
Call for Volunteer Board Members
We’re expanding our volunteer board! We are looking for individuals:
- with enthusiasm for literacy and a love of children’s books;
- who are able to share their passion and great ideas at the three board meetings that take place each year (in September, December, and March) either in person or by telephone or Skype;
- who are willing to assist with the annual awards ceremony in late May;
- who have skills they are willing to contribute to the program (eg., writing grant applications, spearheading fundraising initiatives, handling the society’s bookkeeping)
Please send a brief letter of interest to hackmatack@hackmatack.ca including your name and contact information and what interests you about being a member of the Hackmatack board.
** We welcome interested parties to self-identify in any way they feel comfortable as well as including any insight into pertinent work / volunteer experience.
Remembering Sharon Palermo
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Hackmatack Board member Sharon Palermo passed away on March 5 after a brief illness.
She was a dedicated educator and children’s author who was passionate about books and reading.
Sharon proposed the idea of a “tree award” for the Atlantic region, putting in motion what would become the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award.
She devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy to the Hackmatack program. Her board work included a seat on the promotions committee, and she generously hosted meetings in her home. Through her tireless support she shared her love of reading with children across Nova Scotia and throughout Atlantic Canada.
We continue to be indebted to Sharon and her commitment to Hackmatack. It was a pleasure to work with her. She will be sadly missed.
Sharon’s obituary is available online at Arbor Memorial. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award and Society.