News Archives: Tina Fabian: Inspiring Children to Read
Wednesday, April 18th, 2018
GPRC Office Administration graduate Tina Fabian recently returned to the College to read to the children at the Demonstration Daycare. The book she read? Robert Munsch’s Smelly Socks, the book Fabian herself inspired as a child.
Fabian graduated from GPRC in 2005 and went on to complete her Bachelor of Management Degree with Athabasca University in 2010.
“College was a great experience for me,” said Fabian. “All because the classes were just the right size, the instructors were amazing and would give assistance when needed. I met so many people there and still meet new friends today with connections to GPRC.”
At first, being an eight-hour drive away from home was tough, but with her studies keeping her busy and the encouragement of her family back in Hay River, Northwest Territories, Fabian adjusted to life in Grande Prairie.
“The best decision I made was to come to GPRC, it opened up so many opportunities for me and my family, so we decided to stay here after I graduated in 2010,” said Fabian. “My time at GPRC felt like I was in the right place at the right time and everything just fell into place.”
Fabian was recently invited by Brigitte Cockney, a GPRC Early Learning and Child Care alumna who now works at the College’s Demonstration Daycare and who had previously met Fabian back in their hometown of Hay River.
“It is an honour to be asked to come back to GPRC and read for the children and their families,” said Fabian. “It is always an honour and pleasure to share this book. It is fun, colourful and brings my small community—with its vast beautiful land, culture, traditional animals and architecture—to the world!”
During his Canada wide literacy tour, author Robert Munsch came to Chief Sunrise School, located near Fabian’s home on what is now known as Katlodeeche First Nations Reserve. She was one of only three kids who showed up to the reading and was rewarded by Munsch who decided he would write a story about each of them, including Smelly Socks about then six-year-old Fabian.
“At the time I was wearing colourful striped socks and my pants were rolled up because they were wet from the snow,” said Fabian. “Robert liked my socks and right then and there made up a story on the spot about dirty socks and how I wouldn’t change socks with others for the world.”
Several years later, in 2004, Munsch called Fabian to tell her that funny little story he made on the spot about her socks was going to be published and called Smelly Socks.
That same year, Munsch travelled to Hay River and Chief Sunrise School for a book launch. “As the book evolved, Robert would send me illustrations and keep me updated on how it was coming along, so when it was finished, it was such an amazing experience to be apart of and share with my family, friends and the community,” said Fabian.
After each reading of Smelly Socks, Fabian enjoys hearing from the children and their experiences with the book, if they own it themselves and listening to the stories they are part of or have created.
“I want to visit with more children and show them how fun it can be to read and how we can always use our imagination to make our own stories,” said Fabian. “I would love to do more readings. Anything to help children pick up any book and read.”
