Latest news with #CBCA
West Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
KATE EMERY: Faffing about with Book Week costumes is worth the pay-off of getting kids excited to read
Parents have lots of reasons to complain. Book Week is not one of them. By all means bemoan the fact that parenthood starts with one person pushing a bowling ball out of their bathing suit area or that bedtime is proof of what Albert Einstein suggested in his theory of relativity: the existence of a new time dimension where everything slows to a crawl. Just don't whinge about the existence of an annual celebration of books, stories and reading — especially not when our kids are facing a reading crisis. But the costumes! No. But it's just another burden on working parents! No. But my kid wants to go as Elsa from Frozen every year and every year I cave in and have to explain to judgmental parents and teachers that, actually, there are a number of Frozen book spin-offs so technically the costume is fine. No (but I feel your pain). In a school year crammed with marathon assemblies, ill-timed parental morning teas and school bags overflowing with drawings and craft projects that must be discreetly disposed of under cover of darkness, Book Week is one 'burden' that should be welcomed every year. This isn't because I particularly enjoy trying to convince my six-year-old that those op-shop pants, when teamed with this ladies green jacket, absolutely makes her look like Wolf Girl and not a member of the Artful Dodger's street gang with access to a Witchery chain. It's because Book Week is designed to get kids excited about books in a world that is increasingly geared towards dopamine-spiking screens and 20 second videos to cater for the modern attention span. Is that not worth a bit of faff with the tin of orange hairspray required to turn my eight-year-old into the Flame Princess from the Adventure Time graphic novels? Book Week can be as hard or half-arsed as you care to make it. Is your time really so precious that you can't afford to get up five minutes early to draw a zig-zag scar on your kid's forehead and call it a day? This year marks 80 years of Book Week, which is the work of the Children's Book Council of Australia. The CBCA's mission statement, when it was established in 1945 was partly about promoting Australian stories, at a time when most Aussie kids grew up reading about white Christmases, English boarding schools and trying to figure out what the heck spotted dick was anyway, and partly about encouraging a love of reading. Raising a kid who loves to read isn't just good for them academically, although kids who read regularly not only perform better in reading tests but in general intelligence tests. One study suggested that children who read daily improve their school marks as much as though they had studied for an extra three months. Reading is also shown to improve kids' social skills, empathy, mental health and happiness. It's also just fun. The statistics on kids reading for pleasure are bleaker than the plot of Wolf Girl (if you know, you know). Between 2018 and 2022 the percentage of Australian kids reading books for fun fell from 79 per cent to 72 per cent (71 per cent in WA). This should be no surprise to anyone, given screens' colonisation of childhood. A still-forming brain, faced with the choice between brightly-coloured moving images on a screen that promises no-effort entertainment and words on a page they have to read that might not get good until Lucy finally gets through that wardrobe doesn't have much of a choice. Turning kids into readers isn't just the responsibility of schools — parents need to do more. I've banged this drum before but it's a tune that bears repeating: if your kid isn't reading for pleasure it's probably your fault. Let your kid see you reading books for fun, take them to the library or bookshop and let them choose what they like and limit their access to screens. And when your child comes home and tells you they need a Book Week costume, instead of putting another pin in the voodoo doll of your school principal, feign some excitement, invest in a hot glue gun and try to smile.
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Cat with a murky history takes author to prestigious children's book prize
A cat with a murky history appeared at author Deborah Frenkel's door a few years ago, inspiring her book, The Truck Cat, which has won the Children's Book Council of Australia outstanding Picture Book of the Year. With lovely illustrations by Danny Snell, the story traces a cat who befriends a truck driver and its subsequent adventures, exploring ideas of migration, belonging and home. Frenkel is 'pretty overwhelmed' with the award, saying she grew up loving books with the CBCA signature medal on the covers. The 40-year-old mother of two says her day job as a copywriter in an advertising agency has helped hone her ability to write concisely. She pays credit to the illustrations by Snell, saying he has an incredible ability to draw emotion into his pictures. The two have another book coming out next year. In the Younger Readers category, Maryam Master won for Laughter is the Best Ending. The powerful Always Was, Always Will Be - by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson - won the highly respected Eve Pownell award and is one of two indigenous category winners, while the new illustrator award went to Brisbane illustrator Sarah Capon, who specialises in creating intricate layered-paper illustrations, for Grow Big, Little Seed. Young adult author Gary Lonesborough has won the older readers category for I'm Not Really Here. A heartwarming debut from Darwin tradie Darren McCullum, with award-winning illustrator Craig Smith, The Wobbly Bike, has won the Early Childhood Category. Loading The CBCA Book of the Year Awards are divided into six categories: Early Childhood, Younger Readers, Older Readers, Picture Book of the Year, New Illustrator and the Eve Pownall Award. This year 730 entries were assessed by 15 judges, showcasing 730 books, representing 121 publishers, 555 writers and 368 illustrators. This year marks the council's 80th anniversary.
The Age
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Cat with a murky history takes author to prestigious children's book prize
A cat with a murky history appeared at author Deborah Frenkel's door a few years ago, inspiring her book, The Truck Cat, which has won the Children's Book Council of Australia outstanding Picture Book of the Year. With lovely illustrations by Danny Snell, the story traces a cat who befriends a truck driver and its subsequent adventures, exploring ideas of migration, belonging and home. Frenkel is 'pretty overwhelmed' with the award, saying she grew up loving books with the CBCA signature medal on the covers. The 40-year-old mother of two says her day job as a copywriter in an advertising agency has helped hone her ability to write concisely. She pays credit to the illustrations by Snell, saying he has an incredible ability to draw emotion into his pictures. The two have another book coming out next year. In the Younger Readers category, Maryam Master won for Laughter is the Best Ending. The powerful Always Was, Always Will Be - by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson - won the highly respected Eve Pownell award and is one of two indigenous category winners, while the new illustrator award went to Brisbane illustrator Sarah Capon, who specialises in creating intricate layered-paper illustrations, for Grow Big, Little Seed. Young adult author Gary Lonesborough has won the older readers category for I'm Not Really Here. A heartwarming debut from Darwin tradie Darren McCullum, with award-winning illustrator Craig Smith, The Wobbly Bike, has won the Early Childhood Category. Loading The CBCA Book of the Year Awards are divided into six categories: Early Childhood, Younger Readers, Older Readers, Picture Book of the Year, New Illustrator and the Eve Pownall Award. This year 730 entries were assessed by 15 judges, showcasing 730 books, representing 121 publishers, 555 writers and 368 illustrators. This year marks the council's 80th anniversary.
Cision Canada
30-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
EARLY WARNING REPORTS ISSUED PURSUANT TO NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 62-103 SHAREHOLDERS ANNOUNCE FILING OF UPDATED EARLY WARNING REPORTS
TORONTO, June 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Michael Held, the Chief Executive Officer and Director of LifeSpeak Inc. (" LifeSpeak" or the " Company") and Nolan Bederman, the Executive Chair and Director of LifeSpeak (each of Mr. Held and Mr. Bederman, an " Shareholder"), announce that, on June 26, 2025, the Company completed the previously announced plan of arrangement (the " Arrangement") under Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (" CBCA"), pursuant to which 17104944 Canada Inc., an entity originally incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) as 1001180076 Ontario Inc. and continued under the CBCA, acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company. The Arrangement, which was announced on April 17, 2025, was approved by the Company's shareholders at the special meeting held on June 23, 2025. The Company obtained a final order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) in respect of the Arrangement on June 25, 2025. In connection with the Arrangement and pursuant to the terms of a rollover agreement (the " Rollover Agreement"), Mr. Held and Mr. Bederman exchanged certain of their Common Shares for common shares of the Purchaser on a 1:1 basis under the Arrangement steps. Also pursuant to the Arrangement, all of Mr. Held and Mr. Bederman's options to purchase Common Shares were vested and cancelled for no consideration. Prior to the completion of the Arrangement, Mr. Held had ownership of, or exercised control or direction over, 12,077,395 Common Shares (comprised of 1,446,041 Common Shares held directly, and control or direction over 10,631,354 Common Shares held by certain related entities) representing approximately 20.4% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and held options to acquire an additional 1,400,000 Common Shares (all of which vested in connection with the Arrangement and were cancelled). Assuming exercise of all of such options, Mr. Held would have had ownership of, or exercise director or control over, 22.26% of the Common Shares (on a partially diluted basis). Prior to the completion of the Arrangement, Mr. Bederman had ownership of, or exercised control or direction over, 5,691,674 Common Shares (comprised of 1,043,390 Common Shares held directly, and control or direction over 4,648,284 Common Shares held by certain related entities) representing approximately 9.62% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and held options to acquire an additional 1,400,000 Common Shares (all of which vested in connection with the Arrangement and were cancelled). Assuming exercise of all of such options, Mr. Bederman would have had ownership of, or exercise director or control over, 11.71% of the Common Shares (on a partially diluted basis). Following the completion of the Arrangement, neither Shareholder holds, nor exercises control or direction over, any Common Shares or options to acquire Common Shares. It is expected that the Company's common shares will be delisted from trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on June 30, 2025. The Company will submit an application to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable securities laws. The head office address of LifeSpeak is 2 Bloor Street West, Suite 1902, Toronto, ON, M4W 3E2. For further information please refer to the early warning reports to be posted on LifeSpeak's SEDAR+ profile at or which may be obtained by contacting Mr. Held or Mr. Bederman at 416-687-6695.
Cision Canada
26-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
LifeSpeak Inc. Announces Completion of Plan of Arrangement
TORONTO, June 26, 2025 /CNW/ - LifeSpeak Inc. (" LifeSpeak" or the " Company") (TSX: LSPK), the leading whole-person wellbeing solution for employers, health plans and other organizations, is pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced plan of arrangement (the " Arrangement") under Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (" CBCA"), pursuant to which 17104944 Canada Inc., an entity originally incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) as 1001180076 Ontario Inc. and continued under the CBCA, acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company. The Arrangement, which was announced on April 17, 2025, was approved by the Company's shareholders at the special meeting held on June 23, 2025. The Company obtained a final order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) in respect of the Arrangement on June 25, 2025. It is expected that the LifeSpeak common shares will be delisted from trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange in the coming days. The Company will submit an application to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable securities laws. Further details regarding the Arrangement Agreement are set out in the management information circular which is available under the profile of LifeSpeak at About LifeSpeak Inc. Celebrating 20 years of supporting employee wellbeing, LifeSpeak Inc. is the leading provider of mental, physical, and family wellbeing solutions for employers, health plans, and other organizations across the globe. LifeSpeak is a holistic, personalized solution that provides expert support and thousands of on-demand fitness classes, nutrition guidance, and mental health education. Using AI, LifeSpeak creates a seamless, personalized journey—bridging the critical gap between physical and mental health, because true wellness happens when body and mind work together. The company's portfolio of offerings also includes Torchlight Parenting & Caregiving and ALAViDA Substance Use. Insights from LifeSpeak Inc.'s digital and data-driven solutions empower organizations and individuals to take impactful action to strengthen wellbeing and maximize workplace performance. To learn more, follow LifeSpeak Inc. on LinkedIn ( or visit Because wellbeing can't wait. Forward-Looking Information This press release may include "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information may include, but is not limited to, statements regarding the delisting from the Toronto Stock Exchange and ceasing to be a reporting issuer and offering corporation. The Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances. However, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology and phrases such as "forecast", "target", "goal", "may", "might", "will", "could", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "indicate", "seek", "believe", "predict", or "likely", or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking information, including references to assumptions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts nor guarantees or assurances of future performance but instead represent management's current beliefs, expectations, estimates and projections regarding possible future events, circumstances or performance. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by LifeSpeak as of the date of this release, is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those indicated by the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to the risk factors identified under "Risk Factors" in LifeSpeak's annual information form for fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and in other periodic filings that LifeSpeak has made and may make in the future with the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada, all of which are available under LifeSpeak's SEDAR+ profile at These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect LifeSpeak. However, such risk factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date of this release. LifeSpeak undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws.
