We would like to wish our readers a very happy 2013!
We hope you will keep following us, using our content and giving us your feedback. Our website now has a new feature that we hope you will enjoy: a 2013 calendar with holidays and special observances.
Have a fun night, and may the New Year bring you lots of joy and success!
Photo credit: Larisa Koshkina (public domain)
www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader
May your holidays be happy and bright!
Photo credit: Larisa Koshkina (public domain)
www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader
The best present: Oliver under the Christmas tree
Reading by : Oliver Smilnak (12 years old)
This audio submission was sent to us by one of our young readers from the Czech Republic. In his story, Oliver is telling us how he and his family spend Christmas Day.
Transcript:
Hello! I am going to tell you how we spend Christmas in the Czech Republic.
www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader
Pico, a veteran police horse, died after 13 years of stalwart service with the Vancouver Police
Photo courtesy of the Vancouver Police Department
Reading by: Jessica Heafey
CLICK HERE for the text version of this article.
www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader
Pico, a veteran police horse, died after 13 years of stalwart service
with the Vancouver police mounted unit.
Photo courtesy of the Vancouver Police Department
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun
Level 3
For almost 20 years, Pico was a police horse in Vancouver.
Pico even had a badge number. It was 8254.
Pico joined the mounted squad in October, 1993.
In 2006 he retired, and became a therapeutic horse
for his last five years.
He was so gentle that children with disabilities could ride him.
This calm and reliable horse died peacefully on October 21, 2012.
www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader
A patch of mint for indoor gardening
Reading by: Jessica Heafey
CLICK HERE for the text version of this article.
www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader
Kent Houston is the creator of Patch, a locally designed and manufactured indoor planter system.
Photograph Arlen Redekop, The Vancouver Sun
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun
Level 2
Patch has many meanings in English.
An eye patch is a cover for a sore or injured eye.
A patch can be a piece of cloth to fix a hole in your jeans.
www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader
TransLink is increasing fares as of Jan. 1, 2013. Cash fares for one- and two-zone transit fares will go up by 25 cents, and a three-zone fare increases by 50 cents.
Photo by Kim Stallknecht, The Province
Adapted from The Province
Level 1
On January 1, adults in Vancouver will pay more to use the bus.
One-zone and two-zone fares will go up by 25 cents.
A three-zone fare will go up by 50¢.
From January 1, a one-zone trip will be $2.75.
A two-zone trip will be $4.
And a three-zone fare will be $5.50.
The price of FareSaver tickets stays the same.
www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader
Andrew in a skin-on-frame modern kayak
Photo courtesy of Cape Falcon Kayak
Reading by: Jessica Heafey
CLICK HERE for the text version of this article.
www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader
Andrew in a skin on frame kayak
Photo courtesy of Cape Falcon Kayak
Adapted from Wikipedia and Links below
Level 3
Many people in Canada love to be outdoors.
Some like to paddle on B.C.’s lakes or on oceans nearby.
A favorite boat of outdoor people is the canoe.
The word “canoe” came from kenu in the Carib language,
and canoa from Spanish. These words mean “dugout”.
A dugout is a boat made from a log.
Another favorite boat is the kayak.
Kayak is a word from the Inuit people.
It means “man’s boat”.
www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader