After weeks of classroom and school spelling bees throughout the district, 18 top-notch spellers are now preparing for the inaugural Chronicle-Journal Thunder Bay and District’s Regional Spelling Bee.

The event is to take place Feb. 16 at Lakehead University in the theatre of the Bora Laskin Building. With the generous support of presenting sponsor Canada Post, the CanWest CanSpell National Spelling Bee program features local bees in 22 cities across Canada.

The Chronicle-Journal Regional Bee, in partnership with Lakehead University, will determine the Thunder Bay and district representative at the national final, which is scheduled to take place at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que., in mid-April.

“The Chronicle-Journal is thrilled to play its part in this celebration of literacy,” newspaper publisher and general manager Colin Bruce said Wednesday.

“It’s just so important to recognize the varied aspects of achievement of our young people, including the excellence demonstrated in language arts. The Can-West CanSpell spelling bee is a celebration of excellence and we are very proud to be partners in this national competition.”

Hundreds of Thunder Bay and district students in grades 4-8 took part in school-level spelling bees throughout January. The top 18 spellers will now gather to vie for the regional championship, a $5,000 RESP courtesy of AIC Limited, and a chance to advance to the next level of competition.

CanWest CanSpell, Canada’s only truly nation-wide spelling bee program, has grown in popularity and participants since its inception in 2005. This year, more than 225,000 students in 22 communities across the country registered to participate.

The 2008 program also expanded to include two new markets, with the introduction of regional partners in Hamilton and Thunder Bay. Twenty-two young Canadians (regional winners from each city) will travel courtesy of Air Canada to participate in the national final April 18 and 19. This group of finalists will vie for the top prize: the $15,000 AIC Award and their name on the CanWest CanSpell Cup.

The Feb. 16 regional final will be hosted by Bruce.

Doors open at 1:45 p.m. There is limited seating, available on a first-come firstserved basis. The competition is to begin at 2 p.m.

CanWest CanSpell began as an idea to extend CanWest’s commitment to creating a more literate society. As with the Raise-A-Reader campaign, which focuses on family literacy and community reading programs, CanWest CanSpell celebrates the power of words and the joy of knowledge.