CBC will offer an innovative and unique virtual opportunity for tweens, the CBC KIDS NEWS BACK-TO-SCHOOL LIVE EVENT IN MINECRAFT, on Saturday, October 10 at 4 p.m. ET. Created by CBC Kids News with support from young Minecraft gamers and Brilliant Labs, a not-for-profit technology and experiential learning platform based in Atlantic Canada, the virtual event is open to tween gamers around the world, and will take place within a special CBC Kids News World in best-selling video game Minecraft, modelled after the CBC Toronto Broadcast Centre. The event will include a virtual live studio taping hosted by 15-year-old CBC Kids News contributor Elijah Sandiford and GeminiTay, a 24-year-old creator and up-and-coming gaming YouTuber from Newfoundland, who will speak with pediatrician and epidemiologist Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh to answer kids’ health questions, and connect with kids to hear about their personal back-to-school experiences.
“I am really excited to participate in the CBC Kids News Back-to-School Live Event in Minecraft. I think it is so incredible to be involved in a project that creates a safe space for kids to be themselves and learn at the same time,” said GeminiTay, co-host of the CBC Kids News Back-to-School Live Event in Minecraft. “Especially in 2020, getting information that is accurate is so important. A lot of social media sites today are not safe for kids to be browsing on, so helping kids navigate this stressful time and learn in a space where they feel like they can be themselves is amazing. Being able to share emotions through art is powerful, and I can’t wait to see what everyone creates for this project.”
“CBC is committed to engaging younger audiences with entertaining and informative content that helps them understand the world around them, on the platforms that are most relevant to them,” said Marie McCann, Senior Director, Children’s Content, CBC Kids. “It’s crucial that young people see themselves represented in CBC’s coverage of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the CBC Kids News Back-to-School Live Event in Minecraft will offer them a chance to share their thoughts and questions in a safe and fun interactive space.”
Tweens can also participate in activities that will be scattered throughout the CBC Kids News World in Minecraft, including a hunt for special messages from celebrities; a candy dispenser challenge to build a functioning structure to hand out Halloween candy safely; and a parkour race above the clouds to find the COVID-19 vaccine.
Tween video game players can join the CBC Kids News World if they have Minecraft Java Edition which is available on any Windows PC (Windows 7 and up), Mac computer (OS 10.9 and up), and any Linux device (2014 onwards). For those who don’t have Minecraft, the event will also be streamed on Twitch and YouTube Live. For more information on how to join, tweens are encouraged to visit cbckidsnews.ca. The live studio taping will wrap at 5 p.m. ET on October 10, while the CBC Kids News World will remain available to players in Minecraft throughout the weekend. Following the live event, a gameplay video with the best builds will be posted on cbckidsnews.ca, YouTube and the free CBC Gem streaming service. Later this fall, the CBC Kids News World will be expanded with activities and educational experiences before being added to Minecraft: Education Edition, to offer classrooms across Canada on-demand access to its resources.
Targeted to kids aged nine to 13, CBC Kids News covers local, national and international stories that are relevant to Canadian kids in a safe and age-appropriate manner with a focus on media literacy. Managed by a seasoned team of journalists who consult with an editorial board of young Canadians from across the country, the platform includes stories from Canadian contributors aged 12 to 16.
With over 112 million unique Minecraft players engaged across all platforms, Minecraft is the best-selling video game in history. Minecraft players create and break apart various kinds of blocks in three-dimensional worlds. It’s an open-world game that promotes creativity, collaboration and problem-solving. “Minecraft: Education Edition” is a special version of the game designed for schools and educational settings — supporting 21st century learning across subjects from coding to chemistry.
