ABC Life Literacy Canada

Visits to Port Alberni and Kamloops provide platform to highlight and celebrate literacy programs Good Reads and LEARN; special announcement of celebrity Ambassador for LEARN program

(April 1, 2011 – Toronto, ON) From April 2 to 9, 2011 the world comes together to celebrate International Adult Learners’ Week (IALW) – an initiative launched by UNESCO in 2000 – which raises the profile and importance of adult literacy learning.

ABC Life Literacy Canada and its partners look forward to celebrating IALW with all Canadians and are taking the message of life literacy and lifelong learning on the road to British Columbia. From April 3 – 5, ABC Life Literacy Canada will be at the West Coast Literacy Symposium in Port Alberni, BC presenting the Good Reads series.

Short, enjoyable books written by Canadian authors for adult literacy learners, Good Reads are perfect resources for anyone looking to discover the pleasure of reading. Good Reads are written in clear language, with adult themes, characters and storylines. Adult learners and literacy practitioners from coast-to-coast have welcomed the series.

“After not picking up a book in 20 years, Good Reads were perfect to help me gain my confidence,” said Jeremy Wright, a learner from Toronto. Shortly after the first six Good Reads books became available in September 2010, Mr. Wright had already finished reading four of the books. Six more Good Reads books will be available in September 2011.

Literacy practitioners have also been very positive about the series. April Cox of the Surrey Public Library said, “the Good Reads chapter length and number of pages is great for adult learners.”

On Thursday, April 7, ABC Life Literacy Canada will once again celebrate the courage and accomplishments of adult learners during Literacy in Kamloops’ (LinK) Adult Literacy Forum at Street School. Street School, a School District #73 adult education program, has been spearheaded since 2006 by Mr. Peter Grinberg, the 2010 Council of the Federation Literacy Award winner. This innovative adult learning centre provides targeted outreach and literacy programs for students from a wide range of learning journeys. Single mothers, unemployed skilled labourers, high school drop outs, students with previous learning disabilities and students recently released from corrections facilities have all found success thanks to Street School.

Street School has proven to be a vital resource for individuals starting over again. Under Mr. Grinberg’s guidance, Street School, which helps individuals meet their literacy goals at their own pace, has grown significantly since it first opened its doors in 2006. The first year saw the successful high school graduation of one adult learner from a handful of regular learners making the commitment to improving their literacy. During the 2010 school year, 400 adult learners were helped with 42 students receiving their Grade 12 diploma.

During the 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. presentation and discussions, ABC Life Literacy Canada will be making a live special announcement about the first-ever celebrity Ambassador who will champion the LEARN program.

Canadian adults wishing to take steps towards upgrading their literacy skills can do so through the LEARN program. Launched in 1994 as a partnership with The Yellow Pages Group™, LEARN has successfully assisted thousands of adult learners looking to improve their literacy skills. The LEARN program allows Canadian adults to easily access information about local literacy organizations and help them move forward in finding an appropriate learning program.

Adult Canadians interested in improving their reading, writing and math skills can look in the Yellow Pages directories under the heading LEARN, or online at LookUnderLearn.ca or voirapprendre.ca, to find their local literacy helpline, which will provide them with information and assistance on how to find help in their community.

Literacy is a basic skill that every Canadian should possess. Research shows that individuals with high literacy levels are healthier, have better jobs and a higher income, and are more involved in their community. As an adult, struggling with literacy can create barriers to achieving goals throughout life. Whether it’s being unable to help children with schoolwork or advance in job opportunities, or feeling a lack of confidence with community engagement, improving literacy levels can help overcome many obstacles.

Approximately nine million Canadians, age 16 to 65, struggle with low literacy. ABC Life Literacy Canada encourages those who need help with reading, writing or math to use LEARN as a resource that enables positive change, more opportunities and new learning experiences.

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