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New poll finds 90% of Canadians believe improving literacy is key to competitive economy. Council of the Federation Announces Literacy Award Winners for 2010 Conference Board of Canada report shows that improving literacy can save lives in the workplace.
Data Angel Report: Addressing Canada's Literacy Challenge, A Cost-Benefit Analysis (PDF) New TD Bank Report: Helping Newcomers Unlock Their Potential (PDF) Listen to Barbara Adler's poem, "Florence"
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BC’s Golden Goal Tarnished: Literacy services in British Columbia hit by second round of cutsVancouver, BC, August 24, 2009 – “On Friday, August 21, Literacy BC received notice from the Ministry of Education that all of the funding—$60,000 in total—has been cut for Literacy BC’s Read Line and the BC Literacy Directory, an online guide to literacy programs,” Judy Cavanagh, executive director of Literacy BC, announced today. “Thousands of British Columbians each year use these services to connect with educational programs in their areas. This seriously jeopardizes their access to information. Literacy BC will run the BC Literacy Directory and the Read Line for as long as we can, but without funding, our inability to operate this service will have consequences.” Cavanagh says, “In 2005, the province of BC announced the golden goal of becoming the most literate jurisdiction on the continent. Just four years later, key literacy funding is being cut. Because of BC’s current economic situation, literacy services are more important than ever. More and more British Columbians are out of work. In order to find a new job, many people need to upgrade their skills. The BC Literacy Directory and the Read Line offer a simple way to connect people with the services they need to succeed. Cutting funding to these tools just does not make sense.” The BC Literacy Directory (www.literacybc.ca/directory) is a website where people can find programs to improve reading, writing and English language skills in their regions of BC. The Read Line, 1-888-732-3234, is a confidential, toll-free hotline where anyone can get personalized assistance with finding a literacy program. Often, friends or family use the service on behalf of someone who struggles to read. Volunteers also call, looking for a way to make a difference to literacy. The loss of funding for the BC Literacy Directory and the Read Line is coming just weeks after the province eliminated 16 Regional Literacy Coordinator positions across BC. The Regional Literacy Coordinators (RLCs) provide training to literacy providers, and help learners connect to programs in their areas. RLCs work closely with Literacy BC to make sure that new programs are added to the BC Literacy Directory. They also help to find appropriate programs for each learner. They are a key element of BC’s literacy infrastructure. Now, with no regional coordination through RLCs, and funding cut to the BC Literacy Directory and Read Line, British Columbians who need help finding the right program for their needs will face even more obstacles. “Literacy is the essential skill, and is defined by UNESCO as a basic human right,” says Cavanagh. “One million British Columbians do not have the literacy skills they need to succeed in today’s economy. Improving their skills helps everyone. As people’s skills improve, they can get better jobs, and become more engaged citizens. The more children learn, the more they can achieve. The more education workers have, the more productive they are. More productivity leads to a growing economy. We urge the province of British Columbia to reinstate funding to the very services that will help lift BC out of our current economic difficulties.” -30-
About the BC Literacy Directory: The BC Literacy Directory ) is the easy way to find programs to improve reading, writing and English language skills. Using an interactive map, visitors can find programs and services in their area. The Directory contains links to programs for people of all ages and learning levels, whether parents looking for a head start in reading for their children, unemployed workers seeking to upgrade skills, or new immigrants wanting to improve their English. About the Read Line: The Read Line (1-888-732-3234) is a toll-free, confidential hotline that provides information on literacy programs and services across BC. For more information, contact: Melinda Johnston, Manager of Communications, Literacy BC,
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