If you are a journalist or blogger looking for story ideas, a quote, or facts about literacy, we would love to help you. Literacy BC staff are experts in adult literacy. We can help you understand local, provincial and national literacy issues, and provide quotes and adidtional contacts. For any media inquiries, please email Melinda Johnston at mjohnston@literacy.bc.ca or call 604-684-0624 ext. 107.

July 15, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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The 20th Annual PGI Raises $59,000 to Support Literacy in British Columbia

Vancouver, BC, July 15, 2010 - On July 13, 2010, 120 golfers gathered at University Golf Club in Vancouver for the 20th Annual Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament for Literacy BC, and the presentation of the annual Learner Achievement Tribute Award to Shawn Richards.

During a beautiful day on the course, the PGI raised $59,000, bringing the twenty-year total raised by the PGI to over one million dollars to help provide literacy services to British Columbians. This year's PGI was dedicated to Linda Mitchell, who passed away on June 25, 2010. Linda Mitchell founded Literacy BC in 1990, and was a champion of literacy.

The Honourable Steven Point, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, spoke to the crowd about the importance of literacy, the focus of his five-year term as Lieutenant Governor. "We must encourage and promote literacy at all ages," said Point. "All British Columbians deserve equal access to literacy materials. It's vital to our growth, development and prosperity as individuals, as a society and as a province."

At the celebration dinner following the tournament, Shawn Richards received the 2010 PGI Learner Achievement Tribute Award. This annual award honours an exceptional adult literacy learner in British Columbia with a monetary prize and a $250 library from Greystone Books, and a matching library for his school.

Richards struggled with learning disabilities as a child, and dropped out of school in grade eight. As an adult, he struggled with addiction. Finally a street nurse helped him access treatment. As part of his recovery, Richards went to Literacy Nanaimo to get help reading books about addiction. Richards says, "I was like a nervous child waiting to talk to a total stranger and ask for help reading books that I hoped would help save my life. I told the tutor coordinator at Literacy Nanaimo I was looking for help reading a book on recovering from alcoholism. She was so interested in me. I will never forget her for the kindness she showed me that day." Richards worked extremely hard to learn. Today, he is attending classes at Vancouver Island University, and working part-time for Canadian Mental Health.

The PGI would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors: Marsh Mercer, Manulife Financial, G&F Financial, The Co-operators, RBC, Suzanne Bolton and Jeff Mooney, SunLife Financial, Chevron, Windsor Plywood, Lift and Monk McQueens Restaurants, Young & Wise, Black Hills and Clos du Soleil Wines, The Vancouver Sun and Province, Great-West Life, CBC Radio-Canada, and St. Joseph Media.

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About Literacy BC: Literacy BC was founded in 1990. For twenty years, Literacy BC has been the connection point for literacy stakeholders across BC and across sectors. Literacy BC conducts research on various literacy issues, provides support to literacy educators, maintains a respected resource library and works with literacy service providers, the private sector, the public sector, and government to advance literacy in BC. For more information, visit: www.literacybc.ca.

Literacy Programs in BC: There are literacy programs in communities across BC. For more information about literacy programs, visit: www.literacybc.ca/directory.

About the PGI Golf Tournament for Literacy BC: The Peter Gzowski Invitationals (PGIs) were founded by the late Canadian broadcaster and journalist Peter Gzowski to raise much-needed resources for the thousands of adult learners who struggle with the challenge of low literacy. Held annually in every province and territory, the PGIs have raised more than $10 million net since they began in 1986. The first PGI for Literacy BC was held in 1990. The Vancouver PGIs have now raised one million dollars for literacy in British Columbia.

For more information, contact: Melinda Johnston, Communications Manager, Literacy BC, 704, 333 Terminal Avenue, Vancouver BC, V6A 4C1 Phone: 604-684-0624, ext. 107 Email: mjohnston@literacy.bc.ca

January 18, 2009: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Literacy BC Celebrates Family Literacy Day

On January 27, 2010—Family Literacy Day—everyone at Literacy BC will take a few minutes to join together in song.

This year’s Family Literacy Day theme, Sing for Literacy, resonates with us for three reasons. One, singing promotes literacy skills. Supporting and promoting literacy and life-long learning is our mission. Two, 2010 is Literacy BC’s 20th anniversary. What better way to celebrate than through song? Three, from the spirituals of the deep south to the folk music of the sixties to the fundraiser “We are the World” in 1985, singing has always been a way to express solidarity and commitment to a cause. Our cause? The belief that literacy affects everyone and everyone has a part to play in raising literacy levels.

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September 3, 2009: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

International Literacy Day 2009

September 8 is International Literacy Day.

If you could read that sentence, congratulations. According to the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level test it has a grade level of 16.2, or college-level. Forty percent of British Columbians might have trouble reading it.

When most people think of problems with literacy, the image that pops to mind is someone who cannot read at all, or someone who has to sign legal documents with an “X” rather than a signature. In many parts of the world, that image is true.

Worldwide, one in five adults is not literate, and 75 million children are not in school. In British Columbia, we are more fortunate. Our children go to school, and we have opportunities for further education. Very few people in BC cannot read or write at all. However, one million British Columbians do not have strong enough literacy skills to meet the demands of today’s fast-paced and information intensive economy. They might be able to read basic text, but have a hard time with math. They might be excellent employees, but cannot understand the manual for a new piece of equipment. They might be able to sign a permission slip, but not help their children with homework.

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For additional information, please contact Melinda Johnston, Communications Manager, at 604-684-0624 ext. 107, or mjohnston@literacy.bc.ca.