Tucked into a second-floor office space on Marine Avenue is a program with far-reaching potential. The Learning Centre houses Community Adult Literacy and Learning, English Second Language Settlement Assistance Program, Powell River Diversity Initiative and the literacy outreach coordinator representing Powell River Literacy Council. Together they have the ability to touch every individual in the community, and enhance his or her participation in society.
“Everybody can improve their literacy skills, from the most educated person in Powell River to the least educated,” said Emma Larocque, literacy outreach coordinator, a position mirrored in communities throughout the province. “Nobody knows everything about everything.” Larocque’s position is funded by Decoda Literacy Solutions and administered locally by Powell River Employment Program Society.
“It is my responsibility to raise awareness about the importance and broad scope of literacy and how it reaches different parts of people’s lives from birth to death,” said Larocque. “I also promote literacy-related programs and services we have available in Powell River.”
Families play a large role in enhancing literacy by nurturing children’s learning from day one. From reading a bedtime story to understanding rules for a board game, to reading and following a recipe, to filling out the weekly crossword, literacy adds enjoyment to everyday life.
“There are learning opportunities every minute of every day,” said Larocque. “At the grocery store, kids can help add up the totals or read labels. Folding laundry can be made fun and educational by sharing a family story or practice a skill like counting together.”
According to Statistics Canada, “40 per cent of BC adults do not have the skills necessary to read a newspaper, fill out a work application form, read a map, or understand a lease,” and “49 per cent of BC adults do not have the skills necessary to calculate a tip, create a budget, calculate sales tax, or understand credit card interest rates.”
“Low literacy means that a person is not at the level they need to be at to succeed in their workplace or to do what they can to help their children succeed at school,” Larocque said. “Literacy is about more than reading and writing, math and computers. It’s about critical thinking, oral communication and working with others. Literacy touches every part of our daily lives.”
Every year, thousands of families across Canada take part in Family Literacy Day held on January 27. It is an initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada, promoting the importance of reading and other literacy-related activities within the family. Our Learning Journey is the theme for 2012.
Powell River’s event takes place from 3 to 6 pm, Friday, January 27 at Powell River Recreation Complex.
The literacy council is organizing the event and festivities are being co-sponsored by First Credit Union. The day will feature nine adult reading heroes who will each head up a different activity station.
Lots of creativity will be involved. At A World of Art children will sit down with David Perun of Skylight Art Studio to read a story. The children will then choose a character from the story to depict in their art project. “Stories that Sing will be another great one,” said Larocque. “Shaun Coburn is one of our local children’s entertainers and his station is all about singing stories.” Builder, roller-blader and theatre director “CaroleAnn Leishman is a tremendously creative person in our community who will get kids using their imaginations at her Imagination Station and incorporate drama into the event. All nine stations are going to be great.”
Murals will be displayed at the event that have been created by school children in the district. A month ago blank canvases were delivered to elementary schools in the area, plus participants in the Partners in Education program, and students have used art to depict their learning journey.
Last week Larocque organized the Literacy Forum. Forty-five people attended, where panelists spoke from their professional, and sometimes personal, perspectives about literacy. Three key areas were focused on: how literacy affects the economy, community and health.
Numerical literacy is key to understanding finances, said Sandra McDowell, First Credit Union chief marketing officer. Understanding options for planning ahead, savings, obtaining credit or identifying fraud are out of reach to people with low or no financial literacy awareness.
Health care information can be lost on somebody who has difficulty reading medication descriptions, explained Tanja Hanson, public health nurse, and people taking the wrong medication can incur severe health problems.
Powell River RCMP Staff Sergeant Andy Brinton quoted the results of a study conducted in Michigan that showed if five per cent more males were to graduate high school, there would be a US$280 million increase per year in the state. That increase would come from higher productivity and lower crime rates.
Powell River Community Foundation’s recently published Vital Signs report states: “In the 2007/08 and 2009/10 school years, 35.2 per cent of 18 year olds [in Powell River] did not graduate.”
Jean Mackenzie of Family Place mentioned the Perry Preschool Project that invested in early childhood education programs for three and four-year-olds back in the early 1960s. Over 37 years these children were followed into adulthood, and compared with their peers. By age 40, it was estimated that society received a return of more than $7 (one study suggests $16) for every $1 invested in the early years.
People can improve their literacy levels just by being involved in the community. Volunteering, taking part in events, understanding politics, developing opinions, and learning how to listen to others are all free ways of participating and removing the sense of isolation many can feel through low literacy.
“I initially had trouble learning how to read,” said Larocque. “My sisters and I used to snuggle up with my mom while she read to us, and I loved those times, but when I sat down and tried to read on my own, I was frustrated. Then one day I got it. I realized it was a way I could explore things that I might not have the chance to explore in my everyday life, and I could learn about interesting things. It was like this door opening on the world and I walked through it and have never looked back.”
Anybody wishing to know about literacy programs in the community can contact Larocque at 604.485.2004, [email protected].
