VICTORIA – The Province is providing $2.4 million to support adult literacy training programs in 90 communities throughout British Columbia this year.

“This funding will ensure more than 9,000 adult learners throughout the province will get the help they need to improve their reading, writing and math skills,” said Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk. “We’re investing in adult literacy to help British Columbians gain the skills they need to further their education and training and improve their job prospects.”

Funding for the Community Adult Literacy Program (CALP) is distributed to not-for-profit community groups to offer free literacy training that is easily accessible in local schools, native friendship and community centres.

The program is tailored to suit the needs of Aboriginal learners, young parents, and other adults in the community, and is delivered by trained volunteers offering one-to-one tutoring or small group classes.

“The CALP program is essential to providing learners with a first step towards reaching their goals and pursuing other educational opportunities,” said Kerry Milner Cairns, manager of the Yellowhead Community Services Society. “CALP programs support learners by providing a safe, comfortable, learner focused environment. It’s a unique program where adults learn what is relevant to them, and can receive supports to remove barriers to their learning. Success in the CALP program provides the confidence to improve one’s life through more advanced learning, creating improved employment opportunities, and notable gains in quality of family life, social engagement and community participation.”

“The Literacy Association has helped me reach my educational goals by giving me the support of tutors. I think tutors are very important to the success of the students,” said Svetlana Harpe, adult learner at the Campbell River Community Literacy Association. “Their encouragement and support has given me more confidence. Because of their generosity, my life has changed for the better in many ways.”

Each community organization delivering CALP collaborates with a public post-secondary institution in their region. These partnerships encourage the transition of adult learners from literacy programs to post-secondary studies and employment training.

“The CALP providers in the North Island College region have been instrumental in supporting learners in furthering their educational goals toward a high school diploma or accessing post-secondary education,” said Tony Bellavia, dean of instruction at North Island College. “They have been invaluable in removing the fear that some learners associate with higher education and fostering a climate that encourages learners to pursue post-secondary education.”

Since 2001, the Government of B.C. has invested more than $25 million in CALP, helping more than 93,000 adults improve their reading and writing skills.

Learn More:

Community Adult Literacy Program: http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/literacy/welcome.htm

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Stacey McGaghey Jones
Ministry of Advanced Education
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 952-6400

BACKGROUNDER

Province provides $2.4 million for adult literacy

The Community Adult Literacy Program supports adult literacy training throughout British Columbia. Training is delivered by community groups working in collaboration with B.C.’s public post-secondary institutions. Literacy projects in the following communities have received funding this year:

• 100 Mile House: Thompson Rivers University/Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society
• Abbotsford: University of the Fraser Valley/Abbotsford Community Services
• Agassiz: University of the Fraser Valley/Agassiz-Harrison Community Services Society
• Aldergrove: Kwantlen Polytechnic University/Aldergrove Neighbourhood Services Society
• Atlin: Northern Lights College/Northern Lights College Atlin Access Centre
• Barriere: Thompson Rivers University/Simpcw First Nation
• Bella Coola: North Island College/Bella Coola Learning Society
• Brentwood Bay: University of Victoria/Saanich Adult Education Centre (WSANEC School Board)
• Burnaby: Simon Fraser University/South Burnaby Neighbourhood House
• Campbell River: North Island College/Campbell River Community Literacy Association
• Chilliwack: University of the Fraser Valley/Chilliwack Community Services
• Chilliwack: University of the Fraser Valley/Chilliwack Learning Community Society
• Clinton: Thompson Rivers University/High Bar First Nations
• Courtenay and area (Black Creek, Glacier View): North Island College/Community Adult Literacy and Learning Society: Adult Learning Centre
• Dawson Creek: Northern Lights College/Dawson Creek Literacy Society
• Duncan and Cowichan region: Vancouver Island University/Literacy Now Cowichan Society
• East Kootenay (Golden, Cranbrook, Creston, Elk Valley, Fernie, Invermere, Kimberley, Windermere): College of the Rockies/Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
• Fort Nelson: Northern Lights College/Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society
• Fort St. James: College of New Caledonia/Fort St. James Public Library
• Fort St. James: College of New Caledonia/Nak’azdli Band 
• Fort St. John: Northern Lights College/Fort St. John Literacy Society
• Fraser Lake: College of New Caledonia/ Fraser Lake Library
• Hazelton: Northwest Community College/Storytellers’ Foundation
• Hazelton communities: Northwest Community College/Learning Opportunity Group Society  
• Hope and area: University of the Fraser Valley/Read Right Society (formerly known as New Page Human Services Society)
• Houston: Northwest Community College/Houston Link to Learning
• Kamloops: Thompson Rivers University/Secwepemc Cultural Education Society
• Kamloops: Thompson Rivers University/Twin Rivers Education Centre and School District 73
• Kitimat: Northwest Community College/Kitimat Community Services Society
• Langley: Kwantlen Polytechnic University/Aldergrove Neighbourhood Services Society
• Lillooet: Thompson Rivers University/Lillooet Area Library Association
• Little Fort and area (Barriere, Blackpool, Birch Island, Blue River, Clearwater, Vavenby, Avola): Thompson Rivers University/Yellowhead Community Services Society
• Maple Ridge: University of the Fraser Valley/Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Katzie Community Literacy Committee
• McBride: College of New Caledonia/Robson Valley Support Society
• Merritt: Nicola Valley Institute of Technology/Literacy Merritt and Nicola Valley Society
• Mission: University of the Fraser Valley/Mission Literacy in Motion
• Moricetown: Northwest Community College/Kyah Wiget Education Society
• Nanaimo: Vancouver Island University/Literacy Central Vancouver Island
• North Cariboo region, Quesnel: College of New Caledonia/North Cariboo Aboriginal Family Program Society
• North Vancouver: Capilano University/North Shore Neighbourhood House
• Parksville and Qualicum: Vancouver Island University/Central Vancouver Island Job Opportunities Building Society
• Port Alberni: North Island College/Literacy Alberni Society
• Powell River: Vancouver Island University/Powell River Employment Program (PREP) Society
• Prince George: College of New Caledonia/Prince George Native Friendship Centre
• Prince Rupert: Northwest Community College/Prince Rupert Community Enrichment Society
• Queen Charlotte and area (Sandspit, Skidegate, Tlell, Port Clements, Massett, Old Massett): Northwest Community College/Literacy Haida Gwaii
• Revelstoke: Okanagan College/Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
• Revelstoke: Okanagan College/Revelstoke Literacy Action Committee
• Richmond: Kwantlen Polytechnic University/Literacy Richmond and School District 38
• Salt Spring: Camosun College/Salt Spring Literacy Society
• Samahquam: Capilano University/Samahquam Band
• Sechelt: Capilano University/Sechelt Public Library
• Skeena Region (upper): Northwest Community College/Learning Opportunity Group Society
• Smithers/Moricetown: Northwest Community College/Kyah Wiget Education Society
• Smithers: Northwest Community College/Smithers Community Services Association
• South Cariboo Region: Thompson Rivers University/Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society
• South Okanagan (Oliver, Osoyoos, Okanagan Falls and Penticton): Okanagan College/The Okanagan Regional Library, the Open Door Group-Work BC Employment Services, Department of Community Services, Oliver Public Health, YouLearn.ca, South Okanagan Community Literacy Society, and South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services
• Squamish: Capilano University/Communities That Care
• Squamish: Capilano University/Squamish Volunteer Centre Society
• Surrey: Kwantlen Polytechnic University/Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society
• Terrace: Northwest Community College/The Terrace Volunteer Bureau
• Valemount: College of New Caledonia/Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
• Valemount: College of New Caledonia/Valemount Learning Society
• Vancouver: Capilano University/Carnegie Community Centre
• Vancouver: Capilano University/Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of BC
• Vancouver: Capilano University/Strathcona Community Centre
• Vancouver: Capilano University/Vancouver School Board
• Vanderhoof: College of New Caledonia/CNC Vanderhoof Campus and Vanderhoof Public Library
• Victoria: Camosun College/Literacy Victoria
• West Kootenay (Castlegar, Grand Forks, Kaslo, Nakusp, Nelson, Salmo, Slocan Valley, Trail): Selkirk College/Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
• Whistler: Capilano University/Whistler Public Library
• Williams Lake and area: Thompson Rivers University/Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society

Media Contacts:

Stacey McGaghey Jones
Ministry of Advanced Education
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 952-6400