More than half a million British Columbians face significant challenges because of limited literacy skills, whether it’s an inability to read the newspaper or a lack of understanding of important financial or health documents.
Literacy skills are vital to all British Columbians because they are a necessary part of everyday life and impact everything from healthcare to employment and economic status. Literacy is no longer just the ability to read or write, but encompasses a much wider scope of daily activities — including using technology, doing calculations, communicating verbally and in writing, and problem-solving.
This month, Black Press and the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) are joining forces to raise funds and awareness about the importance of literacy with the fifth annual Reach a Reader campaign. The campaign will culminate with community leaders and volunteers hitting the streets across the Columbia Basin and Boundary to distribute special editions of local papers and collect donations in support of community-based literacy programs.
The Reach a Reader campaign coincides with Decoda Literacy Solutions’ Literacy is Life campaign, a provincewide fundraising and awareness campaign designed to put a human face on literacy and shed light on how low literacy affects children and adults, Aboriginal and immigrant communities, those in the workforce, and the economy as a whole.
“Literacy skills are essential for a vibrant B.C. economy, so addressing limited levels benefits everyone,” said CBAL executive director Ali Wassing. “We would encourage anyone who is affected by literacy issues to tap into the many resources and literacy programs available in their community.”
To find out more about literacy in Creston, contact Joan Hedstrom at crestoncoordinator@cbal.org or visit cbal.org.
—COLUMBIA BASIN ALLIANCE FOR LITERACY