Adult learners around the province will get help to improve their reading, writing and numeracy skills and advance their education and career goals thanks to government funding for the Community Adult Literacy Program (CALP).

The B.C. government is providing $2.4 million to support 68 community-based, adult-literacy projects in 2012-13, benefitting close to 6,400 British Columbians.

The projects are delivered through partnerships between community groups and B.C.'s public, post-secondary institutions.

Projects funded under CALP receive up to $40,000 each to provide instruction and support to adult learners in everything from basic literacy to high-school completion. Most offer one-on-one tutoring by trained volunteers, small-group classes and other types of learning tailored to adults, Aboriginal learners, young parents and others in the community in need of support.

CALP projects are offered in a variety of settings - schools, non-profit organizations, and native friendship and community centres - and are supported by volunteers. Projects focus on the individual goals of learners such as improving their literacy skills in order to enhance the quality of their lives, improve their employment opportunities, further their education, strengthen their families and increase their involvement in their communities.

Since 2001, the government of B.C. has invested $20.7 million in CALP, helping more than 75,000 adults improve their literacy skills.

This program supports the BC Jobs Plan's commitment to enhance access to advanced education, skills and apprenticeship training throughout the province, and the government's commitment under the Families First Agenda to support vulnerable families and help all British Columbians share in the benefits as our economy continues to grow.

Quotes:

John Yap, Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology -

"The Community Adult Literacy Program is built on a strong partnership among government, our public, post-secondary institutions and community organizations and their dedicated volunteers."

"Working together, we're opening doors for thousands of adult learners - helping them upgrade their reading and writing skills so they can pursue higher education and training, advance in their lives and careers, and more fully engage in their communities."

Jackie Rillera, adult learner -

"The Chilliwack Community Services' Family Literacy Program provided an opportunity for me to complete my math and English upgrading while my son attended his own preschool classes provided by the Family Literacy Program. I believe the decision to go back to school and work on my upgrading has helped my own children understand the importance of education. I am now in my third year at the University of the Fraser Valley working towards my bachelor of social work degree."

Shelly Joyner, executive director, Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society -

"CALP funding enables our organization to provide direct, essential, literacy services and support to over 300 unique learners' literacy and learning challenges annually. I think of one 24-year-old learner, for example, who had tried five times to achieve his high-school graduation before coming to see us. Thanks to one-to-one tutoring provided by a volunteer tutor in our CALP-funded Partner Assisted Learning Program, he has now completed his math course and is making excellent progress on two more courses required for him to complete his Grade 12."

Claudio Lerner, program co-ordinator, Capilano University -

"Thanks to CALP funding, the Lower Lonsdale Literacy Outreach Program can help participants from vulnerable segments of the population upgrade their skills and support their transition to work, volunteering and community life. As a co-ordinator, one of the most rewarding aspects of my role is to work with a group of exceptional volunteer tutors who want to contribute to their community and together witness learners as they realize their potential and fulfil their dreams."

Quick Facts:

Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested more than $1.5 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives for British Columbia. Funding for literacy in B.C. has included:

• $20.7 million for the Community Adult Literacy Program
• $54.5 million for StrongStart BC programs
• $24 million for Ready, Set, Learn since 2004-05
• $7 million for literacy programs in public libraries

Learn More:

Adult literacy: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/adult-education/adult-upgrading

Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/skills-and-training-plan/

Families First Agenda for British Columbia: http://www.familiesfirstbc.ca/learn-about-families-first/full-agenda/20/

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Dan Gilmore
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology
250 952-6400

BACKGROUNDER

Community Adult Literacy Program Grants

Community adult literacy funding supports programs all around the province, which are delivered by community groups working with B.C.'s public, post-secondary institutions. Projects for 2012-13 are in the following communities:

• 100 Mile House: Thompson Rivers University/Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society (Adult Literacy and Aboriginal/Family Literacy)
• Abbotsford: University of the Fraser Valley/Abbotsford Community Services (Adult Literacy and Family Literacy)
• Agassiz: University of the Fraser Valley/Agassiz-Harrison Community Services Society
• Agassiz: Nicola Valley Institute of Technology/Seabird Island Education
• Aldergrove: Kwantlen Polytechnic University/Aldergrove Neighbourhood Services Society
• Bella Coola: North Island College/Bella Coola Learning Society
• Burnaby: Douglas College/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
• 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, Invermere, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Creston, Fernie): College of the Rockies/Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (Adult Literacy and Family Literacy)
• Fort Nelson: Northern Lights College/Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society (Aboriginal/Adult Literacy and Family Literacy)
• Fort St. John: Northern Lights College/Fort St. John Literacy Society
• Fraser Lake: College of New Caledonia/Learning Disabilities Association-Fraser Lake North West Chapter
• Hazelton: Northwest Community College/Storytellers' Foundation
• Hazelton communities: Northwest Community College/Learning Opportunity Group Society (LOGS)
• Hope and area: University of the Fraser Valley/New Page Human Services Society
• Houston: Northwest Community College/Houston Link to Learning (Aboriginal Literacy and Family Literacy)
• Kitimat: Northwest Community College/Kitimat Community 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 Community Literacy Committee
• McBride: College of New Caledonia/Robson Valley Support 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 (Adult Literacy and Aboriginal Literacy)
• North Cariboo region, Quesnel: College of New Caledonia/North Cariboo Aboriginal Family Program Society
• North Vancouver: Capilano University/North Shore Neighbourhood House
• Little Parksville: 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/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): Okanagan College/The Okanagan Regional Library
• 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 (Adult Literacy and Family Literacy)
• Williams Lake and area: Thompson Rivers University/Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society (Adult Literacy and Aboriginal Literacy)

Contact:

Dan Gilmore
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology
250 952-6400