Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
An investment of $2.4 million by the provincial government is helping adult learners around the province improve their reading and writing skills by providing them with the help they need in their home communities.
The Community Adult Literacy Program (CALP) will support literacy projects in 90 communities around British Columbia in 2013-14. Projects receive up to $40,000 each to provide instruction and support to adult learners in everything from basic literacy to high-school completion.
"Strong reading and writing skills are the starting point for many adults looking to upgrade their education and get a job with a good paycheque in their back pocket," said Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk. "This year alone the Community Adult Literacy Program will benefit more than 9,000 adult learners, helping them gain the skills and confidence they need to pursue their ambitions."
CALP projects focus on the individual goals of adults, such as improving their literacy and numeracy skills to enhance the quality of their lives, improve their job prospects, further their education and skills training, strengthen their families and increase their involvement in their communities.
"If I didn't start going to the Fort St John Literacy Society, I wouldn't have finished my courses," said Lisa Jewell, who completed her Grade 12 requirements through the community adult literacy program in Fort St. John. "My tutor was amazing! She was really patient and knowledgeable, and took the time to work with me! My kids were down the hall with the early childhood education instructor, while I could crack a book, talk with the teacher and other people studying there, and bounce ideas. After finishing Grade 12 in the spring I have started college, and hope to go into either social work or criminology."
CALP projects are offered in a variety of settings such as schools, non-profit organizations and native friendship and community centres. Most projects have trained volunteers who offer one-to-one tutoring and small group classes which are tailored to meet the literacy and numeracy needs of young parents, Aboriginal learners, and other adults in the community.
"Hundreds of people in the Nanaimo and Ladysmith regions receive critical one-to-one literacy tutoring each year through CALP grants," said Rebecca Kirk, chief executive officer of Literacy Central Vancouver Island. "We leverage the grants through partnerships with Vancouver Island University, community agencies and over one hundred trained volunteers to provide quality, learner focused, tutoring to adult learners."
Community groups collaborate with a public post-secondary institution in their region to deliver literacy training, encouraging transitions from community-based programs to post-secondary studies.
"CALP is vital to our ability to deliver the essential programs many adults need to be able to participate in the economic resurgence in the province," said Denise Henning, president of Northwest Community College. "The BC Jobs Plan, our industry partners, our communities and adult learners will all benefit from this investment in the future."
Since 2001, the government of B.C. has invested more than $23 million in CALP, helping more than 84,000 adults improve their reading and writing skills.
Quick Facts:
Since 2001 the B.C. government has invested more than $1.5 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives for British Columbians. Funding for literacy in B.C. has included:
- $23.1 million for the Community Adult Literacy Program.
- $57 million for StrongStart BC programs.
- $24 million for Ready, Set, Learn since 2004-05.
- $7.2 million for literacy grants to libraries since 2005.
Learn More:
Adult literacy and the Community Adult Literacy Program: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/adult-education/adult-upgrading
B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education: http://www.gov.bc.ca/aved/index.html
BC Jobs Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/
A backgrounder follows.
Media Contact:
Dan Gilmore
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
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 2013-14 are in the following communities:
- 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: 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
- 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 Lake, 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/Learning Disabilities Association-Fraser Lake North West Chapter
- Hazelton: Northwest Community College/Storytellers' Foundation
- Hazelton communities: Northwest Community College/Learning Opportunity Group Society
- Hope and area: University of the Fraser Valley/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 Committes
- 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 contact:
Dan Gilmore
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400
