Minister of Education Mike Bernier shared front-page news about literacy this morning by handing out copies of the Vancouver Sun for the Raise-a-Reader campaign launch. The Ministry of Education is providing $500,000 to the literacy campaign.

Decoda Literacy Solutions - the only provincewide literacy organization in British Columbia - will be working with The Vancouver Sun to distribute the B.C. government’s $500,000 Raise-a-Reader contribution to community-based literacy organizations throughout B.C. Since 2004, the Province has invested more than $6.8 million in support of Raise-a-Reader, including the investment announced today. Funds raised through the annual Raise-a-Reader campaign play a vital role in supporting literacy programs that help B.C. families.

Literacy is crucial to the success of individuals in both their career aspirations and their quality of life. Strong literacy skills are closely linked to the probability of having a good job, decent earnings, and access to training opportunities.

Quotes:

Mike Bernier, Minister of Education –

“The work of Raise-a-Reader and Decoda are putting a simple fact into action: reading matters. Their work contributes to our communities in multiple ways, supporting literacy and by extension, supporting innovation and growth for everyone.”

Brenda Le Clair, CEO, Decoda Literacy Solutions –

“We would like to thank the Vancouver Sun and the Ministry of Education for their continued commitment to Raise-a-Reader. The funds raised through the campaign provide invaluable resources and training to family literacy programs across B.C.”

Patricia Wu, manager local marketing, The Vancouver Sun Raise-a-Reader –

“The Vancouver Sun Raise-a-Reader campaign provides funding to non-profit B.C. literacy organizations such as Decoda Literacy Solutions, Canucks for Education Centre and the Vancouver Public Library Foundation over the last 19 years. The funds we raise provide unique family, children and immigrant literacy programming that help those in need better live their lives.We are grateful for the B.C. government’s continued support of this year’s Raise-a-Reader campaign and for being such a key partner in helping build a strong literacy community.”

Learn More:

Raise-a-Reader: www.raiseareader.com

Decoda Literacy: www.decoda.ca