Media

Do you know . . .

Who raises money so that children and youth from low-income households can have the chance to improve their reading, writing and mathematics skills?

Answer: The non-profit Victoria READ Society with private and corporate donations through tuition assistance.

What local non-profit literacy organization has an on-line searchable map showing places where families and individuals can access literacy resources in the Capital Region?

Answer: The Victoria READ Society offers an on-line map in its Family Literacy website pages. You will also find our Directory of Family Literacy Programs (published in late 2006) with contact information and a snapshot of each organization. The Directory of Family Literacy Programs can be viewed as a PDF and a limited number of  copies are still available at our office, 201-2631 Quadra Street. We’d also be happy to mail you a copy. Just give us a call at 250-388-7225.

Where Capital Region journalists can get local help sorting out provincial, national and international literacy statistics and facts?

Answer: The Victoria READ Society is an excellent resource for journalists. We keep on top of literacy issues and can help journalists pull a local angle out of the statistics. For an example, check out the news release we prepared on the Canadian Council on Learning’s report Reading the Future. In our news release, we show how Capital Region employers can play a crucial role in supplying an increase in workplace literacy skills. Read the release  . . .

When adults who need help improving their literacy skills can get individualized help?

Answer: Adults needing help improving their literacy skills, whether it be for reading, writing, mathematics or computers, can attend classes at the Victoria READ Society Mondays to Thursdays during the day or evening.

Why “illiteracy” is an outdated term?

Answer: “The word ‘illiteracy’ is an either/or word: Either you can read, or you can’t. Literacy is a complex set of skills that can be measured on a scale, so literacy experts speak of low literacy rather than illiteracy. “People with low literacy may have difficulties reading a bus schedule, filling in a form, or figuring out the correct medicine dosage from the instructions on the bottle,” says Claire Rettie, executive director of the Victoria READ Society.

How a reluctant reader can become a child who devours books daily?

Answer: The professional teachers at the Victoria READ Society start by identifying learning gaps through recognized assessments and then give individualized attention that helps build a young reader’s confidence. Before long, reading becomes fun!