This year January 27th is celebrated as Family Literacy Day across Canada. In BC the importance of literacy is highlighted over a week from January 22 to January 29.
Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning to enable an individual to achieve his or her goals, to develop his or her knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in the wider society. — UNESCO
Literacy, Language, Communication may be viewed as the necessary pillars for successfully working and integrating within a community. Culture Chats aims to promote the English language, literacy and literary arts through programming and sharing of relevant information. A few useful resources are included below that provide information, support and inspiring ideas for ready reference (not an exhaustive list):
Programs: Decoda Literacy Solutions provides resources, training and funds to support community-based literacy working with a network of 102 Literacy Outreach Coordinators to increase the literacy and learning skills of children and families, youth, adults, and seniors to improve their quality of life at home, at work and in the community.
Partnerships: ABC Life Literacy Canada® is a non-profit organization that connects and mobilizes business, unions, government, communities and individuals to support lifelong learning through leadership in programs, communications and partnerships.
Policy: Canadian Literacy and Learning Network provides a national forum for exchange, collaboration, support and promotion of English literacy issues in Canada with representation from provincial coalitions of colleges, school boards, unions and community-based agencies that deliver literacy programs locally.
Other:
The BC Summer Reading Club is a free literacy program designed to engage school-aged children, ages 5-14, with libraries and reading, throughout the summer.
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing, illustrating and publishing of Canadian books for young readers has published a family literacy day reading list.
The Reading Agency, a UK based charity charity whose mission is to inspire more people to read more is one of many sources that offers recommendations to readers at all levels
