Funding announced for 10 adult literacy programs in the Prince George region

This week the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills announced $333,620 in funding, delivered through the College of New Caledonia, to support adult literacy programs in 10 smaller communities the college serves.

It’s a small amount of money, but its already made a big difference in the lives of some new Canadians, Vanderhoof Public Library head librarian Jennifer Barg said. The library was able to hire a part-time coordinator to launch a new adult literacy program in Vanderhoof last September, thanks to the funding. Currently 24 to 30 new Canadians in the community have been taking advantage of the program.

“It’s just been wonderful to see their progress. It’s given them a life that they hadn’t had in the community,” Barg said. “It’s been one of the best things I think we’ve done as a library this year.”

Each learner in the program is paired with a volunteer tutor for one-on-one help, she said. But the learning is not just focused on books, Barg added.

“My coordinator took them our for some Canadian experiences. They went to the lake for a day, had a campfire, made s’mores,” she said. “One of the ladies (in the class) said she’d wanted to go back to her homeland, before the group. But now she loves Canada and Vanderhoof. It changed her life.”

Literacy education is a natural fit for the library, Barg said, but the Vanderhoof Public Library only has three regular staff and organizing the program without the coordinator position would have been difficult. The library will be able to offer the program for one more year, before having to look for funding again.

The funding will provide two-year support for adult literacy programs in Quesnel, McLeod Lake, McBride, Dome Creek, Dunster, Valemount, Albreda, Tete Jaune and Vanderhoof. The programs are being delivered by the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy, Literacy Quesnel Society, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Robson Valley Community Services, Valemount Learning Society and Vanderhoof Public Library.

The funding was announced on Monday, as part of $3.4 million for Community Adult Literacy Programs announced by the ministry for programs in 128 communities across B.C. The programs provide free English classes for newcomers, work permit holders and refugee claimants.

An estimated 700,000 people in B.C. have significant challenges with literacy, numeracy and digital literacy, according to information released by the ministry.

"Community-based literacy programs provide people living in our province with the support they need to succeed and thrive in today's workforce," Advanced Education Minister Anne Kang said in a statement issued on Monday. "I believe that by investing in community adult literacy programs and connecting people with the education and training they need, we are making a difference in supporting the first step in many people's educational journeys. From creating household budgets to completing job applications, the skills gained in these programs can make a positive difference in a person's life."