Literacy Champions Network
The PEI Literacy Alliance recently joined many literacy organizations and formed the Literacy Champions Network. We share a vision where all people have the basic skills they need to succeed.
The Literacy Champions Network is a coalition of provincial and territorial literacy organizations. We work together to ensure communities nationwide understand and value literacy as an essential part of creating a happy, healthy society.
10 Things You Can Do to Support Literacy in Your Community
1. Follow the organizations that make up the Literacy Champions Network on social media. Like and share their pages. Together, we can amplify the message of literacy and make a meaningful impact in promoting literacy for all. During September 1st to 8th each of our organizations celebrate International Literacy Day on social media.
#LiteracyChampionsNetwork #LiteracyDay #InternationalLiteracyDay2024 #Literacy #LiteracyMatters #LiteracyConnects #LiteracyEmpowers #LiteracyOpensDoors #LiteracyForAll
@Canlearnsociety @Foundationslearning @Literacynovascotia @Nwtliteracycouncil @Peiliteracyalliance @UnitedforLiteracy #FoundationsLearningofNewBrunswick #LiteracyHaidaGwaii #YamaskaLiteracy
@Canlearnsociety
@nbliteracy
@literacy_ns
@PEILiteracy
@Unite4literacy
#NWTLiteracyCouncill
@YamaskaLiteracy
2. Donate to Literacy Charities: Consider making financial contributions to literacy-focused nonprofits, community centres or schools. Your donations can help provide books, educational resources, and support literacy programs. Donate to the PEI Literacy Alliance Now
3. Advocate for Literacy Policies and Funding: Raise awareness about the importance of literacy by sharing information on social media, organizing community discussions, or writing to local representatives to advocate for increased support and funding for literacy initiatives.
4. Read with Your Children or Other Family Members: Reading for fun can have many benefits for children and adults, such as improving imagination, focus, and relaxation. You can encourage a love of reading by sharing books with your children or relatives. You can also join a family literacy program or a book club to connect with other readers.
5. Start a Book Drive: Organize a book drive in your community to collect new or gently used books. Donate these books to local schools, libraries, or literacy organizations to ensure they reach those who need them. The PEI Literacy Alliance accepts new and gently used children’s books. Please email info@peiliteracy.ca for more information.
6. Celebrate Literacy Events: You can join local, national and international celebrations of literacy by participating in events and initiatives that promote lifelong learning. For example, you can celebrate Family Literacy Day on January 27th, World Book Day on April 23rd, Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st, International Literacy Day on September 8th or Canadian Library Month in October. Come to our free Celebration of Learning each November at Florence Simmons Performance Hall.
7. Support Local Authors and Publishers: You can support Canadian literature by buying, reading, reviewing, and sharing books by local authors and publishers. You can also attend book launches, readings or festivals that showcase Canadian talent and diversity.
8. Create Literacy-friendly Environments: You can make your home, workplace or community more conducive to literacy and learning by providing access to books, magazines, newspapers or other educational materials. You can also help create spaces where people can read, write, and discuss ideas comfortably and without distractions.
9. Promote Community Literacy: Acknowledge and support the unique literacy needs of Canada’s diverse cultural communities. Discover authors, storytellers, and literacy programs that are dedicated to sharing and preserving the many languages and cultures in our communities.
10. Recognize and Appreciate Literacy Champions: You can acknowledge and appreciate the people who have made a difference in your literacy journey or in the lives of others. You can thank them personally, write them a note, give them a gift or nominate them for an award. You can also celebrate their successes and support their efforts.
Each contribution, no matter how small or large, becomes a vital thread in the tapestry of a more literacy and inclusive world.
Remember, even the smallest actions can make a significant difference in someone’s life.
Together, let us champion literacy and empower individuals from all backgrounds to unlock the transformative power of lifelong learning.
Literacy Champions Network – How we began
The Literacy Champions Network emerged as a result of the strong relationships and shared passion among the twelve literacy organizations that were previously affiliated with The Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy (PGFL). The foundation itself was established in 2002 following the death of Peter Gzowski, the renowned host of CBC Radio’s Morningside, who had been deeply committed to raising funds and awareness for literacy in Canada.
Peter Gzowski’s dedication to literacy began in the late 1980s when he set a goal to raise $1 million for literacy initiatives across the country. This goal led to the creation of the Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournaments for Literacy in 1986. These tournaments became a platform for raising funds and promoting literacy, while also bringing together literacy representatives from different regions to exchange best practices and expertise at an annual training forum.
Over the next four decades, the Peter Gzowski Invitational (PGI) Golf Tournaments for Literacy spread across every province and territory in Canada. The collective efforts of these tournaments raised more than $13 million by 2018, contributing significantly to literacy programs and initiatives nationwide.
As time went on, the affiliated partners involved in the PGI Golf Tournaments for Literacy expanded their fundraising efforts beyond golf tournaments. They diversified their activities to include various events and campaigns tailored to their local communities, all with the goal of supporting literacy programming and raising awareness.
In 2022, the Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy made the decision to transition from supporting fundraising events to providing grants to literacy organizations. As a result, the foundation concluded its formal relationship with the affiliated partners. However, the relationships created over the years among the provincial and territorial literacy organizations remained strong and valuable.
Recognizing the enduring connections and collaborative spirit forged through the support of the PGFL foundation and the invaluable work it accomplished, in 2023, literacy organizations from across the country came together as the Literacy Champions Network. They realized the power of their collective efforts and the potential to continue supporting literacy programming within their respective communities. With a shared commitment to improving literacy rates and advocating for increased literacy supports, the Literacy Champions collaborate on initiatives, share resources, and leverage their collective expertise to make a lasting impact in promoting literacy from coast to coast to coast.
Today, the Literacy Champions Network stands as a united force, working diligently to address the literacy challenges faced by their communities. They honour the legacy of Peter Gzowski and the accomplishments of the PGI Golf Tournaments for Literacy while adapting to new approaches and strategies to advance their common goal of fostering literacy skills and opportunities for all Canadians.
Members of The Literacy Champions Network:
Ready Set Learn
Imagination Library
Adult Learner Awards
Social Emotional Literacy
Essential Employability Skills
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