Province provides funding for local literacy promotion

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The Saskatchewan government marked International Literacy Day on Sept. 8 by announcing funding that will allow 15 communities across the province to develop local community literacy plans.

The funds are being provided through the SaskSmart Innovations Fund, created to help communities provide programs and services designed to address their local literacy needs.

"These grants will assist communities in meeting their literacy needs at the grassroots level," said Deb Higgins, minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Literacy Commission.

"Action is being taken by local partnerships to initiate a community response to existing literacy challenges so that no one is left behind on the path to opportunity."

Each organization will use the $10,000 in funding to establish literary associations and to work with the commission to develop literacy plans. Once the plans are in place, each group will be able to apply for additional money through the SaskSmart Innovations Fund in order to implement the plans.

One community receiving a grant is Duck Lake, the surrounding rural municipality and Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation. Partners in the literacy project include the town of Duck Lake, Willow Cree Education Complex, Beardy's and Okemasis Off-Reserve Family Wellness Program, Duck Lake Library, Duck Lake Agencies, Prairie Spirit School Division, Stobart community high school, Stobart elementary community school and an individual community member.

A grant will go to Estevan and Ocean Man First Nation. Partners in the project include Southeast Regional College, SMILE Services Inc., Ocean Man Education Centre, Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division, Southeast Cornerstone School Division, Estevan Public Library and the Estevan Chamber of Commerce.

Meadow Lake will receive funding to develop a local literacy plan. Organizations involved in the Meadow Lake Literacy Partnership include North West Regional College, Northwest School Division, North West Friendship Centre, Community Health Parent Mentoring, Door of Hope, Jubilee school, KidsFirst, Multiworks, Successful Mothers Support Program, Early Childhood Services, Healthy Babies R. F. Start, Metis Local 31, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Meadow Lake Tribal Council and a number of individual community members.

The Battelfords and seven surrounding First Nations have partnered together for another literacy initiative. Partners in the project include the Battlefords Tribal Council Training and Employment Centre, North West Catholic School Division, Living Sky School Division, Sakewew high school and North West Regional College.

A number of communities in northeast Saskatchewan, including Nipawin, Melfort, Tisdale and Hudson Bay, have joined together to co-ordinate local literacy programs and services. Partners in the literacy project include Cumberland Regional College, Northeast Regional Intersectoral Committee, North East School Division, Melfort Chamber of Commerce, Metis Nation-Saskatchewan Eastern Region II, Northern Steel and North East Regional Economic Development Association.

Pinehouse Lake is another grant recipient, with Minahik Waskahigan school, Magloire Kiddie Kare Daycare, Mamawetan Churchill River Regional Health Authority, KidsFirst North, FAST families and Northlands College partnering to develop a local literacy plan.

Other communities receiving the grants include Coronach and the Regional Municipality of Hart Butte; Kyle and surrounding area; Lloydminster; Moose Jaw; Prince Albert; Regina and region; Saskatoon and downtown area youth; Saskatoon immigrants and refugees; and a provincial employment strategy committee of the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations and members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

"Literacy development makes it possible for people to participate successfully in the labour market and to create a better quality of life for themselves and their families," Deb Higgins said. "These grants exemplify the goernment's commitment to literacy that will ultimately build stronger families and communities and strengthen our province's vibrant economy."