MAPLE RIDGE – New Democrat MLA Lisa Beare says funding boost to community-based Indigenous, adult and family literacy programs will help people gain skills in reading, writing, math and digital literacy.

“Giving people the opportunity to improve their literacy opens up so many opportunities,” said Lisa Beare, MLA for Maple Ridge- Pitt Meadows. “It can mean anything from being more financially independent to spending time reading with your kids. This investment in a Lifelong Learning for Adults program will be a great addition to our community.”

In Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, the funding will go to the Lifelong Learning for Adults program led by the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Katzie Literacy Committee.

The New Democrat government is investing $2.9 million in the Community Adult Literacy Program which includes a one-time investment for 2021-22. This support will fund 97 programs, delivered by 66 organizations in 128 communities throughout the province.

Community based Indigenous, adult and family literacy programs are provided free of charge and delivered by community organizations, Indigenous-led organizations, and public-post secondary institutions. Literacy programming typically includes one-on-one tutoring and small-group instruction which supports all levels of literacy. In 2020, many programs shifted to online service delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.