NORTH VANCOUVER – New Democrat MLA Bowinn Ma says funding boost to community-based adult and family literacy programs will help people gain skills in reading, writing, math and digital literacy.

“This adult literacy program will help people in our community in many ways,” said Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver – Lonsdale. “Literacy opens the door for skill and career development, it offers new employment options for people, it enriches their life and their families, and it allows them to fully participate in their community.”

The North Shore Neighbourhood House received $24,659.81 to support their Lower Lonsdale Literacy Outreach Program for the 2021-2022 year. Additionally, St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church received $24,659.81 to support their Queen Mary Family Learning Program for the 2021-2022 year.

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.

Learn more: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021AEST0046-001302