( add local host info – see notes)

What is literacy?

• Literacy is the ability to understand and use printed information in daily activities at home, at work, and in the community

People with literacy skills……have more choices about their lives, and more control over those choices

…are more likely to lead healthier lives, earn more money and help their children be the best they can be

What do literacy skills do?

Literacy skills help people:

- find information

- set goals

- work with others

- solve problems

- make decisions

What do you know about literacy?

• What can you do with literacy skills?

• If you did not have literacy skills, how do you think it would affect you in your everyday life?

Literacy skills mean you can…

• Read to your child• Write a grocery list• Apply for a job• Find a street• Order from a menu• Use a bank machine• Travel

• Read your birthday card

• Follow a recipe• Apply for a license• Help with school

work• Write a love letter

Why is it important to promote literacy in Ontario?

• In Ontario, over 20% of adults do not have basic literacy skills

• An additional 24% can not read well enough to carry out daily tasks or find and keep jobs

Why is literacy important in our community?

(See notes)

A Personal Journey

(See notes)

Did you know?…Literacy touches work!

• Literacy levels affect the kind of jobs people find, how much they earn and how easy it is for them to upgrade their work skills

Did you know?…Literacy touches families!

• Parents use literacy skills to help their children learn at home and to help them do well at school

Did you know?…Literacy touches health!

People need literacy skills to:

• Read a prescription

• Understand what a doctor or nurse tells them

• Understand why exercise, diet, eating well and not smoking is important

Did you know?…Literacy touches crime!

• On average, offenders have lower literacy skills than the general population

The Campaign

Just the Facts...

• Three pilot Ontario communities - Hamilton, Sarnia/Lambton, and Timmins.

• February 17-24, 2003• This year’s Campaign is an extension of

the Ontario Literacy Coalition’s TV and radio Campaign “What Did You Learn Today?”

Purpose of the Campaign

The Campaign encourages everyone in the community to:

•Learn something about literacy

•Teach someone something about literacy

•Care enough to tell somebody about a literacy program in our community

The Campaign Challenge

• Improve the understanding in this community of the importance of literacy skills

How did you use your literacy skills today?

Events of the Campaign

• Watch for these events!

How can your organization get involved in the

Campaign?• Display information

• Host a presentation

• Issue a campaign challenge

• Offer a prize for ballot winners

• Be part of the launch

About Us

Literacy Programs

About the OLC

• We are partnering with the Ontario Literacy Coalition (OLC) on this campaign

• The OLC is a provincial organization that supports all levels of literacy in Ontario

• It is made up of literacy programs and networks, individuals, and other organizations interested in literacy

• www.on.literacy.ca.

Thank you

We gratefully acknowledge the funders of this Campaign:

•Human Resources Development Canada, National Literacy Secretariat

•Ontario Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities

One week is not enough!

Keeping the momentum going

• What can you do to support literacy in our community?