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Friday, May 25, 2012 Capital News
NEWS
Project Literacy tutors continue to change the lives of their pupils Jennifer Smith STAFF REPORTER
Project Literacy is celebrating a major milestone. The successful nonprofit has hit the quarterlife mark, ready to commemorate 25 years of resolving literacy issues. Founded by concerned community members who felt adults needed a place to improve on reading, writing and math skills, it’s grown from a tiny operation in the Laurel Packinghouse to one of the community’s staple social supports. “In general, we have two major groups. There are those who are upgrading in order to qualify for more education, and those who want to improve employment opportunities. And then there’s the third group who are working on English as another language,” Blair Lischeron, Project Literacy executive director, said in interview from his
Bernard Avenue offices. Altogether, Lischeron’s figures show more than 100 tutor-andstudent pairings meet each month for lessons. Diana and Rod Warnock were among the founding directors— Diana acting as a tutor and director—and both say those numbers show it’s light years from where it all began. Operating on a shoestring budget, cobbled together from small grants and donations, the clients were often teetered on the brink of horrific lives, struggling to survive without showing the world they could not read or write. “One lady was from a Doukhobor family. I was in my forties at the time and she was already 60-plus. Her parents had been jailed in the Kootenays and the kids were farmed out to foster homes within the community, so she never real-
ly got to go to school at all. When they tried to do something about that, she was 11 and they put her back in Grade 1. It was such a traumatic thing for her,” said Diana Warnock. “She was probably the one who I really, really got attached to. She was so smart and learned so quickly and was just so excited to be able to read to her grandchildren. It just transformed her life.” The move to create a community-based literacy organization was spearheaded by Maxine Veach, who was running a literacy service out of the Okanagan College. “Particularly young men, by the time they reached 30, 35 years old, they would realize they couldn’t move forward, couldn’t apply for a higher job or be moved on unless they could do something about their reading,” said Warnock. “They were coming in so desperate and we were lit-
City in Action PUBLIC NOTICES
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PROJECT LITERACY VOLUNTEER Graham Bell works with Phuong Pham, an immigrant to Kelowna from Vietnam. dents who have slipped from the mainstream school system, tutoring them during the summer or after school. The tutors typically go above and beyond the call of duty, making extraordinary the norm. Marianne Boctor, an engineer from Egypt who has just returned to home for a visit, is tutoring her math students via Skype to ensure they don’t fall behind. Jessi Mackenzie, 46, said her tutor, Bonnie Gir-
City Hall 1435 Water Street Kelowna, BC V1Y 1J4 250 469-8500 ask@kelowna.ca
Watermain Flushing Utility crews continue their watermain flushing program to ensure the distribution system is refreshed and healthy.
Attention Pool Owners Did you know that improper discharge could result in a fine of up to $2,000? The City’s Sanitary Sewer/Storm Drain Regulation Bylaw restricts the discharge of swimming pool or hot tub water that contains disinfectants such as Chlorine or Bromine. You may drain your pool to a dry area on your own lot over a long period of time. However, if you intend to drain your pool into the storm drain or sanitary sewer, there is a procedure you must follow: 1. Dechlorinate the water in your pool. Products are available at local retail outlets for this purpose. 2. Contact the City of Kelowna Water Quality Staff. They may wish to check the chlorine levels in the water and approve discharge to the storm drain or sanitary sewer. INFO: 250 469-8896
erally getting them off the street.” Both the Warnocks and Veach had sons with learning difficulties, so they felt a personal connection to the cause and worked very hard to find scraps of funding to keep the project running. It didn’t take long before 30 to 40 tutors were involved. Tutors at Project Literacy are all volunteers who willingly to dedicate an average of four to five hours per week to ensuring the students get the best education available. “It’s just amazing. I can’t say enough about our tutors,” said Elaine Johnston, who has set up the tutor/learner pairings for over 10 years. “We have tutors of every age and from every walk of life. It’s an incredible place.” Today, the program also helps some younger clients, acting as a backup for Central School stu-
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Poplar Point Drive to KLO Road from Okanagan Lake to Gordon Drive May 7 – May 30
INFO: 250-469-8600
Summer Activity & Program Guide On Tuesday, May 29, get your copy of the Summer Activity & Program Guide inside the Kelowna Capital News or online at kelowna.ca/recreation. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. on the following days:
How do we accommodate all modes of transportation and realize efficiencies? How will this significant recreation destination look, feel and function in the near future?
Registration for programs for persons with a disability will be held Friday, June 8 at 9:30 a.m.
General programs Aquatics Leagues
Avoid phone queues by signing up early for online registration. Call 250-469-8800. Register in person at the Parkinson Recreation Centre, by phone or online at kelowna.ca/recreation. INFO: 250 469-8800
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Feedback will be received until Sunday, June 3. Access the survey by visiting kelowna.ca/cityprojects under Lakeshore Road Improvements. INFO: 250 469-8485
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• Tuesday, June 5 • Thursday, June 7 • Friday , June 8
The preliminary design for a new bridge, utilities and roadway is expected to be completed by the end of the year with construction dependent on the success of a Gas Tax Funding application.
and we get into the most interesting conversations,” he said, noting he has met learners from Ghana, Fiji, Korea, China, Japan and India. According to the Canadian Council on Learning, 48 per cent of the adult population in Canada is considered to have below-standard literacy skills—and the figure is expected to grow. Like most non-profits, Project Literacy is constantly looking for grants, donations and other sources of funding, so the organizers are also hoping to raise money by auctioning a painting done by Canadian artist Joyce Quillian. Her husband is a tutor. The event will be held June 8 at the Laurel Packinghouse, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $40, available at Project Literacy, 205-591 Bernard Ave, phone 250-7622163 or at Mosiac Books on Bernard Ave.
During this period, lower than normal water pressure may be experienced. If water is discoloured, run the cold water until clear.
Residents are invited to take an online survey to provide feedback about what is important for the future of Lakeshore Road corridor.
Decisions will be based on feedback that respects community values, accommodates future growth, supports the 2030 Official Community Plan and reduces Green House Gas emissions.
ourard, is helping her make a major life change that seemed impossible seem manageable as she studies for the Language Proficiency Test. She needs the LPI in order to get into her program for sterilizing medical instruments. “It’s been 30 years since I was in school,” said Mackenzie, who worked in the hospitality industry. “With all the texting and abbreviating and getting into bad habits, I just need to get back in the swing of things.” There are payoffs for the tutors as well. Alex Carr, an English as another language and math tutor, has personally helped two people get through math exams they couldn’t fathom passing prior to connecting with the organization. One student will go into education and the other into business. “I get to meet people from all over the world
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SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 23 (Central Okanagan)
SD 23 IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR HOMESTAYS FOR THE 2012/2013 SCHOOL YEAR. FAMILIES ARE NEEDED FOR GLENMORE, MISSION, RUTLAND AND WEST KELOWNA AREAS. The International Student Program is seeking families to host short term (5 month) or full year (10 month) international high school students. Our students come from a variety of countries including Mexico, Brazil, Western Europe and Asia. Host family compensation is $750 per month. For program information, please visit our website at www.internationaleducation.ca To obtain an application form and arrange for a home visit, please contact: • Maris Schoepp at 250-860-9729 (ext. 7306) email: maris.schoepp@sd23.bc.ca for the Rutland Secondary catchment area • Jennifer White at 250-860-9729 (ext. 4822) email: jennifer.white@sd23.bc.ca for the Kelowna Secondary and Okanagan Mission Secondary catchment area • Ana Vallejos at 250-860-9729 (ext. 6082) email: ana.vallejos@sd23.bc.ca for Mount Boucherie Secondary School and West Kelowna Middle Schools.