Arrow Lakes Area Improves Local Literacy

The Arrow and Slocan literacy task group received $60,000 from Literacy Now Communities. Funds helped support numerous projects such as a literacy lending library; children's reading programs in Edgewood, Burton, Nakusp and New Denver; ESL instruction in Naksup and New Denver; a seniors' computer literacy project; work experience for people with disabilities and Women of Wonder (WOW) – a program that enables online support groups.

Other programs include Books for Babies, for families with newborns; Parent-Child Mother Goose (in three communities) that uses rhyming, singing and play to build language skills; Learning Adventures for Families (LAFF) that helps parents be active partners in their children's learning; Little Explorers at Edgewood Elementary to bridge preschool children's transition to kindergarten; and StrongStart where parents or caregivers work and learn with their preschool children in a school setting. Additional programs include Fauquier's Tots' Group, a parent and child drop-in group that uses play and games to improve literacy.

Literacy Now Communities guides communities through a planning process to identify and address local literacy needs. The program focuses on building partnerships, networking and sharing best practices within BC's communities and regions. There are currently 96 task groups throughout BC working to improve local literacy. Literacy Now Communities is supported by the Province of British Columbia.