Communities Across Nova Scotia Celebrate Family Literacy Day

It had been more than 40 years since Meredith Layton stepped foot in a classroom. Then, she comfortably took a front seat at a Colchester Adult Learning Association family literacy program to upgrade her math and English skills.

"Participating in this program made me realize that you don't have to be young to return to learning," said Ms. Layton. "Opportunities are available for all ages, for all people, at all education levels."

The Bass River resident shared her success story at a Family Literacy Day event in Bible Hill, today, Jan. 24, where outstanding literacy and learning efforts by families, schools and community groups across the province were celebrated.

Ms. Layton is improving her skills through the Side-By-Side Family Literacy Program which works to build upon the literacy strengths of children, their parents, and their grandparents. Participants take part in story telling, upgrade their math and communication skills, and learn through a series of workshops. The program and other literacy efforts take an inter-generational approach to education that fosters learning and literacy within the family.

"The times are changing, and I found that I was having difficulty making everyday decisions involving numbers and writing," said Ms. Layton. "This program helped me regain my confidence when doing tasks like writing a letter or even grocery shopping."

For the past decade, provincial government has supported the development and delivery of family literacy programs across Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Family Literacy Grant Program recently awarded more than $200,000 to community organizations.

"Like Ms. Layton, hundreds of Nova Scotians have had tremendous success in their careers and other areas of their lives as a result of these literacy programs," said MLA Jamie Muir behalf of Mark Parent, Minister of Labour and Workforce Development.

"Their successes are proof that an investment in family literacy builds healthier families, stronger communities and economic potential."

Government has also partnered with the Halifax Youth Foundation to deliver family literacy programs across the province.

Through the partnership, the Cumberland Regional Library received funding for the Children and Adults Reading Together project. Its purpose is to increase literacy skills of both parents and children through several branches of the Cumberland library. Twenty-seven families participated in engaging activities in Advocate, Amherst, Oxford, River Hebert and Springhill.

Family Literacy Day is officially Jan. 27. Literacy successes are being celebrated in communities across the province all week.