Mar 1, 2025
North Vancouver Island Literacy news, programs, events and resources.
Our newsletter promotes free learning opportunities for everyone in Mount Waddington communities on North Vancouver Island and shares literacy news and events. Share our newsletter with a literacy supporter friend or coworker to help us reach more people!
In this issue: Literacy Fair March 1 • Adult Learning Success Story • Thanks Sointula Funders • Literacy and Plain Language Self-Audit • Government Website & Forms Drop-In • Pop-up Adult Learning Workshops • Mother Goose Programs • Drop-in Reading-Writing-Computer Practice • Conversation Clubs • Volunteer & Job Opportunities •
News
Adult literacy program helps Port Hardy newcomer prepare for college
Adult literacy programs change lives.
Christina H. came to Port Hardy with her family in 2023, after a winter in Winnipeg. She came to Canada from South Korea a year earlier, and is a certified Early Childhood Educator (ECE). Last February, the Immigrant Welcome Centre, which helps newcomers settle through services and programs, referred Christina to Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society’s (MWFLS) community adult literacy program (CALP).
“When I first met Christina, she couldn’t speak English at all,” said Stephanie Coe, Adult Literacy Coordinator at MWFLS. “Her husband had to translate basic questions, like ‘when is your birthday’, she couldn’t form a sentence.”
But she was determined to learn English. In March 2023, she started attending the free Adult Reading-Writing-Internet Practice drop-in program twice a week in Port Hardy. She worked hard on her English, practicing her conversation skills with Stephanie, and at home she worked on her reading, watched TED Talks and Mr. Rogers Neighbourhood. She started working as a casual education assistant at a local elementary school, and so she had to use English every day.
One year later she came to the drop-in program with big news.
“I took the English exam at North Island College, and I got the result today,” Christina said with excitement, “They said I can start English 11! I’m so happy right now! Actually, I thought my English skills were too low, so I would have to start with fundamental English. I’m truly grateful to you for being my teacher.”
Christina’s goal is to get her teaching certificate.
“It’s so rewarding to watch someone improve week to week and know that I’ve made a difference in their life,” said Stephanie.
The adult literacy program offers reading, writing and internet practice sessions twice a week in Port Hardy and Port McNeill. There are also monthly conversation clubs, and special events and workshops on financial literacy, food literacy, computer literacy and more.
MWFLS is looking for volunteer tutors to help adult learners in the community with reading, writing, math, or computers.
For more information, contact Stephanie Coe at: mwadultliteracy@gmail.com, or follow the MWFLS Facebook page: @mwfamilyliteracy.
Thank you Sointula funders!
Thank you to our funders who helped make sure the Mother Goose Program could continue in Sointula!
Sointula Recreation donated $110, Malcolm Island Lions Club donated $480, and local parents donated $50. Thanks to these donations, the Mother Goose on the Go program has use of the Preschool Room for 7 months!
New! Literacy and Plain Language Self-Audit for local organizations
A literacy audit will help your organization identify barriers that the general public may face when accessing your services.
Opening Doors: A Literacy Audit Tool Kit gives you practical suggestions and strategies to communicate effectively with staff and people seeking your services.
Who is a Literacy Audit for?
Community Adult Learning Programs
social service agencies
community organizations
businesses
government departments
someone who works with the general public
We invite your organization to be a part of this free pilot program!
Adult Literacy Coordinator Steph Coe will walk you through the process of conducting a self-audit of your organizations to assess your strengths and identify areas where you can improve your:
advertising
print materials
verbal communication
overall service delivery
training for staff and volunteers
You’ll get printable checklists, planning templates, plain language guidelines and more.
Sign up: Email Steph at mwadultliteracy@gmail.com to sign up of one of these available dates: March 14, 15, 18, 19, 26
EVENTS
March 1: 2025 Mount Waddington Literacy Fair!
Saturday, March 1, 202511:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Port Hardy Civic Centre, 7440 Columbia St., Port Hardy
By donation. Suggested $1/per person or $3 per family
No pre-registration needed. Drop-in, cash only.
All proceeds benefit the Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society.
Join us for our annual literacy fair with activities, games, stories, a treasure hunt and a free book for every child who attends!
Meet the Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society team and learn about our free programs and services.
We will also have our popular fundraising Literacy Socks for sale!
Concession stand by the Travel Club and Boys Volleyball team at Port Hardy Secondary School!
*Plus, we are pleased to welcome these local organizations sharing their information and resources:
Aboriginal Infant Development Program
North Island Community Services Society
PacificCare Family Enrichment Society
School District 85 – Early Years
Stepping Stones Childcare Centre
Tri-Port Pride Society
Vancouver Island Regional Library
March 9: Cultural Sharing Potluck Series
Join the Immigrant Welcome Centre and the community for this celebration of culture and food!
Sunday, March 9, 20254:00-6:00 p.m.
Port Hardy Recreation, 7400 Columbia Street, Port Hardy
March 11: Community Registration Night
We will be at Community Registration Night at Port Hardy Recreation on Tuesday, March 11. Come see Kelly and Steph to learn about our programs and volunteer opportunities!
PROGRAMS
Mother Goose on the Go
Mother Goose On-the-Go fosters early literacy and is an experience for the whole family!
A trained ‘Mother Goose’ leads a group of parents and children in fun and engaging rhymes, songs, stories, and crafts. Children have fun and parents learn how to sing, rhyme, and read with their child, and weave those skills into their day-to-day routines.
These basic activities with children provide the building blocks for early attachment and literacy.
Port McNeill
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. Vancouver Island Regional Library, 1584 Broughton Blvd., Port McNeill
Sointula
Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. Preschool Room, Sointula
Storytime 5 days a week at Vancouver Island Regional Library
Visit Port Hardy VIRL for family Storytime!
Tuesday – Saturday 10 – 10:30 a.m., 7110 Market St., Port hardy
Adult Literacy Programs
Our community adult literacy programs (CALP) support lifelong learning. Learn in small groups or have one-on-one sessions with tutors who can help you reach your goals. Learn more
For information or questions, please contact our Adult Literacy Coordinator, Stephanie Coe at: mwadultliteracy@gmail.com
March Adult Reading-Writing-Internet Practice Drop-in
Everyone is welcome to drop in to practice your skills with Steph!
Port Hardy
Mondays, 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 4:30-6:00 p.m.
St. Columba Church, 9190 Granville Street (across from the hospital)
Port McNeill
Tuesdays 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Thursdays 5:00- 6:30 p.m.
A-Frame Church, 175 Cedar Street, Port McNeill
March Conversation Clubs
Join Steph for casual conversations and connections!
FREE!
Drop-in
Everyone welcome!
No registering
Practice your conversation skills
Port Hardy
Monday, March 10, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
St. Columba Church, 9190 Granville Street, Port Hardy (across from the hospital)
Port McNeill
Tuesday, March 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Port McNeill Museum, 351 Shelley Crescent, Port McNeill
Pop-up Workshops on Request!
Would your organization like to host a free workshop?
Pop-up workshops on request:
Money Matters,
Reading, Writing, Numeracy Skills Building,
Upskills for Work
Life Skills
Contact Steph at mwadultliteracy@gmail.com to book one of these available dates: March 14, 15, 18, 19, 26
VOLUNTEER & JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Hiring Food Literacy Coordinator
As a food literacy program coordinator, you will develop and facilitate programming that helps participants to learn and become confident in preparing nutritional, budget friendly meals using local ingredients, while strengthening related literacy skills for understanding food labels, cooking terms, budgeting and basic measures. The coordinator will create a welcoming environment that promotes dialogue, cooperation, fun and sharing among participants.
Part-time, contract: Up to 20 hours per week.
Salary: $30.60 per hour.
Location: Mount Waddington/North Vancouver Island
Application Deadline: until filled
Read the Food Literacy Coordinator Job Description
Please send resume by mail or e-mail to :mwliteracy.executivedirector@gmail.com
Volunteer as a tutor for adults
Make a difference in your community. Share your love of reading, writing, math or computers with others. We’re looking for tutors who want to volunteer for the Community Adult Literacy Program. Training is available and ongoing!
For information or questions, please contact our Adult Literacy Coordinator, Stephanie Coe at: mwadultliteracy@gmail.com
RESOURCES
Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month
March is Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month!
BLOOMING WELLNESS: A READING CONTEST CELEBRATING PLANTS AND GROWTH
FEBRUARY 13 – APRIL 17, 2025
BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation is holding a Spring agriculture literacy challenge! Learn about how plants contribute to wellness, read books about planting, and learn about the farmers who grow the food we eat!
Over $3,200 in prizes!
• 7 WEEKLY DRAWS: Active participants (who read books, watch videos, complete activities, and post reviews) have a chance to win 1 of 2 $100 Indigo/Plant Nursery gift cards.
• GRAND PRIZE DRAWS: Win 1 of 2 Prize Packs worth $250 featuring Indigo and Plant Nursery gift cards to outfit your learning space with plants and books!
Learn how to register and participate in the challenge.
We’re here to help.
The Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society works with communities, schools and organizations to support literacy and learning on North Vancouver Island.
We can help with your literacy projects and program ideas through fund finding, letters of support and by connecting you with our many resources.
Please reach out to us through email:
Executive Director
Charity Gillett at mwliteracy.executivedirector@gmail.com
Mother Goose on the Go Coordinator and Literacy Outreach Coordinator
Kelly Anderson at mwmothergoose@gmail.com
Community Adult Literacy Program Coordinator
Steph Coe at mwadultliteracy@gmail.com
United Way School’s Out Coordinator and Communications Coordinator
Trish Weatherall at trishliteracynow@gmail.com
Thank you
Your support makes a difference in our communities!
Your donation will help provide books, literacy programming and other supports that directly benefit our North Vancouver Island communities.
Ways to give:
Donate on our Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society secure Canadahelps.org webpage
Mail a cheque to Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society Box 46, Port McNeill, BC V0N 2R0
Visit the MWFLS web site: mwliteracynow.wordpress.com
Follow us on Facebook
One way you can help spread the word is by following our Facebook page @mwfamilyliteracy and sharing literacy news with your friends.
You never know who it might help!
Land acknowledgement
The Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society is grateful to serve on the traditional, unceded territory of the Kwakwaka’wakw Peoples.
Thank you to our supporters Decoda Literacy Solutions, Province of British Columbia and United Way British Columbia.
*SUBSCRIBE or Unsubscribe to this newsletter by emailing Trish Weatherall at trishliteracynow@gmail.com