Celebrating Trish Weatherall's Decade of Literacy Impact
From Adult Literacy Coordinator Jeanne James-Hory
The Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society extends a warm thank-you and celebration to Trish Weatherall as she completes nearly 10 years with the society (December 2016 – October 2026).
Serving as Literacy Outreach Coordinator and project lead, Trish spearheaded cornerstone programs including Fostering Literacy (employing teens as reading mentors), ONE-TO-ONE Reading expansion, Learning Through Play in Quatsino, Connect4Work digital literacy, and The Ultimate North Island Book List.
Trish also conducted key community learning surveys and secured grants supporting local literacy projects across the region. We wish Trish all the best in her next chapter!
Some of her contributions:
ONE-TO-ONE Reading Program – Expanded the volunteer reading tutor program into more North Island elementary schools, and trained and supported volunteer tutors.
Fostering Literacy – Developed this program - employs teenagers as reading coaches and mentors for younger children in three local elementary schools.
Learning Through Play in Quatsino – Helped bring this children's program to life. She hired and supported the program facilitator, handled administration, and helped problem-solve along the way. She said this was one of her favourite projects.
Literacy Fairs – Coordinated community literacy fairs, bringing together learning opportunities, activities, and resources for local families.
United Way School's Out – Provided project leadership and support for the after-school programs.
Community Literacy Grants – This was something Trish particularly loved! MWFLS used to provide grants to local groups to develop their own literacy projects. Some examples were the Eke-Me-Xi Kwak'wala T-shirt project, Woss families' ocean adventure, the Cheslakees StoryWalk, and Aboriginal PALs (Parents as Literacy Supporters) facilitator training.
North Island Learning Surveys – Trish initiated and developed community learning surveys in 2018 and 2025, asking residents what kinds of learning opportunities were most needed in their communities.
The Ultimate North Island Book List – Her idea and creation, showcasing local authors and their books. She mentioned how much she enjoyed this project, too.
Displaced Workers Research – She secured a grant through Decoda for a three-year, federally funded study looking at literacy and essential skills needs among displaced workers. Mount Waddington was one of ten participating BC communities. She surveyed people affected by the Port Alice mill closure and wrote a case study about their experiences and challenges.
Connect4Work: Introduction to Computers for Job Seekers – Following that research, Trish obtained another grant to develop and pilot a digital literacy program. This funding also helped MWFLS acquire laptops for learners. She hired Nickka Hutton to develop the curriculum and deliver the courses.
Communications – Developed and maintained the society's website, Facebook presence, and newsletters. She also wrote many of the impact stories and articles documenting the society's work and celebrating the achievements of learners, volunteers, and community partners.
Behind the Scenes:
Behind the scenes, a lot of Trish's work involved securing funding, researching needs, developing projects, hiring and supporting facilitators, and keeping everything organized behind the scenes.
Trish was also with the society through some challenging times and transitions; she had an integral part in helping provide continuity during those times.
The Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society works with communities, schools and organizations to support literacy and learning for all ages on North Vancouver Island. Visit the MWFLS website to learn about their free programs at: mwfamilyliteracy.org
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