Government of Canada Funds Morell Region Community Learning Centre to Promote Family Literacy

Date: September 6 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MORELL, PEI - The Government of Canada promotes family literacy to encourage lifelong learning among children. The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Solicitor General of Canada, and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, on behalf of the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada, today announced funding of $12,000 for the Morell Learning Centre's "Storysacks Library" project. The Government of Canada is funding this project through the National Literacy Secretariat.

Under this project, the Morell Region Community Learning Centre will increase awareness of family literacy by developing a Storysacks library. A Storysack is a large cloth bag that contains a quality children's book, props to tell the story, an accompanying audiocassette, and ideas and activities for parents and children. The Centre will create eight Storysacks and hold orientation workshops for families to provide practical information on making Storysacks and to explore the contribution Storysacks can make to family literacy. The project will build on and contribute to the province-wide Storysacks initiative of the PEI Literacy Alliance.

"This project will give parents the confidence to enjoy books and read with their children," said Minister MacAulay. "In addition, it will increase public awareness of the value of family literacy and will bridge some gaps in literacy activities in the communities of Mount Stewart, Morell and Souris."

Literacy skills are linked to work skills, health and self-esteem. Higher literacy skills among Canadians enable them to participate more fully in our economy and our society. For instance, literacy skills help determine the kinds of jobs we find, enable parents to read to their children and help us understand technical jargon, allowing us to use tools and equipment safely.

The National Literacy Secretariat works in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, business, labour and the volunteer community. The goal of these partnerships is to increase public awareness of literacy, help people share information, improve access to literacy programs, develop learning materials and advance research on literacy.

This project supports the Government of Canada's Innovation Strategy and more specifically Knowledge Matters, a policy paper that addresses the national challenge of ensuring Canadians possess the skills and knowledge required to fully participate in the knowledge-based economy.

Funding for this project was provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grant and contribution programs.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Government of Canada funding: $12,000 through the National Literacy Secretariat
Objective: increase awareness of family literacy by developing a Storysacks library

- 30 -

For more information, please contact Service Canada Media Inquiries.