Ontario Literacy Association Niagara (OLAN) is a professional organization devoted to enhancing the language and literacy experiences of individuals across the life span. In May, 2015 OLAN hosted a Spring into Reading Festival in Niagara Falls, for children in preschool through grade 6. In April of 2016 the association hosted a Celebrate Literacy event at Brock University, aimed at enriching teachers’ language instruction and the literacy skills of local learners.
Source: Ontario Literacy Association Niagara (OLAN)
Retrieved From: http://www.niagaraknowledgeexchange.com/partners-projects/ontario-literacy-association-niagara/
Adult Literacy Organizations
Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs help adults to develop and apply communication, numeracy, interpersonal and digital skills to achieve their goals. LBS programs serve learners who have goals to successfully transition to employment, postsecondary, apprenticeship, secondary school, and increased independence. This includes learners who may have a range of barriers to learning.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development
Retrieved from: http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/eopg/programs/lbs.html
Literacy Link Niagara (LLN) coordinates the work of 12 Literacy & Basic Skills programs across Niagara. The 11 programs offer adult students in Niagara many ways to improve their literacy skills, such as one to one tutoring or peer/group work. LLN promotes internal linking of member agencies to plan and provide information and training, and links externally to the broader community to strengthen understanding of literacy and its relation to significant community issues including employment, health, justice and poverty.
Source: Literacy Link Niagara
Retrieved From: http://www.literacylinkniagara.ca/programs-in-niagara/
The following 11 organizations administer Literacy and Basic Skills programs in Niagara:
ABC Communautaire is a French adult education centre that teaches French reading, writing, computer and math skills to Francophone adults.
Source: ABC Communautaire
Retrieved from: https://www.abccommunautaire.ca/
Collège Boréal offers literacy, numeracy and essential skills services to assist in transitioning to employment, apprenticeship, post-secondary education or independence. They also offer specialized services to the Francophone community.
Source: Collège Boréal
Retrieved from: http://www.collegeboreal.ca/
District School Board of Niagara, as part of their Community Education program, offers a variety of programs for learners of all ages, including credit upgrading, ESL, and literacy, basic skills and employability training.
Source: District School Board of Niagara
Retrieved from: http://www.dsbn.org/community/community-education-home
Katkwenyes is a literacy and basic skills upgrading centre dedicated to providing a safe and culturally appropriate environment geared toward English speaking adult learners 19 years and over. This program is offered through the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre.
Source: Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre
Retrieved from: http://www.fenfc.org/katkwenyes_literacy_and_basic_skills
Niagara Catholic District School Board provides responsive literacy instruction for all students. A dedicated team of English as a Second Language (ESL) specialists provide board-wide support for English Language Learners (ELLs) and a highly skilled team of coaches provide ongoing professional learning for teachers.
Source: Niagara Catholic District School Board
Retrieved from: http://www.mywayto.ca/literacy.html
Niagara College offers academic upgrading to those who do not have a high school diploma, completed high school some time ago and need to refresh their skills, or lack specific subjects needed to enter a college program.
Source: Niagara College
Retrieved from: http://www.niagaracollege.ca/academic-liberal-studies/programs/academic-upgrading/
Niagara Regional Literacy Council is a community-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to literacy. Trained volunteer tutors assist adults with reading, writing, numeracy, workplace, computer, and life skills.
Source: Niagara Regional Literacy Council
Retrieved from: http://www.literacyniagara.org/
The Adult Literacy Council of Greater Fort Erie is a volunteer-driven registered charity that promotes literacy and actively empowers adult learning partnerships for personal enrichment in the Greater Fort Erie community.
Source: Adult Literacy Council of Greater Fort Erie
Retrieved from: http://www.literacyforterie.ca/
The Niagara Regional Native Centre’s Literacy Program is designed to assist anyone who wishes to upgrade their skills to improve their independence, learn computer basics, obtain Secondary School credits, improve job training skills, or further their education.
Source: Niagara Regional Native Centre
Retrieved from: http://nrnc.ca/our-programs/
The Niagara West Adult Learning Centre offers skills upgrading and family literacy programs for the residents of Niagara West in Lincoln, Grimsby, and West Lincoln using a community development approach.
Source: Niagara West Adult Learning Centre
Retrieved from: http://www.nwalc.ca/
The Port Cares Learning Centre serves adult learnings wanting to improve their literacy and numeracy skills to achieve goals of further education and training, employment, or increased independence. Niagara College offers the Academic and Career Entrance (A.C.E.) certificate program onsite as an equivalent to Grade 12 for admission consideration by any Ontario College or Apprenticeship branch of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.
Source: Port Cares
Retrieved from: http://www.portcares.on.ca/employment-learning-centre
Niagara Prosperity Initiative Investment
Between 2008 and 2016, of the 318 neighbourhood-based projects contracted out to 83 different agencies by Niagara Region’s Niagara Prosperity Initiative (NPI), over $4.8 million, or just over 40% of funds invested supported child/youth education programs, back-to-school programs, and development of job-specific skills.
| Niagara Prosperity Initiative (NPI) Contracted Amounts by Project Type (2008-2016) | ||||
| Type of Project | $ | # of Projects | ||
| Assistance with Shelter | $527,357.95 | 4.4% | 14 | 4.4% |
| Research/Conference/Seminar | $112,743.86 | 0.9% | 5 | 1.6% |
| Transportation Initiatives | $249,803.09 | 2.1% | 9 | 2.8% |
| Job Specific Skills | $741,734.81 | 6.2% | 16 | 5.0% |
| Direct Services | $865,721.58 | 7.2% | 18 | 5.7% |
| Community Gardens | $673,112.91 | 5.6% | 22 | 6.9% |
| Back to School Programs | $575,366.64 | 4.8% | 8 | 2.5% |
| Life Skills Programs for Adults | $1,637,839.35 | 13.7% | 38 | 11.9% |
| Access to Food | $1,187,791.89 | 9.9% | 28 | 8.8% |
| Community Development | $1,935,631.19 | 16.1% | 42 | 13.2% |
| Educational Programs for Children/Youth | $3,490,871.38 | 29.1% | 118 | 37.1% |
| Total | $11,997,973.38 | 318 | ||
Source: Literacy Link Niagara, Niagara Employment Network, Niagara Prosperity Initiative and the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network – presented by Marc Todd, Niagara Region Community Services
Retrieved From: http://www.literacylinkniagara.ca/niagara-employment-network/
The above information is included as a Measure for the Literacy and Basic Skills Indicator in the Work and Employment Sector of the Living in Niagara – 2017 report.
