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Literacy Day celebrated in Abbotsford

Local group is seeking space for adult literacy centre
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Cast of Second Storey Theatre perform an improv sketch for a large crowd gathered at Clearbrook Library on Saturday.

In celebration of family literacy day, a free event was held Jan. 24 to launch the start of the community literacy challenge.

A pancake breakfast was held and hosted by the firefighters of the Clearbrook Fire Hall. Breakfast was followed by literacy day celebrations at the Clearbrook Library and The Reach.

The community literacy challenge encourages residents to read an extra 15 minutes a day and fill in a reading log that can be entered into a draw for prizes.

On Jan. 12,  Sharon Crowley, outreach co-ordinator with Literacy Matters Abbotsford, spoke to city council on the city’s need for an adult literacy centre.

She said there is a need for an accessible space in the community for such a centre, where adults are comfortable and feel accepted, as some may not be ready to enter the local university or a program at Abbotsford Community Services.

Crowley said 40 per cent of aults in B.C. don’t have the literacy skills they need for today’s world, which can impact their ability to read safety information or write a resume. She said people with higher literacy skills are more likely to volunteer, vote and participate in the community.

“It’s really important when you are talking to adults that you don’t know well, that you would assume they not be able to read or write.”

Crowley said the group does not have money for a site. Instead, they are looking for local partners to try and get a project up and running, preferably in the downtown area where people can access it.

For more information on the reading challenge and the organization visit literacymattersabbotsford.com.