You might think that in an era when humanity stands on the brink of sending humans to Mars, that illiteracy in the industrialized world would be a thing of the past. But, as unbelievable as it may sound, some 42 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 16 and 65 are struggling to understand the written word. It boggles the mind, especially when you consider how essential reading is, in terms of shaping our personal and professional lives.
What makes matters worse, there is no immediate improvement on the horizon. A literacy catastrophe is looming according to the Canadian Council of Learning. By 2031, the council estimates that our education system will have produced some 15 million Canadian adults who will struggle with basic reading skills. That is a whopping 25 per cent increase (three million additional Canadians) from the situation as it now stands.

When you consider that less than 20 per cent of the population with the lowest literacy skills are employed, that failure to teach Canadians to read will increasingly strain Canada's economy. A mere one per cent improvement in literacy could lead to a better-qualified workforce, resulting in $18 billion of economic growth annually. So clearly, improving our collective reading skills is a win-win situation for all Canadians.

Lucy Baum is on the front lines of the literacy battle. The executive director of Pointe Claire's Literacy Unlimited, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering adults through improved literacy, noted that with so many Canadians struggling to read properly, there is an increasing need for a grassroots, community-driven approach to improving our collective, literacy dysfunction.

“It causes difficulties on many levels. The obvious problems include not being able to advance at work, but poor reading skills can also undermine a person's health and mobility. If you can't read street signs or food labels, then your ability to eat properly and navigate your surroundings will be impacted negatively.”

At Literacy Unlimited people whose mother tongue is English and are struggling to read are teamed up with a qualified volunteer for one-on-one tutoring. “Our volunteers are a devoted group,” Baum affirms. “Learners meet face-to-face with our tutors, weekly, throughout the year, focusing on skills necessary for them to achieve their personal, educational or employment goals.”

The executive director emphasized how coping skills frequently cast a light on individuals struggling with the problem. “Often there are excuses that a person who can't read relies on, like ‘I forgot my glasses,’ or ‘I should wait to read this with my partner when I get home tonight so we can discuss it together.’ But when there is always a reading avoidance, chances are, it has to do with comprehension difficulties,” Baum explains. She encourages anyone who is acquainted with someone who may have difficulties deciphering the written word to discretely suggest they pay a visit to an organization like Literacy Unlimited.

For more information on Literacy Unlimited, visit their website at literacyunlimited.ca. You may also reach them by phone at 514-694-0007, or visit their location, 111 Broadview in Pointe Claire.