Literacy Northwest

03/28/2026

Tonight's the night. At 10:00 PM, our executive director, Michael Andrews, will head out to his vehicle and stay until 8:00 AM as part of Sleepless in Thunder Bay, on behalf of Literacy Northwest's fundraiser supporting Get SET programs across the Northwest.

Michael and Literacy Northwest are doing this to raise funds and awareness for Get SET adult education programs across Northwestern Ontario. These programs support learners who are often dealing with housing insecurity, lack of access to nutrition, and other challenges that make learning harder than it should be.

One night in a car is uncomfortable. For hundreds of people in our region, that uncertainty is every night.

Literacy Northwest has also made a donation to this cause, along with our entire team.

There's still time to support our fundraising page: 👉 https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/team/literacy-northwest

Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, or sent a kind word. It means a lot. 💙

03/24/2026

This isn't just a Thunder Bay story. Across Northern Ontario, 8,142 people experienced homelessness last year. That's a 37% increase from the year before.

Behind that number are real people in communities across the Northwest, from Kenora to Rainy River to Thunder Bay, facing impossible choices between rent and food, warmth and safety.

On March 28, our executive director is spending the night in his vehicle for Sleepless in Thunder Bay. Literacy Northwest is raising funds for Get SET programs that support adult learners across Northwestern Ontario who are navigating these very challenges as they work toward their learning goals.

Your support helps keep these programs going: 👉 https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/team/literacy-northwest

🌟 Stay Awake With Us 🌟Stay awake with us on March 28 as we spend the night in our cars to raise awareness and funds in support of Pathways to HOME. Together, we can create pathways out of homelessness, bringing stability, hope, and opportunity.How you can participate:Register by Friday, March ...

03/20/2026

652 people were experiencing homelessness in Thunder Bay on a single day last October. That was the highest count ever recorded in our city.

On March 28, our executive director, Michael Andrews, will be spending the night in his vehicle as part of United Way Thunder Bay's Sleepless in Thunder Bay.

LNW is raising funds for Get SET adult education programs across Northwestern Ontario, which work every day with learners facing housing and food insecurity and other barriers to stability and learning.

These programs do more than teach skills.

They meet people where they are and help connect them to the supports they need to move forward.

If you're able, a donation of any size makes a real difference: 👉 https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/team/literacy-northwest

🌟 Stay Awake With Us 🌟Stay awake with us on March 28 as we spend the night in our cars to raise awareness and funds in support of Pathways to HOME. Together, we can create pathways out of homelessness, bringing stability, hope, and opportunity.How you can participate:Register by Friday, March ...

03/17/2026

When someone walks into a Get SET program in Northwestern Ontario, they're often carrying more than a desire to learn.

They may be sleeping on a friend's couch, skipping meals, or navigating systems they've never had help with before.

Get SET practitioners work hard to support these learners, helping them build skills while also connecting them to food, shelter, and wraparound supports. But the need keeps growing, and resources are stretched thin.

On March 28, I'm taking part in Sleepless in Thunder Bay to raise funds for these programs across the Northwest. One night in my car is a small gesture, but the funds raised go directly to the people and programs doing this work every day.

I will personally match each dollar for the first $1,000 in donations.

Support my campaign here: 👉 https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/team/literacy-northwest

03/08/2026

🌸 Happy International Women's Day! 🌸

Today we celebrate the heart of Get SET (Skills Education Training) — and that heart is overwhelmingly women.

Practitioners. Program Managers. Executive Directors.

The dedicated professionals who show up every day to help over 45,000 adults build skills for employment, further training, and fuller participation in their communities across Ontario -- every year.

Many of them do it for wages that don't reflect their worth — because they believe in the people they serve. That kind of dedication deserves more than gratitude.

It deserves action.

On this International Women's Day, we call on the Province of Ontario to close the funding gap so the women powering Get SET can be paid what they're worth, and more adults across Ontario can have access to learning programs that change lives and strengthen communities.

To every woman working in Get SET: We thank you. For everything. 💜

09/30/2025

Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Annemarie and I are honoured to be in Red Lake, meeting with our colleagues from the Red Lake Adult Learning program.

We are gathered on the traditional and unceded lands of the Anishinaabek people. We respectfully acknowledge that Red Lake is situated on Treaty 3 territory, the traditional lands of Lac Seul First Nation and Wabauskang First Nation. The Ojibwe people have called this region home for hundreds of years, and Indigenous peoples have lived on these lands since time immemorial.

On this day, we remember the children who never came home from residential schools, we honour the survivors, and we commit to continuing the work of truth and reconciliation in our communities across Northwestern Ontario.

Every Child Matters. 🧡G for something.

09/30/2025

Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation—a day to remember the children who never returned home from residential schools, to honour survivors, and to commit to meaningful action.

At Literacy Northwest, we believe education should uplift and empower every learner while respecting their identity, language, and culture. We recognize the harm caused by residential schools and commit to being part of reconciliation through:

🧡 Supporting Indigenous-led education and language programs
🧡 Creating culturally safe learning spaces
🧡 Listening to and learning from Indigenous communities
🧡 Standing alongside Indigenous peoples in Northwestern Ontario

Truth and reconciliation aren't just about remembering—they're about taking action today and every day.

We encourage everyone to:

✨ Wear orange to honour residential school survivors
✨ Learn about the true history of residential schools
✨ Support Indigenous organizations and initiatives in our region
✨ Listen to Indigenous voices and stories

Every Child Matters. Today and always.

09/18/2025

Have you heard about the nine Skills for Success?

They are Reading, Writing, Numeracy, Digital, Problem Solving, Communication, Collaboration, Adaptability, and Creativity & Innovation.

But here's the secret: they don't work in isolation. They overlap and interact with each other, creating a powerful synergy that helps us succeed in learning, work, and life.

From securing a job to excelling in your current role, and even becoming a more active member of your community, these skills are your roadmap.

Think about your day:
• You use Reading to understand a work email and Digital skills to reply.
• You apply Numeracy to manage your budget and Problem Solving to fix an unexpected issue at home.
• At work, you use Communication to share ideas, Collaboration to work on a team project, and Creativity & Innovation to find a new approach.
• And when plans change, your Adaptability helps you navigate new challenges with a positive attitude.

These integrated skills not only boost your individual employability by 400% (compared to having just one!) but also contribute significantly to Canada's economic growth and foster stronger, more innovative communities.

Ready to build your comprehensive toolkit for success? Share this post to spread awareness about these vital skills!

09/16/2025

🚀 Did you know? Reading and Writing are the power duo behind workplace success!

Whether you're in the trades, healthcare, or any other field, these skills work together every single day:

In the field:
• Apprentices read safety manuals → write incident reports
• Mechanics interpret diagnostic codes → document repair procedures
• Project managers read contracts → write status updates

The real impact:
📈 Enhanced decision-making through clear documentation
🛡️ Improved safety through proper protocol understanding
💰 Career advancement - strong communicators get promoted faster

But here's what we need to talk about: Almost half of Canadian adults lack the literacy skills needed for today's jobs. Yet when adult literacy programs get proper funding, the results are incredible:

• 27% overall confidence increase across all skills
• 33% improvement in foundational abilities
• Programs like Ontario's LBS serve thousands, but demand exceeds capacity

The math is simple: Every $1 invested in adult literacy returns $26.34 to the economy. Programs work - one participant shared:

"The program helped me build my mental health muscles and emotional elasticity while training to be a Healthcare Unit Clerk."

Here's what matters: These skills aren't separate - they build on each other. The better you read technical information, the more effectively you can write about solutions. The clearer you write instructions, the easier they are for others to read and follow.

We need sustained funding for adult literacy programs so every worker can develop these game-changing skills.

From reading blueprints to writing training materials, these foundational skills open doors across every industry.

What's one way reading and writing have made a difference in your work? Share your story below! 👇

09/08/2025

If you are involved in adult literacy and upgrading, consider registering for this professional development webinar on September 11 focused on Motivating and Engaging Learners. To register, go to: https://echannel-contactnorth.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7UJv3JxoQKa62NzxuCfWhw

09/08/2025

Today is International Literacy Day — a great time to take a free course or two to work on your own skills! 📖

Whether you want to focus on reading, writing or numeracy, there are many online options depending on your goals.

Reach out today for details, free support to navigate your options, and help to register.
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📬 [email protected]

09/08/2025

Happy ILD2025! Find literacy resources at www.communityliteracyofontario.ca