The Estevan Area Literacy Group will use its upcoming annual general meeting to celebrate a milestone.
The EALG will mark 10 years of helping the community with its literacy needs during the meeting on Nov. 15.
In a submission to the Mercury, past board chairperson Marilyn McCutcheon noted the first organizational meeting was held on June 27, 2006, involving representatives from the Indigenous, business, education and community service organizations, as well as library and literacy entities.
“At this time, the committee identified gaps in existing services and supports to a variety of groups,” McCutcheon wrote. “This included ESL (English as a second language) training in schools, parental training for early childhood education, providing sufficient tutors, an advocacy and awareness campaign and improved collaboration between existing agents.”
The EALG’s first chairperson was Greg Salmers, who was the Estevan Public Library’s head librarian of the day. Incorporation took place in 2008.
To date, the literacy group has had three co-ordinators. Pam Gunnlaugson was the first to be hired in November of 2007. She moved on in 2009, and Kathryn Roberton was hired. Roberton fulfilled the duties until October 2015.
Finally, Kim Marshall joined the staff in November 2015 and currently leads programming.
Thanks to funding from Summer Student Works and in part, Community Initiatives Fund (CIF), the EALG has been able to hire summer students in the summer to assist with literacy programs.
The group has a board of directors and is a registered charity.
“During the first few years, many meetings were devoted to forming the literacy group by first obtaining a grant from SaskSmart,” McCutcheon wrote. “As we progressed, we developed our constitution and a mission statement.”
Current board members are chairperson Liz Rowley, vice-chair Katie Burham, treasurer Susan Saunders, secretary Madeline Valentine, past-chair Marilyn McCutcheon and board members Art Beselt, Lacey Ellis, Joy Nykiforuk, Patrice Hoffos and Nicole Dupris.
Thirty-four others have served as board members.
Funding has been always been a challenge. Being one of the United Way Estevan’s member agencies has been a boost. The Community Initiatives Fund has also been a huge supporter over the years.
The Rotary Club of Estevan, Saskatchewan Lotteries, Access Communication Children’s Fund, Sask. Literacy Network, the Leader-Post’s Raise a Reader, Estevan Public Library, St. Paul’s United Church, the Estevan Lions Club, Living Hope Community Church and the Estevan Family Resource Center have all supported the literacy group by providing funds, gifts in kind or space for programming.
“The literacy group has forged many partnerships since our inception,” McCutcheon wrote. “Each year, the literacy co-ordinator has worked with the schools in both the public and separate division.”
Marshall has continued the tradition by leading various book clubs that interest a wide variety of students. Star Wars, Fairy Tales and Fly Guy have been well attended book clubs for the younger groups.
Older students have enjoyed Battle of the Books and novel studies. French immersion students have also been included in a book club in recent years. Wild About Reading is a parent/child program that usually happens in the evening. Family games nights have been offered at local schools.
In the early years, Gunnlaugson partnered with the Ocean Man First Nations to promote literacy in that community. She also organized a sensitivity and awareness workshop for local businesses which was sponsored by Rotary.
Past records indicate that she worked with community leaders to develop Welcome to Estevan brochures in several languages. Gunnlaugson also partnered with the Estevan Public Library to work with parents on a program called Bright Babies.
In 2015, along with many of the regularly offered literacy programs, Roberton partnered with Estevan Diversified Services (EDS) to assist with grant writing on the Human Rights Graphic Novel. This project was the developed by EDS and students at Estevan Comprehensive School, and is now in circulation.
Roberton was a champion of the Family Learning Olympics program. She developed many literacy based activities and created Storystacks. These were shared with parents of young children at the Estevan Family Resource Centre and at Estevan’s day cares.
Come Read with Me sessions were a popular program for both children and their parents.
To assist new English language learners, the literacy group has provided several programs and resources. Talk Time was very useful to new Canadians. Learn to Drive materials were lent to ESL learners.
The literacy group partnered with the Southeast Regional College and shared resources for ESL students.
The Little Language Learners has been held to teach vocabulary to children ages three to five.
Summer programs include Summer English Fun for children ages four to 12, which teaches the language to children new to Canada, and Nature Smarts, which started in 2008.
Marshall also provides resumé writing support. Labour Market Services contacts Marshall when support is required, and sends people over to the library to work with her on polishing resumes.
The literacy co-ordinator can be found inside the library. The agency has a website and Facebook page.
