Grand Chief Stan Beardy to address aboriginal summer literacy camp counsellors

THUNDER BAY, ON, June 24, 2012 /CNW/ - On Monday, June 25^th, over 80 enthusiastic young Ontarians will be welcomed by Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy as they start their training to become literacy camp counsellors in northern Aboriginal communities.  The training will take place starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Bora Laskin Building at Lakehead University.

This is the 7^th year for the Lieutenant Governor's Aboriginal Summer Reading Camps (LGASRC) program, which works to improve literacy skills among youth in NAN First Nations.

The program is managed by Frontier College, Canada's national literacy organization, on behalf of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and began as a pilot project in 2005 by the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.  This year, the program will be providing 38 camps in 29 communities.

Frontier College President Sherry Campbell explains the success of this project.  "We know these camps have a real impact on preventing summer reading loss and ensuring that kids start the school year ahead of the game. We're also pleased that many of the counsellors are hired from within the communities they are serving."

Frontier College is Canada's original literacy organization. Founded in 1899, this non-profit organization recruits and trains volunteers to deliver literacy programs to children, youth and adults in communities across the country. Frontier College helps Canadians improve their literacy and increase their opportunities.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation communities in James Bay Treaty No. 9 and Ontario portions of Treaty No. 5 - an area covering two thirds of the province of Ontario.

Abby Robins, Director of Communications, Frontier College
416-923-3591 ext. 378
416-277-3340 (cell)
[email protected]
www.frontiercollege.ca