Grand Chief Stan Beardy Welcomes Aboriginal Summer Literacy Camp Counsellors

THUNDER BAY, ON, June 26, 2012 /CNW/ - Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy greeted over 80 enthusiastic young Ontarians yesterday as they started their training to become literacy camp counsellors in northern Aboriginal communities.

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.

"Promoting literacy in our First Nation communities is an investment in the future," said Grand Chief Stan Beardy. "Nishnawbe Aski Nation is pleased to be a part of this program and since its inception has encouraged and supported hundreds of young people from across the region to recognize the importance of literacy."

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."

The Hon. David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario praised the organization and its work: "By incorporating literacy in a range of fun summertime activities, the camps are making a huge difference in the lives of thousands of Aboriginal kids.  The counsellors are continuing the tradition of taking education out of the classrooms and into the farthest reaches of this province, to the young people who need it the most."

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
[email protected]
www.frontiercollege.ca