Welcome to this NEW Blog!

The NW Literacy Lens is a blog created by Dee McRae, Regional Literacy Coordinator for Northwest Community College, British Columbia. Our college region stretches from Houston to Haida Gwaii. It is intended as a glimpse at the world via the lens of literacy, low literacy, struggles with literacy, and dealing with technological literacy. Right now, the immediate theme is Living with the Cycle of Boom and Bust, but the theme will change and evolve.

I welcome other contributors to the blog, with the following considerations:

·         The literacy theme is the focus

·         The story relates to the northwest region of BC

·         All authors must include name and contact email

·         I will not publish everything I am sent. I will use the criteria of the NWCC Blog.

I will ask permission before I edit or change any submissions. I will not accept anonymous submissions, but I will assist in writing stories that others do not wish to write if it follows the themes and considerations indicated.

The Northwest Region of British Columbia, for the purpose of this blog stretches from Houston to Haida Gwaii and north to Hazelton and Stewart. Across this area there are many adult literacy programs and practitioners, working directly with literacy skills and others operating “by stealth.” We currently have 10 community (Houston, Smithers, Moricetown, Hazelton (2), Terrace (2), Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii) organizations offering multiple programs in each community. As well, there are many early childhood, library, art, music and various other programs that are essentially “big picture” literacy. This blog will deal primarily with adult literacy.

I encourage readers to comment and send links to your pages. I know I am not the only voice out there. I hope this becomes a conversation about adult literacy, mostly as it applies to the northwest, but not always.

I am excited to push publish, and let this adventure begin!