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Media Releases 2007
CELEBRATED NHL COACH, JACQUES DEMERS, CHAMPIONS LITERACY IN B.C.
Demers to spell out his personal story of living with low literacy during speaking engagements in Vancouver, Prince George and Nanaimo.
Vancouver, B.C. (September 12, 2007): From September 27 to 30, former Montreal Canadiens head coach and Stanley Cup winner Jacques Demers will visit communities in British Columbia to speak about his challenges with literacy. Organized by the Literacy Now division of 2010 Legacies Now in partnership with the BC Ministry of Education, the speaking tour includes stops in Vancouver (September 27), Prince George (September 29) and Nanaimo (September 30).
A distinguished figure in the National Hockey League, Jacques Demers achieved a successful career as one of the most influential hockey coaches, general managers and TV commentators – all despite being functionally illiterate. During the tour, Demers will share his inspirational story, highlighting his challenges and fears during his career.
"Jacques Demers’ courage to tell his own personal story is an inspiration to others to come forward and seek help. Literacy provides the essential foundation for every child, family and community in B.C. to have a successful and happy life," says Premier Gordon Campbell. "The Province is proud of this partnership with Literacy Now and local communities to help British Columbians reach their goals and increase their quality of life."
Low literacy is a reality that affects 40 percent of adults in British Columbia. Recent studies show that more than one million adult British Columbians do not have the skills necessary to read a newspaper or to fill out a job application, resulting in low-wage jobs with poor prospects for advancement and decreased quality of life.
As a well known sports personality, Demers’ testimony is an important step in bringing issues of low literacy to the forefront. Admitting to his illiteracy in his 2005 biography, En toutes lettres (All Spelled Out), Demers’ life story will provide a message of hope and courage to British Columbians, motivating them to seek help and upgrade their skills.
"I have traveled to school districts around the province and heard from adults how improved literacy levels have changed their lives," says Shirley Bond, Minister of Education and minister responsible for early learning and literacy. "We hope that by bringing Jacques Demers to B.C., British Columbians will have a chance to hear his story and this will inspire them to raise awareness about this important issue and reach out to adult learners who have low levels of literacy."
The tour will also support the existing work and programs of local communities that address low literacy rates.
"We are committed to working closely with community-based organizations and helping expand the resources and services offered for literacy issues," says Brenda LeClair, Managing Director of 2010 Legacies Now. "Our goal is to continue guiding British Columbia to being one of the best educated and most literate provinces in Canada."
Admission to the events is by donation and proceeds will go to the CanWest Raise-a-Reader campaign, a national literacy initiative that supports programs at a local level. One hundred percent of all funds raised go directly towards local family literacy and educational programs within the community.
Event details are as follows:
Vancouver
Thursday, September 27
7:00 pm
St. Andrew’s-Wesley Church
1012 Nelson St. (at Burrard)
Prince George
Saturday, September 29
2:00 pm
Kin Arenas Atrium at CN Centre
Exhibition Park, 2187 Ospika Blvd.
Nanaimo
Sunday, September 30
2:00 pm
Coast Bastion Inn
11 Bastion Street
Event information is available from 2010 Legacies Now at 778-327-5194 or www.2010legaciesnow.com
Information on ReadNow BC, the province’s literacy action plan aiming to improve reading skills among British Columbians, is available at www.readnowbc.ca.
1-888-READ234
A toll-free literacy hotline providing British Columbians with details on literacy programs and services.
2010 Legacies Now
2010 Legacies Now is a not-for-profit society that works in partnership with community organizations, non-government organizations, the private sector and all levels of government to develop sustainable legacies in sport and recreation, arts, literacy and volunteerism. 2010 Legacies Now actively assists communities to discover and create unique and inclusive social and economic opportunities leading up to and beyond the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Literacy Now
A division of 2010 Legacies Now, Literacy Now helps build pillars of hope across the province by working with community leaders to create sustainable pathways of learning for all walks of life. From oral tradition to the digital age, Literacy Now serves to bridge the gap that separates many British Columbians, young and old, from fully participating in their communities: at home, at work, at school and at play.
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For more information, please contact:
Joanne Unsworth
Director, Public Relations
Traction Creative Communications
Ph: 604.408.7040
junsworth(at)tractioncreative.com
Karen McDonald
Director, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
Ph: 778.327.5180
kmcdonald(at)2010LegaciesNow.com
