Boosting literacy skills for a more confident and democratic Victoria
This month on the Vital Victoria Podcast, host Lucky Budd joins Janine Hannis, the Head of the Greater Victoria Alliance for Literacy (GVAL), and Christine Bossi, the Executive Director of the Victoria Literacy Connection, to talk about the community’s work to boost literacy skills in people of all ages. They discuss the community’s most pressing needs today, how to tackle the stigma around low adult literacy, and how bolstering reading and digital literacy skills makes for a more confident and democratic society. They also talk about the GVAL’s recent Council of the Federation award, from the Premiers of Canada.
Vital Signs Issue Area
Quality education ensures equitable, quality education and promotes lifelong learning. In Greater Victoria’s 2023 Vital Signs report, survey participants gave ‘Learning’ a B grade (see pages 24 & 25). This issue is connected to Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education.
Episode 17 Guests
Janine Hannis – Janine Hannis is the head of the Greater Victoria Alliance for Literacy, a collaboration between local agencies to explore opportunities to increase literacy in the region. She also serves as the Board Chair for the Victoria Literacy Connection. Janine is a long-time Victoria resident, with an extensive background in adult education, having worked for the BC Ministry of Education for over twenty years. She helped to create policy concerning adult education programs and was responsible for developing the prison education program to support Provincial correctional centers. Janine holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.
Christine Bossi – Christine Bossi is the Executive Director of the Victoria Literacy Connection and has nearly twenty years of experience managing non-profit programs. Originally from Montreal, she’s studied political science, project management and philanthropy, and has worked in Humanitarian Aid with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Canadian Red Cross.
Episode 16 Resources