Helping artists through coaching and big picture planning, to get clarity on the next best steps, so they can be confident, breathe easy and build a sustainable, successful career.
[Silent Book Club ~ Ottawa Chapter] Literacy... it's a game of use it or lose it
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In Canada, statistics tell us that nearly half the adult population reads at a lower than high school level. The reason for this is often linked to economic and employment well-being. And while correlation does not imply causation (low literacy does not cause poverty or lack of well-being), the links are undeniable. I don't need to tell you about the importance of literacy, Reader, but reading and literacy have farther reaching positive effects than a cozy hour of catching up on a favourite book. Overall well-being is significantly influenced and impacted by cultivating a level of literacy that promotes reading and learning new skills. It might be tempting to blame the education system, but the question of literacy is more closely linked to a use it or lose it situation. Here, another important takeaway is that with age, literacy levels are shown to decrease in our aging population, reinforcing the need for reading and skill-learning, long term. In Ottawa, we have a long list of organisations to support literacy and learning (see below). The majority of these provide opportunities to volunteer and be part of someone else's reading journey. If you have had the opportunity to work with the organisations listed below, Reader, I'd love to hear your story. Our own list of meetups offers a wide gamut of styles of venues and schedules to suit the preferences... to encourage you to come and read! So, pick up your book, join in a meetup with a handful of our closest introverted reader-friends 😉 and come help us foster reading and literacy. See you there! Warmly and bookishly, as always, · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · Alternative Learning Styles and Outlooks (ALSO) - Literacy and Basic Skills Cité (La) - Get SET (Skills, Education and Training) CNIB Deafblind Community Services - Ottawa Office - Literacy Program for Deafblind Adults John Howard Society of Ottawa - Employment and Training Services Le Centre Moi j'apprends - Ottawa - Literacy and Basic Skills Ottawa Catholic School Board - Admiral Ave - Adult Learning and Skills Development Ottawa-Carleton District School Board - Continuing Education Department People, Words & Change Rideau-Ottawa Valley Learning Network - Literacy and Basic Skills Further reading & resources...
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · APRIL 2026 MEETUPS 📆 Rather than a list of meetups, perhaps you'd prefer a calendar page. 📝 All meetups are available for signup here. ⭐ = NEW!
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · How does a reading meetup work?
Make your experience fit your vibe
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · Silent Book Club ~ Ottawa Chapter If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, please click here. |
little acorn creative coaching
Helping artists through coaching and big picture planning, to get clarity on the next best steps, so they can be confident, breathe easy and build a sustainable, successful career.
May 2026 ph. cr.: Alexandr Popadin (UnSplash) Hi there, Reader, So happy you're here with us. You're one in a million. No... really. There's no denying that truth. That's the thing about numbers... they can support just about any assertion, and help it make sense. Some of the numbers that are part of the reading world include page- and chapter-numbers, book sales' numbers and rating numbers on best selling lists. They also include the numbers involved in reading challenges, whether they're...
March 2026 cr: Pavel Abramiankou The winds of change are forever blowing. And, Reader, I don't do well with change. The expression, "plus ça change..." has often been an underlying thought in my mind when things change and I am not ready for it. Though I've learned that this idiom is considered pessimistic, I used to think that it simply meant what a famous Greek philosopher said: “the only constant in life is change.”* I would murmur that French phrase quietly to remind myself that clinging...
February 2026 Carlingwood Branch - Ottawa Public Library (ph.cr.) Hello Reader, February is coming in... what do they say? In like a lion... hm. Well I think, if the weather remains lion-ish 🦁 for a few more days, moving into March in several weeks should be smooth and lamb-ish 🐑 don't you? I hear cheering for all the snow we are getting however, from the hardy folks who skate, ski and phat bike (mostly from my dear darling husband who lovessss this snowy weather). But the cold temperatures...