By Michael Lynch
"More than 50 per cent of those enrolled in literacy programs have a workplace goal," says Annemarie Wesolowski, executive director of Literacy Northwest in Thunder Bay.
Workplace literacy is an expanding focus for literacy agencies introduced by the Ontario government.
"It has become loud and clear," Wesolowski says, "that strong literacy skills (among employees) has a very positive impact on an employer's bottom line."
As a result of the workplace strategy, all literacy agencies now offer workforce training to enhance a person's chance of getting a job. They also offer fee-for-service literacy training at workplace sites.
For the first time a workplace panel will be part of Literacy Northwest’s annual conference. The group's 12th annual conference, funded by the National Literacy Secretariat, will be held in Thunder Bay, May 24 to 26, at the Victoria Inn.
Topics of the conference include curriculum development, job-readiness skills, board development and basic methodology.
