by Laura Walz editor@prpeak.com A Powell River resident is one of 13 Canadians to receive a 2011 Canada Post Community Literacy Award.
Canada Post representatives Nicolas Grenier, letter carrier supervisor, and Caroline Brady, local area superintendent, presented Nadine Shelton with her award on Thursday, September 8, during a ceremony at the Powell River Community Resource Centre.
The awards have two categories, individual achievement and educator. Shelton won in the individual achievement category, which recognizes the achievements of learners who have overcome social or economic barriers by improving their literacy skills. Deb Calderon, CALL (Community Adult Literacy and Learning) coordinator, nominated Shelton for the award. CALL is an adult tutoring program, which is run by PREP (Powell River Employment Program Society).
Grenier said that Canada Post is proud to recognize local heroes. “It’s our opportunity to salute the impressive efforts of dedicated learners, volunteers and professionals as they work toward a very important goal, improving the literacy skills of Canadians,” he said. “By highlighting the accomplishments of the literacy community and sharing the compelling, real-life stories of our winners, we help to raise public awareness of this important issue.”
Grenier presented Shelton with a certificate of accomplishment and $300.
Shelton expressed her appreciation to Calderon, her tutor and all the people who attended the ceremony. City of Powell River Mayor Stewart Alsgard and Councillor Maggie Hathaway, who attended for Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons, congratulated Shelton on her achievement.
As a child, Shelton always had difficulty reading and left school in grade nine. After she married and had two children, she wanted to be able to read stories to them and to help them with their homework. She also wanted to improve her own job opportunities.
These goals led her to the CALL program. She developed her reading skills, which has opened many doors that were previously closed to her. She now chats online with friends, keeps abreast of world developments by reading the newspaper and does research for her studies.
Shelton’s dream is to become a residential care attendant. She has passed her grade 10 and will pursue her grade 11 studies.
