| 1976 |
Kingston Public Library staff identified the need
for a focus on supporting Adult Literacy initiatives as
a result of frequent requests for basic adult reading
materials. This need was confirmed by 1971 Census data
that indicated almost 27% of adults in Kingston had
less than a Grade 9 education. |
| 1977 |
A research study called “Reach Non-Readers” was
conducted, the results of which demonstrated there was a
need for a part-time literacy program. Later that year,
the Kingston Literacy Council and Adult Reading Program
were established. |
| 1977-78 |
With help from St. Lawrence College, the Frontenac
County Board of Education and the Kingston Public
Library, the Adult Reading Program began to provide
1-to-1 training at the 0 to Grade 4 level. Staff
consisted of one part-time teacher/coordinator and 10 to
15 tutors. |
| 1978-84 |
After a series of moves, the Adult Reading Program
eventually relocated to a building on King Street. |
| 1984 |
Due to funding shifts, the Kingston Literacy Council
became Kingston Literacy. Kingston Literacy was
incorporated, becoming an independent organization, and
a registered charity. Kingston Literacy began looking
for alternative sources of funding. |
| 1985 |
Employment and Immigration Canada funded a pilot
project aimed at the unemployed, and Kingston Literacy
was awarded a grant to operate a literacy centre on
Barrie Street, called the Read-Write Centre. |
| 1985 |
Funding ran out for the Adult Reading Program on
King Street. As a result, it was closed and transferred
to the Read-Write Centre on Barrie. |
| 1987 |
The Read-Write Centre found a new home at 88 Wright
Crescent, below the Calvin Park Branch Library. The new
space was larger than the location on Barrie Street, and
much less expensive, since the library waived most of
the rental fees. |
| 1988 |
Read-Write Two opened in the Greenridge Plaza, with
26 learners and 6 volunteers signed up in the first six
months. An outreach program also started in Amherstview
at the Amherstview branch of the library and a
neighbourhood school. |
| 1989 |
Family Literacy programming began in response to
research showing that children from language-rich homes
have an easier time learning to read and write. The
Reading And Parents Program (RAPP) was launched as a
pilot project in Kingston’s north end. The program was
aimed at making parents aware of the essential early
learning that must take place in the home before
children are ready to begin learning at school. |
| 1989 |
The Adult Reading Program won the 1989 National
Literacy Award. |
| 1989 to present |
Throughout these years, Kingston Literacy continued
to expand by offering additional programming, adding
more locations and hiring new staff. We also developed a
number of learning resources that are distributed
throughout the country and have been involved in a
number of research projects. |
| 2006 |
Kingston Literacy began offering Language
Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) classes. |
| 2008 |
The reconstruction of the Calvin Park Library on
Wright Crescent necessitated a move by Kingston
Literacys’ Community Learning Centre Kingston (CLCK) to
a new location at 859 Princess Street. The new space was
larger, brighter and at street level, making it
comfortable and accessible for the community it serves.
The building was also close to the bus terminal at the
Kingston Centre. Later in the year, Family Literacy
staff moved from 1755 Bath Road to 859 Princess Street
and La Salle Secondary School, and the LINC program
moved into its new centre at 16 Bath Road. |
| 2009 |
To better reflect the various programs Kingston
Literacy offers, the corporate name was changed to
Kingston Literacy & Skills (KL&S for short) with a value
proposition of “Build Yours Skills, Shape Your Future”. |
| 2010 |
Kingston Literacy & Skills developed a new and updated
logo to reflect its new name. Today KL&S:
- Operates four sites in Kingston and area -
Kingston (2), Napanee (1) and Hartington (1) - with
additional delivery locations at the Wally Elmer
Community Centre, the Salvation Army on Weller
Avenue and the Salvation Army Kingston Citadel
- Employs approximately 32 people
- Serves approximately 352 students resulting in
+17,759 contact hours
- Manages a budget nearing $2 million
- Receives the support of over 140 volunteers who
donate more than 6,000 hours
|
