Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society

Learning for Life
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About Us
The Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society is a non-profit charitable society working with the people in the Fort Nelson region to increase skills, encourage further education, and develop the value of learning for life.

Many adults have barriers that make it hard for them to up-skill. One of our aims to help them overcome those barriers.  We aim to be accessible to the public and make a commitment to trying to reach those who are living with low levels of literacy.  With a combination of regular programming, special events, community partnerships and promotion, we hope to be the first place in the minds of local residents when they need to reach out for help in achieving their learning potential.

Society History
The Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society began with a community meeting back in May 2005. The meeting discussed what was needed to plan a Literacy Now initiative for Fort Nelson. Literacy Now is a government program designed to increase literacy in British Columbia as a lasting legacy of hosting the 2010 Olympic Games. 
Organizer Val Keeler initiated a second meeting in January 2006, where 30 key members of the community attended to launch the start of the process.
A task force was formed; Lorraine Gerwing was contracted to prepare a community literacy profile and Val Keeler developed the Community Literacy Plan.
A charitable, non-profit society was to be formed with a coordinator to liaise with existing programs and initiate new literacy projects in the Fort Nelson community.
Julie Wade was hired as the Literacy Coordinator in 2007.  Julie sourced additional program funding, secured and set up office space, and began the process of building partnerships for programming in the community.
The society soon hired two of its volunteers (Shayna Dolan as Family Literacy Coordinator and Robyn Chambers as ESL Coordinator) and Carmella Maga as bookkeeper.
With the Society up and running, a grand opening was held on December 1, 2007.  Since then the society has developed into a key community service provider in the Fort Nelson community with partnerships and relationships formed to reach out to the people in our community.

Julie left Fort Nelson in August 2008 and new coordinator Heather Eling took over the role of building on the society's successes and striving to make the Society a continually more effective service for Fort Nelson.
 
In 2009, Robyn Chambers moved away from the area and Shayna Dolan left to continue her university studies.
 
Anne Jones started as English as a Second Language and Adult Learning Program Coordinator in May 2009.
 
Kiran Sidhu started as Family Literacy Programs Coordinator in August 2009.
 
In December 2009, Literacy Society Coordinator Heather Eling left to have a baby and Toni MacDonald took over the running of the Society as executive director.
Staff
Details about current staff and how to contact them:
 

Executive Director - Toni MacDonald

 

Toni graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelor's degree in Business in 2006. 

 

Toni is originally from Newfoundland and moved to Fort Nelson in 2007. Toni worked for Northern Lights College as the campus recruiter for almost two years. 

 

Toni served on the Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society's Board of Directors for two years before accepting the role of executive director for the Society.

 

Toni can be contacted at coordinator@fncls.com

 
 
 English as a Second Language and Sikanni Adult Tutoring Programs Coordinator, public relations executive - Anne Jones
 

Anne Jones is graduated from Ryerson University in Toronto with a Bachelor of Journalism degree in June 2009.

Anne is originally from the Northwest Territories, but lived in Fort Nelson for nine years before leaving for university in Toronto. She began working at the Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society in May of 2009.

Anne’s passion for literacy began early on. She started her own newspaper called “The Nahanni Explosion” when she was seven years old.

Anne also teaches yoga and Zumba classes in Fort Nelson.
 
Anne can be contacted at annejones@fncls.com
 
 
Family Literacy Programs Coordinator - Kiran Sidhu
 
Kiran Sidhu is a recent graduate from the University of Northern British Columbia where she chose Biochemistry as her focus.  Kiran was born and raised in Fort Nelson B.C. and chose to move to Prince George B.C. to pursue education in 2004. 
 
In addition to being the family literacy coordinator, she   also works as a tutor, helping students in all core courses.
 
Kiran is leaving the Society in August 2009 to pursue her education in medicine in Aruba.

Kiran enjoys running and biking.
 
Kiran can be contacted at Kiran@fncls.com
 
 
FNCLS Board President - Val Keeler
 
Val can be contacted at president@fncls.com