Literacy in Action
A Network of Lifelong Learners across the Estrie Region
Literacy in Action Development Goals:
Empower English-speaking adults (ages 16+) with low literacy skills throughout Québec’s Estrie region to build stronger literacy-based life skills, improving their quality of life, financial security, employability options, community connection and sense of possibility.
1. What is Literacy?
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Historically, literacy was understood primarily as the ability to read and write printed text. While these foundational skills remain essential, today's understanding of literacy is much broader. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) recognize literacy as the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and use information to participate fully in society, achieve personal goals, and navigate everyday life. This includes tasks such as understanding health information, completing forms, managing finances, using digital tools, communicating effectively, and making informed decisions. OECD Study on Literacy Skills
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"Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning to participate fully in their community and wider society." UNESCO Institute for Statistics
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Literacy is more than reading and writing.
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For individuals and adults living with the challenges of low-literacy or illiteracy, the scope of the term “Literacy” now more accurately covers life skills such as numeracy, communication, collaboration, problem solving, adaptability, digital skills and creativity and innovation.
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The Government of Canada’s Public Service Commission defines the importance of Literacy as an essential “Skill for Success”: (www.canada.ca/jobs/training/skills-success)
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Literacy skills:
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are needed for work, learning and life
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are the foundation for learning all other skills
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help people evolve with their jobs, adapt to workplace change and equip adults to navigate different stages of life
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Literacy skills fall on a continuum and there is no single threshold that separates literate from low-literate.
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The daily practice of reading, writing and calculating maintains and improves our literacy skills. It’s the “use it or lose it” principle.
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Literacy is a set of skills that can be improved with practice, education and upgrading of skills.
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The concept of “multiple literacies” assumes that individuals ‘read’ the world and make sense of information by means other than traditional reading and writing.
2. Real-World Impact of Low Literacy
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Low literacy refers to having limited reading, writing, comprehension, and information-processing skills that make it difficult to complete everyday tasks such as understanding health information, filling out forms, applying for jobs, managing finances, or navigating digital services.
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This does not mean a person cannot read—it means they may struggle with the literacy demands of daily life.
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We live in an information society where we depend a great deal on creating and distributing information through technology. This requires higher levels of literacy than at any previous time in history.
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Adults with low literacy may be more at risk to experience:
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Periods of unemployment or underemployment
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Lower income levels or higher risk of poverty.
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Poorer health outcomes
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Increased chances of conflict with the law
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Difficulties helping children with homework
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Lower self-esteem and confidence
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Community isolation and weaker civic engagement.
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For more detailed background on the real-life impact of low literacy, see Items 6 and 8 below.
3. Literacy in Action: The Case for Financial Partnerships in Reducing Low Literacy
LIA has been working for over four decades to deliver our mandate to help English-speaking adults with low literacy skills in the Estrie region improve their quality of life. As a CRA-registered charitable organization the need for financial partnership is critical in order to meet the growing low-literacy challenges in our communities.
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Over 80% of LIA’s current funding comes from Québec government programs; with a level of year-to-year uncertainty in program renewals and very limited possibility of growth in funding, LIA needs private financial partners to maintain current service levels, much less meet the growth in demand.
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The predominantly rural profile of the communities within LIA Estrie’s region represents a significant additional resource and logistical challenge, with resulting cost requirements.
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The challenges in meeting the needs of our rural communities, as well as the related costs, are compounded by the profile of the individuals within the communities who need LIA’s services – we work only with the official English-speaking minority within the overall Québec population.
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For an independent statistical case for additional funding sources with mandates that are in alignment with that of LIA you can review:
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The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (“PIAAC”) literacy segment definitions are shown in sections 4, 5 and 6 below with related metrics in section 7.
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4. Low Literacy - The Objective Assessment
The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (“PIAAC”) is an international adult literacy survey conducted by the OECD. It is typically administered every 10 years and measures adult skills in 3 areas:
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Literacy: The ability to read and retrieve information from texts
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Numeracy: Understanding and using numerical information
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Adaptive Problem-Solving: Solving problems where situations change during the solution process
5. The PIAAC Literacy Survey - 4 Literacy Levels
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Level 1 and Below: Limited understanding of the language spoken in the country.
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Level 2: Basic literacy level; below the minimum threshold for functioning well in the workplace and society
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Level 3: The threshold for functioning well in an information-rich society.
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Level 4 and above: High-level functioning skills.
6. Why Literacy Levels Matter
Literacy is strongly linked to employment, earnings, and overall well-being:
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67% of individuals with literacy levels below Level 1 are in the labour force, compared to 94% of those at Level 4 or above.
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The unemployment rate is just 2% for people at Level 4 and above, rising to 7% for those below Level 1.
Literacy is linked to various aspects of quality of life:
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Health: 36% of people with Level 1 literacy report good or excellent health, vs. 67% at Level 4 or above.
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Life Satisfaction: 66% of people with Level 1 literacy report high life satisfaction, vs. 84% at Level 4.
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Political Engagement: 25% of those at Level 1 feel they can influence political decisions, vs. 29% at Level 4.
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Trust: 26% of individuals at Level 1 trust others, vs. 53% at Level 4 and above.
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Volunteering: 26% of people at Level 1 engage in volunteer activities, vs. 49% at Level 4
7. Low Literacy - The Metrics: Québec vs Canada vs International (OECD)
Click to download a PDF: Low-Literacy with English-speaking Communities in Quebec. (Literacy Quebec).
8. Literacy Matters: Literacy is More than Knowing how to Read and Write
There are a variety of literacy skills that help us understand and participate in the world around us. The impact of low literacy affects individuals and society as a whole, and has consequences for many issues. Following is a summary of data from Statistics Canada, ABC Life Literacy, Literacy Québec, Fondation pour l’Aphabétisation, PIACC, and OECD.
Human Rights:
Literacy is a human right recognized by international declarations signed by Canada.
Civic Engagement:
As education and skill levels increase, so does people’s confidence that they can play a role in political affairs. Only 32% of Canadians with less than a high school diploma believes this, while 60% of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher hold this opinion.
Economy:
When society has an educated and skilled workforce because of high literacy levels, this has a direct impact on economic growth. Workplaces that provide learning opportunities ensure their employees have up-to-date skills and generate personal and financial gains that contribute to their well-being.
Work:
In Canada, those with low literacy are 50% more likely to be unemployed and 45% of Canadians in unstable work situations have no educational credentials and have difficulty with job security.
Digitalization:
As we move more deeply into a digital society with increasing jobs, services, and learning going online, there is concern for the gap being created and the increase in those with low literacy skills. This is particularly important, seeing that compared to 2013, results from the 2023 PIAAC survey showed that adults who used the internet rose from 76% to 93%.
Health:
Canadians with the lowest levels of literacy are 50% more likely to be in poor health compared to Canadians with higher literacy skills. 19.3% of Canadians function at the lowest level, where they may, for example, have trouble or be unable to read the dosage instructions on a medicine bottle. This is particularly alarming seeing that 38.7% of men and 35.4% of women aged 55 to 65 in Québec are at or below level 1 in literacy, and for Canada, 34.7% of men and 27.1% of women are as such.
Poverty:
46% of adult Canadians at the lowest literacy levels live in low-income households, versus 8% of adults at the highest literacy levels.
Family:
Reading to children before school age develops their language skills and their interest in reading and learning. Children of parents with higher education levels have higher literacy levels. Without a strong support system and foundations at home, a child is less likely to be as successful and engaged in school compared to children with adult support and strong foundations at home.
Lifelong Learning:
Learning becomes easier and more efficient with literacy skills, which contributes to confidence in acquiring new skills and information. Those with higher literacy skills are more likely to participate in workplace training and adult education programs.
9. How Can We Partner Financially with Literacy in Action in Helping the English Speaking Minority in Québec Overcome the Impact of Low Literacy and Improve Their Quality of Life?
There are several partnership options available. Selecting the option that best suits your individual priorities from the three options below will take you to Literacy in Action’s page on CanadaHelps. Since Literacy in Action is a not-for-profit charitable organization recognized by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA), your financial support is considered to be a donation and an income tax receipt will be issued on LIA’s behalf by CanadaHelps.
1. Lifelong PARTICIPANT Financial Partner:
You have participated in LIA literacy events and they have helped you. As a Townshipper who would like to help others experience similar benefits, you would like to partner with LIA financially on a monthly commitment basis for the same price as a low-end app on your smart phone - ongoing monthly support of $5-$20/month, or a one-time donation of $20-$50. Help someone begin their literacy journey!
2. Engaged COMMUNITY Financial Partner:
You appreciate the important work that LIA does in helping English-speaking Townshippers improve their literacy skills and achieve their growth potential. As a Townshipper who wants to support the vitality of our English-speaking Townships community, you would like to help commit to a monthly financial sponsorship of $21-$50/month, equivalent to the cost of a couple of books, or a one-time donation of $51-$100.
3. Literacy in ACTION Growth Financial Partner:
The demand for LIA’s literacy services continues to grow, which creates a need for additional staffing and programming resources. You recognize the importance of strategic growth and would like to contribute financially either with a monthly engagement of $51-$100+/month or a one-time donation of $101-$1,000+.
Thank you! Your financial Partnership in helping Literacy in Action is critical to the health and vitality of our English-speaking Eastern Townships community!
Questions? Please contact Doug Bowker, LIA’s Development Officer at