The Western Quebec Literacy Council (WQLC) announced a 20 per cent increase in services for the second consecutive year at its annual general meeting at Brauwerk Hoffman in Campbell’s Bay on Saturday.
The organization, whose mission it is to help English-speaking residents of all ages in the Outaouais improve reading, writing, speaking, numeracy and other life skills, celebrated its 41st year in 2024-25.
“Over the last three years there has been an increase in the amount of people we have, the amount of hours spent on tutoring, the amount of tutors, the amount of learners [ . . . ] we’ve been busy,” said WQLC executive director Greg Graham.
Graham highlighted a 20 per cent jump in services delivered for a second straight year, including a nearly 20 per cent increase in tutoring hours and a jump in program participation. He said these increases in delivery are in part due to a recent effort to diversify the organization’s offerings.
“Working with a tutor one-on-one has been our motto, and we’ve done that for years. We still do that, and it’s still an important thing, but we just find there’s so many other ways to reach people,” he said.
He said the organization’s digital learning workshops hosted in Shawville saw a 58 per cent increase in participants this year. The workshops are intended to help people increase their literacy related to cell phone, email and internet safety.
“We’re looking to expand that to Wakefield very soon, and hopefully in the next year get it to Aylmer,” Graham said.
He said the new family literacy program, which was launched two years ago and is intended to build literacy skills for families at various schools, saw a 15 per cent increase in participants. In the coming year, the WQLC plans to expand the program from Onslow, McDowell, Eardley and Pierre Elliot Trudeau elementary schools to include Dr. Wilbert Keon School as well as Lord Aylmer Elementary.
“Kids can come with their siblings and their parents, do a fun literacy activity, and it helps the whole family get involved in building literacy for the kids,” he said.
Graham said the board has been supportive of the organization’s long-term goals and the introduction of the programs over several years, allowing them to get a foothold in various schools.
“We have a very good board who is encouraging of setting long-term goals [ . . . ] In the non-profit world, especially when you’re getting funding, the focus is very often budget by budget, one year by one year,” he said.
Overall, Graham said he was content with what the organization was able to accomplish over the past year.
“We’ve increased the amount of services we’ve given in a substantial way, and we spend every penny and I’m pretty proud of how we make it all work on a tight budget,” he said.
He added that the organization would not be where it is without its network of volunteers and community partners – a network the organization hopes to grow to different parts of the Outaouais’ English-speaking community in order to best meet the community’s literacy needs.
“I don’t know the needs in Gracefield,” he offered as an example. “But the volunteers up there, they’re the people who can tell us what they need and how we can help.”
Four students received the Marilee Delombard Award for perseverance – Gracie Pullen, Ethan Thomas, Owen Thomas and Emma Thomas. As well, the organization bestowed a tutor recognition award to longtime “reading buddy” volunteer Donna Mouzard.
The organization also recognized Peter Gauthier, who passed away in Nov. 2024. As one of the WQLC’s first digital literacy volunteers, he worked with dozens of learners and was also on the board several times. “He helped us become who we are today,” Graham said.
