The Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society works with communities, schools and organizations to support literacy and learning for people of all ages on North Vancouver Island.

Learn more

See the event summary and photos from the 2023 Mount Waddington Literacy Fair and Children’s Art Expo!

Volunteer reading tutors needed

CONNECT4WORK Intro to computers for job seekers
Program Facilitator Guide & Curriculum


Visit our Mount Waddington United Way Community Food Hub page

Volunteer opportunities

Volunteer adult learning tutors

Do you have a skill you can teach?
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of people in your community?
Share your love of reading, writing, math or computers with others by volunteering as a tutor in one of our Community Adult Literacy Programs.

Tutor training provided! We will make sure you have the training, tools and materials you need to support your learner.

Trained English Language Learner tutors

We are looking for trained and/or experienced ESL/EAL tutors who have a few hours/week to volunteer to help adult learners new to the country with beginner English skills. 

The learners are located in Port Hardy and Port McNeill. 

ONE-TO-ONE Volunteer Reading Tutors to support elementary students

We’re looking for adults to volunteer one to two hours per week in the ONE-TO-ONE reading tutor programs at elementary schools in Alert Bay, Port Alice, Port Hardy and Stories Beach area. Training is provided.

Contact Leslie Dyck for more information about volunteering at mwfamilyliteracy@gmail.com

Our impact

Read our Impact Stories about the literacy programs, projects and events that impact our North Vancouver Island communities thanks to funders, sponsors and personal donations from people like you who support the Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society.

Highlights of 2021-22

  • Literacy Bus: The Literacy Bus with Mother Goose storytellers was be at North Island markets, events and festivals.
  • Mother Goose on the Go programs: Literacy on the Land outdoor storytime happened in 2021 as well as infant sessions. This summer, Mother Goose was at the Port Hardy and Port McNeill Farmers’ Markets – and a new outdoor Mother Goose program Literacy on the Land for families!
  • Fostering Literacy youth tutor-mentors: We employ eight youth tutors who work individually with 32 students at four North Island elementary schools. Children practice and grow their reading skills; teens gain literacy support skills and make a small income.
  • One-to-One volunteer tutors: We supported two adult volunteer tutors, four youth leaders and eight elementary school students with virtual and in-person reading tutoring.
  • Come Read With Me: Virtual Come Read With Me workshops taught parents simple reading strategies to support their young readers at home.
  • Family Literacy Kits: We distributed 100 family literacy kits to North Island families to celebrate Family Literacy Week in January 2022. Kits included books, literacy games, community resources and information about our programs.
  • Healthy Meals for the Entire Family workshop: 40 people participated in our four zoom cooking classes for families, with ingredients provided.. Island Health Nutritionists led the cooking skills classes and answered food and health related questions from parents.
  • Transforming Tea and Toast: Bringing Seniors Together for Health: In partnership with Island Food Hubs and the Public Health Authority, we’re providing Port Hardy seniors with Good Food Box delivery, cooking demos and weekly social lunches.
  • Community Adult Literacy Programs: Two new CALP coordinators are developing one-on-one tutoring and group programs to increase adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy.
  • Connect4Work Introduction to computers for job seekers: We held Connect4Work classes in Port Alice, Port Hardy and Port McNeill, helping eight adults improve their digital literacy skills to use technology to search for and apply for work.
  • United Way School’s Out: This free after-school program focuses on health and wellness, local food resources, outdoor activity and community in five North Island communities.
  • United Way Food Hub: United Way British Columbia (United Way BC) awarded Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society $100,000 for the creation of a Community Food Hub in the region of Mount Waddington.

We are grateful to United Way British Columbia for its support of our United Way School’s Out programs and United Way Food Hub.

Together, we can do more.

Your donation helps put books in children’s hands and homes and will help provide Family Literacy Kits to 100 North Vancouver Island families for January’s Family Literacy Week.
You are also welcome to support a specific program of your choice!

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