The issue of illiteracy is often overlooked in a province with a well-educated populace, but a significant percentage of Albertans struggle with reading.
Sue Stegmeier has made it her mission to help improve literacy.
Sue is the executive director of Literacy for Life, a non-profit organization based in High River which serves the Foothills Municipal District.
Sue's passion for literacy was sparked during her time as a school teacher but her level of passion elevated when she became a mom and noticed the differences in child development.
“(Seeing) children grow up from the beginning and as they're learning and growing and see the difference between each one of them and why one is having more difficulty than the other,” said Sue. “It just taught me a whole lot about learning and literacy.”
The former school teacher believes the education system has a role to play in promoting literacy but improved reading rates will require the support of society.
“It should be part of the whole community, it's not just about the school,” explained Sue. “What I've been learning through all of this is how important those parents are and how important the community is in building children’s literacy.”
According to Sue, 48 per cent of adults in Alberta have difficulty with literacy, and Literacy for Life has programs to help those adults so they are equipped to teach their children.
Deb Gardiner, the manager of High River’s Centennial Library, has a great appreciation for the contributions of Sue and Literacy for Life.
“They do a rhythm and rhyme and toddler time in addition to our own story time,” said Deb. “Just to get the children and their caregivers, mom, dad, grandma, whoever, to know how important it is about reading and literacy and those early beginnings.”
The current state of technology has redefined literacy and Literacy for Life is doing its part to help Albertans understand and work with computer software.
“They've been partners with (the Centennial Library) in providing other services like literacy for computers, said Deb Gardiner. “(Literacy) isn't just the ability to read a page but to make a whole life.”
Literacy is a relatively new expectation among Albertans. Nearly fifty years ago, the ability to read was not presumed during everyday interactions.
“In the last 20 years, there is that expectation that everyone is literate so we need to provide those skills and support to help that,” said Sue.
For all she does to enhance literacy in the Foothills, Sue Stegmeier is this week’s Inspiring Albertan.
With files from CTV's Darrel Janz
