The New Year brings changes for a lot of people in Chilliwack. People wish to make changes in their lives, to improve themselves, or to take a greater part in their community. The Chilliwack Learning Community Society (CLCS) makes it possible for local residents to accomplish all of these goals. The CLCS hosts adult literacy tutor training beginning this weekend at the University of the Fraser Valley Chilliwack campus.

Literacy tutors are volunteers in a unique literacy outreach program. They receive free training by UFV and then are matched with an adult learner in the community. Learners come with all different kinds of backgrounds--some are new immigrants, some are people who didn't complete their Grade 12, some are families wishing to improve their literacy skills, some are adults returning to school to complete academic goals. Learners and tutors work together in one-on-one pairs, in small groups, or in classrooms. Sometimes tutors are integrated into community programs and become available to assist people on an "as needed" basis.

Debbie Denault, the community literacy co-ordinator for the CLCS, matches learners with tutors, and tutors with programs. The matching process takes into consideration the preferences, skills and availability of learners and tutors, as well as the needs of the organization.

"Tutors are given a free training program which includes information about how adults learn to read and write, how we learn to learn, how to help people set and meet their learning goals, what volunteers need to know about volunteering, and more," Denault said. "We look for tutors of all ages and backgrounds--our youngest is just out of high school and our oldest ones are retirees."

Michael Berger, Workplace Essential Skills co-ordinator for the CLCS, said, "There is an ongoing need for additional literacy tutors in Chilliwack. One of the areas that tutors have proven useful is in the workplace. As more immigrants join the local workforce, having a literacy tutor available can help make them more productive at work."

This year's training begins with an online self-study course followed by a training day on Jan. 22 at the UFV Chilliwack Yale Road campus.

- For more information about becoming a literacy tutor or to register for the training, contact Denault at 604-792-0025 ext. 2434 or debbied@chilliwacklearning.com.