Page 6, Terrace Bay-Schreiber News, Wednesday, July 22, 1987 Service will help adults learn to read By Pam McKeever Did you know that an estimat- ed 15 per cent of adults in Northwestern Ontario are judged to be illiterate? This figure really shocked me. As someone who has always enjoyed reading and writing- and can't really remember a time when I couldn't- it amazed me to think that some people had been deprived of this pleasure all their lives. How would my life be if I couldn't read a recipe and try a new food? How would I feel if my son asked me to read to him and I couldn't? What if I had had to travel without being able to read maps and signs? Life must be far more difficult, and less enjoyable, for people who can't read and write. And then I thought of some- thing else. It must be especially difficult in Canada. In our land of universally available education, how does society treat people who cannot read and write? All of us find it easy to under- stand how people in very poor, war-torn or undeveloped coun- tries come to be illiterate. They've never had the chance to go to school. But how can we explain it in Canada? It's no wonder that people here who can't read go to great lengths to hide the fact. Have you ever heard anyone say "Please read this letter to me. I can't read?" But you may have heard some- one say "Please read this letter to me. I forgot my glasses." Or you may have had someone ask to take a form home to fill it in. There are many ways to hide illit- eracy. But should people have to hide? In most cases it is not the fault of the illiterate person that he or she cannot read and write. Each case is different but some patterns have emerged. People who moved around a lot when they were children often missed essential steps to reading in school. ANNOUNCEMENT Robert J. Paterson, is pleased to announce the formation of a new company -- Thunder Bay Northland Machinery (1987) Limited and it's new division BISCO, with branches in Thunder Bay, Dryden, Terrace Bay and Vancouver. Thunder Bay Northland Machinery is currently one of the largest privately-owned custom sheet metal and manufacturing Some went to school where no special effort was made to teach them. Some were not encouraged to stay in school; they married or went into the workforce before their education was completed. Some lived in areas where their first language was not taught in school. For each, there is a dif- ferent reason, a different story. But each of them has suffered living in a society where every- one is expected to read and write. Program here soon Starting in September, there will be a program designed to help those adults in our communi- ty who wish to improve their reading and writing skills. It will offer free, confidential, one-to-one tutoring at the conve- nience of the learner and the tutor in a private place. Only the co-ordinator who matches learners and tutors will know who is involved in the pro- gram. The program is called Reading Rising. It is sponsored facilities in Northwestern Ontario. BISCO, as a division of Thunder Bay Northland Machinery is a major supplier of industrial products in Northwestern Ontario, in addition to supplying grain cleanin Canada We invite you to contact our staff. We welcome the following experienced Management Personnel who will be in charge of the operations of the new company: Vice President of Operations John McNaul General Manager Thunder Bay Northland Machinery Sig Schram! General Manager BISCO. Roy L. Veneruzzo Manager BISCO DRYDEN Cliff Costello (807) 345-1234 NORTHLAND Manager BISCO TERRACE BAY Michael Gould Manager BISCO VANCOUVER Norman L. Berglund Manager of Grain Processing ~ Equipment and Elevator Supply Rick Joyce Robert J. Paterson, President Thunder Bay Northland Machinery (1987) Limited g parts and equipment across Jf sisco (807) 623-5551 by the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture, the Schreiber Public Library Board and Project Mayday. But the program needs your help. Volunteer tutors are needed now. The tutor training is planned for September 19. At this one- day session, you will learn how to help someone else learn to read and write. All the materials you need for teaching will be provided. You must bring a willingness to help someone else, patience and a commitment for at least two hours a week at your conve- nience. You will be supported and encouraged throughout the pro- gram by the Literacy Advisory Committee and Co-ordinator, Pam McKeever. We also need the help of any- one who would be willing to serve on the Literacy Advisory Committee. This group is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the program and decisions con- cerning material, staffing, budget- ing and direction. If you want to help, call Pam McKeever at 824-2657, or Helen Stokes at 824-2525. If you need help, or know someone who does, please get in touch with us. If we work togeth- er, we can have a good program which will benefit us all. Employment advice for students By Maurice Fenelon Northern Affairs Officer Part 11- This is the second of a two-part column designed to make students more aware of their rights and obligations as employees. On-the-job health and safety in all work places is a joint responsi- bility of workers and manage- ment. Employers and employees must comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Employees must work in a safe manner at all times so that they do not risk themselves on fellow workers. If you suffer an injury, howev- er slight, you are required iv report it immediately. Students employed in summer jobs by employers who are covered by the Workers' Compensation Act of Ontario are entitled to all benefits offered. To find out if you are covered, enquire at the Workers' Compensation.Board at 1-800- 465-3934. Every worker must have a social insurance number, assignéd to all citizens and permanent resi- dents as a method of identifica- tion for tax and insurance papers. Normally, as soon as a worker goes on an employer's payroll, income tax deductions are made from wages at source. Student employees may claim exemption from income tax deductions at source by filing a T.D.1 form supplied by the employers. It must certify that their earn- ings for the year will not exceed the basic exemption. Any students paid in whole or in part on a time-worked or fixed salary basis must be employed at least 15 hours or make at least $99 gross pay in a weekly period in order to pay U.I. premiums. It is compulsory for employers of workers between 18 and 70 to make deductions from wages and io make matching contributions towards the Canada Pension Plan. Employers normally must make O.H.I.P. deductions for stu- dents age 21 or over, however, qualifying students may apply for premium assistance. Students can claim: exemption during vacation employment if they belong to the plan as individ- ual members or are covered by their parents' policy until they are 21 All employees should know what their rights and obligations are. If you would like more infor- mation about employment facts for Ontario students contact the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines at 2 Gilbert Street, Box 280, Marathon, Ontario , POT 2EO, or call 229-1153. For residents outside of Marathon ask your operator for » Zenith 33160.