CBC Radio and Calgary Reads have a partnership to promote reading among our young people.

Angela calls herself "the happy harbinger of highway mishaps". She has been in broadcasting for the past two decades. She started her career in Dawson City. Angela is very busy with her career and volunteering with Calgary Reads.

Dariel has spent her entire professional career focusing on children and literacy. She also volunteers and in her spare time spends time with her grandchildren, reading, cooking and bike riding, etc.

Both ladies made us aware of the amount of illiteracy that exists in the world: for example, 1 in 10 Canadians are illiterate.

Calgary Reads asks for volunteers to give up one afternoon a week to read with children at school. This program is for 32 sessions and they both stressed the satisfaction that the volunteers feel when they see a child improve their reading skills.

Some of the reasons for children not reading are their low esteem, watching TV, playing video games and both parents working. The volunteers not only read with the children, but work reading skills into other parts of their daily lives.

www.CalgaryReads.com is the website that explains the program and how we can get involved. By spending just 30 minutes twice a week with a struggling grade 2 student; one can help that child advance an entire grade level in just over 16 weeks.

Another part of the program is Calgary Reads with English Language Learners - these children need extra help as they learn English Another large part of the program is CalgaryReads@ Home - here parents can learn how they can help their children.

Chris Davis thanked our speakers and noted how each of them is so dedicated and passionate about this program. He then presented each of them with our Boltman.

reported by Pauline and Garth Evans