| Pumphouse Theatre eyes expansion
The Pumphouse Theatre is hoping to raise enough money for a $10 to $12 million expansion.
Executive director Scott McTavish says the facility, which has two theatres, is currently running at 100 per cent capacity. He says the Pumphouse is hoping to build two new theatres, expand the front lobby to improve service for theatre patrons, upgrade the sound and lighting equipment in the existing theatres, and make some necessary renovations to the heritage building, which was formerly a pumping station.
McTavish says there are currently 17 resident companies that rent space at the Pumphouse Theatre and there’s a waiting list of 10 to 15 organizations that want to rent space.
"I get three or four phone calls a week," says McTavish. "The only way to get space in the building is if another company goes out of business."
McTavish says more theatre space is needed to help emerging companies get off the ground and to allow the companies that currently operate out of the Pumphouse to book more theatre time.
"People could say they could go perform in a church basement, but that’s not suitable. It would be like asking a hockey team to play in a pool," he says.
McTavish says he doesn’t think fundraising for the Pumphouse will be affected by the fact that Theatre Junction and Vertigo Theatre were both recently fundraising for new theatres.
"Calgary is a fortunate city. There’s a lot of opportunity in Calgary. I think there’s certainly the ability out there in terms of funding to support this project."
Pumphouse is currently seeking support for the project from the city, which owns the building the theatre is in. McTavish says ideally he hopes construction on the expansion will begin in 2008.
Group calls for policy change to fight illiteracy
A larger number of paid teachers are needed to combat the issue of illiteracy in Alberta, says the Alberta Literacy Foundation (ALF).
The foundation, along with a number of volunteer organizations, has developed a literacy policy proposal for the Alberta Government, partly to address the province’s skilled labour shortage and to improve overall quality of life for Albertans.
Alberta’s advanced education ministry has also acknowledged a need to improve literacy rates in the province, but no firm plans have been announced.
The foundation also recommends the establishment of a literacy awareness campaign, as well as increased capacity for those seeking to improve their literacy skills later in life.
"The system isn’t there for them the way it needs to be," says Janet Lane, spokesperson for ALF. "Literacy has been handled on a very ad hoc, grassroots basis, and it’s time to start looking at it in a more systematic way."
Studies show roughly 40 per cent of Albertans are functionally illiterate. While this number may seem high, the traditional definition of literacy has changed in recent years to keep up with changes in the nature of communication and changing demands of society.
"We have redefined literacy. It is not just about being able to sign your name and decode information," says Lane. "It is a continuum of learning that enables individuals to develop knowledge and potential, and to pursue and achieve their goals and participate fully in society."
Today literacy is measured in levels. After an individual reaches level two, he or she is reading to learn, instead of learning to read, Lane says.
Literacy rates have been linked to standard of living, safety and GDP. ALF says this effort is to improve society as well as individual quality of life. It is also about helping older generations adjust to a changing world by learning to communicate electronically and develop stronger computer knowledge.
Statistics Canada conducted a study on literacy levels as they relate to employability and earning power in individuals. Not only did the findings demonstrate a clear link between literacy and earnings, but it also found community involvement to increase with greater proficiency in communication.
New pilot project aims to help refugee students
Currently between 60 to 70 per cent of English as a Second Language (ESL) students in Calgary don’t graduate from high school within five years of beginning Grade 10.
The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth is launching a new pilot project aimed at helping those students achieve success.
Barbara Schliefer, project manager, says the program will target not only ESL students, but also students who have low literacy skills in their first language.
She says Calgary is starting to see quite a few students who have lived in refugee camps for years and didn’t have the opportunity to get a decent education. She says many such students have lived through traumatic experiences that they haven’t fully recovered from.
"They may not have enough support to be able to catch up with their peers," says Schliefer.
The pilot project, which will be offered at two Calgary schools, will include tutoring, mentoring and counselling to the students "to create a school that’s welcoming and nurturing and helping them get ahead," she adds.
Funding for the project is coming from the United Way, which is creating a new strategy aimed at helping immigrant youth. |
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