Manitoba Literacy Atlas
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Manitoba Literacy Atlas
Literacy Partners of Manitoba commissioned Dr. Chris Green to use Canada Census data to map literacy and related social issues in 1999 in Manitoba. An update was done in 2005, when Dr. Satya Brink, Director of the Literacy Policy Directorate at Human Resources and Social Development Canada did a series of similar maps using the results of the International Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (IALSS, 2003).
These maps show the relationship between literacy levels in Manitoba and other social factors. As well, they provide an opportunity to compare 3 sets of Census results, view the literacy profile of the province at a glance, and see relationships between factors such as education levels, employment rates, family income levels, and rates of income assistance within Winnipeg neighborhoods and rural census divisions.
Using the Maps
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Note areas that tend to be literacy “hot spots”.
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Take careful notice of the legends on each map, the scales may differ.
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Click on maps to enlarge thumbnail sketches
Interpreting the numbers
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Remember that 25% of the population of that area means that one in four citizens is affected by the factor shown. For each person in a category, there may be family members, neighbours and friends who are affected by his/her success.
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Literacy is a door opener for some, but a door closer for others. In Canada, economic success is mainly tied to literacy level. Studies by Dr. Doug Willms at the University of New Brunswick and by T. Scott Murray of Statistics Canada, confirm that the lack of education, or facility with language, limits a person’s access to well-paid jobs and to obtain long term economic security.
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From the Manitoba Literacy Atlas, one can see how literacy rates impact the percentage of people that receive the bulk of their income from government transfers, payments such as Employment Insurance, Social Assistance or pensions. Other interesting correlations also emerge.
What can we do?
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In 2005, the CD Howe Institute reported that if literacy skills were increased by 1%, the result would be a 2.5 % rise in productivity and a permanent rise in the GDP of about $18 billion per year. Manitoba’s share of that improvement would be over $600 million – a dividend of $500 per Manitoban, per year.
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In 2008 the level of provincial funding for adult literacy upgrading programs reached $2.00 per Manitoban. There are more than 60 communities where the average literacy level is at level 2.
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Improving literacy levels makes both economic and social sense!
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Many thanks to Chris Green, and especially to the National Literacy Secretariat (now the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES) for funding the development of the Manitoba Literacy Atlas.
TRACKING THE TRENDS: RESULTS ON THE 1991 CENSUS FOR THE CITY OF
WINNIPEG
(Click on a thumbnail graphic to view a larger version of
the map)
TRACKING THE TRENDS: RESULTS ON THE 1996 CENSUS FOR THE CITY OF WINNIPEG
(Click on a thumbnail graphic to view a larger version of the map)
TRACKING THE TRENDS: RESULTS ON
THE 1996 CENSUS FOR MANITOBA
(Click on a thumbnail graphic to view a larger version of
the map)
TRACKING THE
TRENDS: BAR CHART RESULTS ON THE 1996 CENSUS FOR MANITOBA
(Click on a thumbnail graphic to view a larger version of
the map)
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in collaboration with LPM
