Literacy Partners of Manitoba

WRITE ON!

Volume 15 No. 3       Summer 2005        ISSN 1481-5117

Golfers Turn Out for Literacy at PGI 2005

Larry Steciuk of the Co-operators presented Agnes Gborie with the Learner Achievement Award.

The rain came, stayed, but did not conquer. Golfers, volunteers and guests battled the elements and enjoyed a great game, good food and wonderful entertainment at the 2005 Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament for Literacy at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club. Peter Gzowski would have been proud.

“I was amazed by the attitudes of our golfers and volunteers,” said Wally Stewart, Committee Chair. “They were soaked to the skin but laughing and joking around as if it were a beautiful sunny day.”

Wally congratulated the teams and thanked all the sponsors. He mentioned the special contributions made at the banquet by entertainer Ian Ross (Joe from Winnipeg), media personality Terry Macleod, poet laureate Lloyd Axworthy, and host Annitta Stenning.

Co-operators' Learner Achievement Award

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Co-operators' Learner Achievement Award to Agnes Gborie. After thanking Larry Steciuk of the Co-operators, Agnes spoke of her struggles and the power of education.

A native of Liberia, she left school for the first time when she and her family were forced to flee from her hometown of Monrovia.

“Like every child, I used to attend school. But when the war started, the government was forced to fight against the rebels. The war was so intense that we had to flee the city to a safe area. After a while, the war reached all the rural areas too.”

She moved to Canada and was attending Gordon Bell when she had to leave to take care of her son.

“As you might know, it is not easy to be a single mom, taking care of a child and going to school at the same time. I sometimes feel as if I will not be able to reach my goal. However, I tell myself that I can do it. All I have to do is work hard.”

2. President's Message
2. Funding Changes in the Offing
3. PGI in pictures
4. News from the Regions
5. Use it or Lose It – the LPM Library
6. Literacy for Life
7. Literacy and Health
8. Learners Speak Out
9. Literacy News in Brief
10. Upcoming Events

Agnes was determined to get an education. She enrolled in a full-time program at the Aboriginal Learning and Literacy Program on Higgins Avenue in Winnipeg.

“Education is the key to a better life. To tell you the truth, I didn't understand how important education was until I arrived in Canada. I didn't know how to fill out a form. I didn't know how to get from one place to another without the help of other people. Now I can fill in applications, go from one place to another without help, like dropping my son at daycare, going to school, and going from one store to another. It makes life easier for me.”

PGI 2006

The purpose of the PGI is to raise money to support students like Agnes. Preparations are under way for next year's tournament on June 12, 2006. Mark your calendars! To get involved, contact Wally Stewart at wallystewart@mts.net or visit the LPM website at www.mb.literacy.ca.