Kwakwaka’wakw Territory (North Vancouver Island, BC) – Children’s laugher can be heard as the riverboat approached the shore of the Gwayi Village, in the picturesque Kingcome Inlet and home to the Tsawataineuk First Nation.  Lead by the Honourable Steven L. Point and spearheaded by several Rotary clubs in BC, Success By 6 has become part of a collaborative project to support literacy in remote communities like Kingcome Inlet.

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia along with several Rotary members  have embarked on a Literacy project designed to support increased literacy in remote and isolated communities in BC.    His Honor met with various communities to discuss their needs and identify viable solutions to improve literacy. 

The Success By 6, North Island initiative became involved through their partnership with Literacy Now and their ongoing work in the community, providing services like the mobile reading programs.

“Literacy is an important priority for our community,” says Roberta (Bobbi) Smith, Band Administrator for the Tswataineuk Band, “and so we are very excited at this opportunity to create a library for our children and families”. Through the local Rotary Club, Success By 6 learned about the efforts of the Lieutenant Governor.  “We came together to make it all work,” Brenda Rothwell, Success By 6 Coordinator, North Vancouver Island.

 The North Island Success By 6 initiative will provide seed funding through the Aboriginal ECD funding stream.  “Success By 6 aims to build community through partnerships and collaborative projects such as this “ says Marcia Dawson, Provincial Aboriginal Coordinator for Success By 6. “The funding provides opportunity for partnerships and leveraging of other dollars.”

The scope of the project in Kingcome Inlet includes building a library and learning center, to help foster reading and early learning as well as to provide older children to remain in their communities as an option rather than leaving to go to school.  The annex learning center is slated for September 2010, with the remainder of the project to continue through to 2011.

“We are very excited about the project,” says Bob Blacker, Aide de Campe and member of the Steveston Rotary Club.  “Our own Rotary has adopted the Kingcome Inlet project alongside the Port McNeil Rotary club.  We are also delighted to be working with partners like Success By 6, who have been instrumental to helping facilitate the community collaboration.”

“This is a gift of social development that [the community] didn’t expect,” says Point. “The idea is to get people to come together.”

Rothwell adds, “We are very proud of the work to date.  We couldn’t have done this without the support from His Honour, the Rotary, Literacy Now, the local RCMP, the Band Leadership and Administration.”

“This is a perfect example of Success By 6’s model for meeting the needs of children through community engagement and partnership building” says Kim Adamson, Provincial Manager for Success By 6.  “Our funding stream for Aboriginal early childhood development is a top priority for Success By 6 and we are supporting exciting projects across British Columbia.”

Special thank you to the individuals who have helped in this project to date:
The Honourable Steven L. Point, OBC, Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia; Bob Blacker, Aide de Campe, Steveston Rotary Club; Brenda Rothwell, Success By 6; Sharon Gordon, Literacy Now; Kathy Martin, Rotary Literacy Director; Dave Nelson & Elisabeth Eggenburger, Port McNeill Rotary Club; Barbara Fitzpatrick, Richmond Rotary Club; West Coast Marine Detachment: Cpl Rob Pikola, Constable Todd Eppler, Engineer Philip Mollet; Alert Bay Detachment: Cpl Ron Vlooswyk; RCMP Videographer, Kevin MacDonald; Joe Willie,Hereditary Chief & Elected Chair; Bobbi Smith, Band Administrator; Carla Voyageur & Clyde Dawson ,Residents & Parents; Colette Hodgson & Claire Hodgson, Prepared & served lunch for community.

About Success By 6
Success By 6 in BC is a joint initiative of United Ways, Credit Unions, the BC Government through the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), and community leaders. The initiative is dedicated to ensuring that children ages 0 to 6 have access to programs and supports that help ensure healthy growth and development. Success By 6 builds community through engaging citizens in early childhood development and funding programs that include literacy, nutrition, children's play, parenting and family skills development. For more information visit www.successby6bc.ca or www.uwlm.ca.

Contact:
Kim Adamson, Provincial Manager      or     Marcia Dawson, Provincial Aboriginal Coordinator
Success By 6 BC                                   Success By 6 BC
Phone: (604) 294-8929                          Phone: 250-590-9190 
E-mail: kima@successby6bc.ca               E-mail: marciad@sucessby6bc.ca