Between the Lines
Poor literacy amongst youth is widely recognized as a primary impediment to their employment. The relationship between literacy and employment is striking. Research indicates that Canadians with the lowest literacy 
skills have an unemployment rate of almost 26%.
The unemployment rate for those with the highest literacy skills is only 4%. It follows that those with lower literacy will have lower incomes and therefore less capacity to support oneself or one’s family. In fact, Over 80% of Canadians at the lowest literacy level and 60% in the second lowest literacy level have no income or incomes of less than $27,000 annually. Conversely, the higher an individual’s level of literacy, the more likely he/she will be employed and have a higher income.
Where the vast majority of participants in our program have dropped out of school by grade nine, it is becoming increasingly evident that expanded opportunities for literacy training and practice are essential to creating job potential. For many in our program, tasks seemingly as simple as creating or reading a shopping inventory for supplies can present a challenge.
The GLYV is committed to providing innovative literacy programming for both our youth and the wider Parkdale community, including the introduction of our new Used Book Section for reading while in the cafe ot to purchase and take away with you.
Staff will mark books purchased at the café, and if you choose to bring it back for us to restock our shelves, we'll give you a free cup of coffee.