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Hazelton educator wins award for literacy

A Hazelton woman has picked up a prestigious national literacy award.
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Anne Docherty has won the 10th annual Council of the Federation Literacy Award for her work at the Storytellers’ Foundation.

A Hazelton woman has picked up a prestigious national literacy award.

Anne Docherty was awarded the 10th annual Council of the Federation Literacy Award for her work at the Storytellers’ Foundation. This award celebrates outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy. It is presented across Canada to educators, volunteers, learners, community organizations, non-governmental organizations and businesses.

“It was pretty exciting,” said Docherty. “It is less about me getting the award but more shines a light on literacy and the approaches we take in the Upper Skeena.”

“Anne has committed her career to trying to address some of the significant social and other challenges that exist in the Hazeltons and in the process has come up with an approach to literacy that’s inspirational and innovative,” said Peter Newbery, Storytellers’ Foundation board chair.

“She knew that simply teaching people how to read wasn’t going to be sufficient if people didn’t recognize that it was linked in some other way to how they live. In other words, reading gives them greater choice and control of their lives.”

Docherty also teaches and mentors at Simon Fraser University’s Professional School of Community-based Economic Development on top of her work with the Storytellers’ Foundation.

“She has had significant recognition across the country and in our community for designing this new approach to literacy and she has done it in a way that has been respectful with the people that she has worked with. This empowers people,” said Newbery.

A date has not yet been set for the presentation of the award.

 



Marisca Bakker

About the Author: Marisca Bakker

Marisca was born and raised in Ontario and moved to Smithers almost ten years ago on a one-year contract.
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