Literacy Facts

Did you know that ...

In Toronto
The 1996 Census tells us:

• There were approximately 248,108 people aged 15 years and over that had less than a grade nine education. This is 12.8% of the population of people aged 15 years and over in Toronto.
• About 42% of all unattached single people lived on incomes of less than $17,000.
• About 24% of all families of four lived on incomes of less than $32,000.
• About 42% of all new arrivals into Canada settled in Toronto.

In York Region
The 1996 Census tells us:

• There were approximately 39,979 people aged 15 years and over that had less than a grade nine education. This is 8.8% of the population of people aged 15 years and over in York Region.
• About 35% of all unattached single people lived on incomes of less than $14,500.
• About 12% of all families of four lived on incomes of less than $27,000.

Sources

Reading the Future: A Portrait of Literacy in Canada. Statistics Canada. 1996.

Literacy Skills for the Knowledge Society. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Human Resources Development Canada. 1997.

Literacy Economy and Society. Statistics Canada. 1996.

Literacy Needs Assessment. Metro Toronto Movement for Literacy. August 1992.

Census Reports. Statistics Canada. 1996.

Prepared by
Metro Toronto Movement for Literacy
365 Bloor Street East, Suite 1003
Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4
Phone: (416) 961-4013
Fax: (416) 961-8138
e-mail: admin@mtml.ca
Charitable #13226 9572 RR0001
August 1998

"You just don't know what it is like. I feel so alone and embarrassed because I can't read and write".

"I never go far from home because I can't read the signs. I'm afraid of getting lost."

"When I can't read labels at the grocery store, I just ask someone to help me. I tell them I forgot my glasses."

callers to the
Literacy Access Network.