The greatest challenge for Angie has been working with the media. "With all the information they are exposed to in the work they do," she said, "they really should know more than they do."

"We had our Read-In on September the 14th. On September the 18th, some government representatives from Ottawa were coming to Grande Prairie to inspect the site for the Winter Games. Even though the government visit was 4 days later, I was told by various media groups that it wouldn't be a good idea to write about literacy at the same time, as if their good standing would be judged unfavourably by the government people if they were to talk about literacy. It was a real jolt to me to be put off like that when we are all working so hard and when we believe so much in what we are doing."

Angie and I talked awhile about finding ways to bridge the gap of misunderstanding that exists between the general public and the real issues of literacy. Her approach is simple.

"I can understand that working with literacy students is a little scary. For many people it's unfamiliar just because they themselves have never been illiterate. And it's frightening too because working in literacy forces us to admit that there are lots of things we don't know and that we have limitations too.

"But when we reach out and take risks we can learn so much from other people. It's just time and exposure. The more time you spend with literacy students the more you come to realize that they are normal people just like you and me."

Klaus Gabriel during a break in the storm
at his Thompkins Landing homestead