An Empowering New Chapter for Our Community and How You Can Help Make a Difference on International Literacy Day

When we think of literacy, what often comes to mind is reading books, but it is so much more than that.

Literacy is about confidence, independence, and having the tools to fully participate in your community. When we help strengthen the literacy skills of our community members, we open doors to education, employment, and connection.

September 8th is International Literacy Day, which highlights the importance of literacy skills in creating a more connected, peaceful, and sustainable society.

At the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and that begins with access to learning. Approximately 49% of adult Canadians (nearly half) have literacy skills below a high school level. Through YMCA Learning Services, we work to change that reality, offering free, accessible programs that help adults build the reading, writing, and essential skills they need for everyday life, work, and continued education.

The Muskoka Novel Marathon

Thanks to the generous support of the Muskoka Novel Marathon and its incredible community of writers, donors, and volunteers, we’re able to open more doors to learning.

The Muskoka Novel Marathon is an annual fundraising event in which a group of incredibly talented writers come together for a weekend of uninterrupted writing to fundraise for the YMCA’s literacy programs. Funds raised through this event greatly support the Y’s Learning Services.

These funds allow us to continue helping people improve their reading, writing, and math skills, achieve their Grade 12 education, learn digital literacy through computer classes, learn English as a Second Language through our ESL classes, and so much more! Most recently, 10 individuals who participated in our Introduction to Digital Literacy class received free laptops thanks to funds from the Muskoka Novel Marathon.

Karen’s Inspirational Story

For International Literacy Day, we are peeling back the cover and sharing Karen’s impactful story, who started working with the Muskoka Novel Marathon back in 2006.

“The reason I joined,” she said, “was because the year before I was walking down main street in Huntsville and there was a sandwich board that said ‘Novels in Progress’ and I thought to myself, if it is full of writers there is bound to be someone I know in there, so I thought I would go in and say ‘hi’. It was very welcoming. I went in, and there were writers in the teller’s booths, writers in the office, and writers in the vault. And I just got this incredible feeling of writer energy, creative, inspired, driving energy. I thought, I want to be a part of this – and I have never missed one since.”

Karen started organizing the event in 2009. At that time, the event had never raised more than $6,000 in a single year. “I wanted to take it to the next level,” said Karen. Soon, Karen and the Muskoka Novel Marathon team set a goal of raising $10,000 and surpassed their goal, managing to raise almost $15,000! At the event’s peak in 2016, Karen and her team raised more than $36,000 with 40 participants. During that time, the event was incredibly popular; the registration for participants would fill up within minutes of opening.

Then, when COVID hit, many complications came up.

“The restrictions hit one week after registration, so we had 40 writers and nothing to do with them. We decided we were going to have another Marathon, same date, except entirely online. It was still something that could happen without being in person, only in a different way. We did that for 4 years. Each year, we were hoping to make the switch back to in-person, but didn’t manage to do it until last year.”

When she was asked about what made her passionate about the Muskoka Novel Marathon and fundraising for literacy, Karen said:

“Why literacy? Because it’s huge. It empowers people. Without it, in a culture where most people are somewhat literate and everything requires literacy – road signs, instructions on pill bottles, menus, G1 tests – everything is reading and comprehension. There are so many things.”

“I am a writer; I know how important words are. I know how important reading is. It is a way of communicating that goes beyond spoken language, in how fast you can take it in. Also, writing makes things permanent. If you can’t access writing, you can’t access permanent things. Literacy is so important.”

How You Can Support Literacy in Our Community

Literacy strengthens and empowers everyone in our community to reach their full potential. Are you ready to make a meaningful difference in your community? Click here to learn more about the YMCA’s Literacy Services and how you can support them.