About Us

PGI Canada: PGI Canada is the national body that oversees and coordinates the efforts of PGI events across Canada. PGI Canada is currently operated by a national director, an independent financial manager and a national advisory committee (PGI Canada Committee). PGI Canada manages all national elements of the PGI events, Including:

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Overseeing national communications, branding and marketing initiatives

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Organizing and programming the PGI National Forum

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Ensuring each event operates within appropriate PGI guidelines

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Recruiting and stewarding celebrity hosts and/or performers

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Providing expertise, advice and ongoing support to PGI local organizing committees

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Soliciting and stewarding national sponsors, national contributors and learner champions

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Creating national funding proposals as required

PGI Canada Committee: The PGI Canada Committee consists of a maximum of five volunteer representatives. The PGI Canada Committee is a volunteer board committee of the Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy and also includes the Director, PGI Canada. Current members are:
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Sheryl Harrow, Saskatchewan (Chair)

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Norm Finlayson, Prince Edward Island

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Paul Lahey, Newfoundland and Labrador

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Sandi Kiverago, Ontario

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Jenny Marcus, National Director, PGI Canada (ex-officio)

Local Organizing Committees: Each PGI has a local organizing committee made up of community volunteers and literacy organization staff. The PGIs report through PGI Canada. Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy: PGFL provides oversight to PGI Canada to ensure the continued success of the PGIs across the country. The PGFL also:
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Has legal and financial responsibility for PGI Canada

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Authorizes the preparation of annual audited financial statements for PGI Canada

View the PGI Canada Photo Slideshow

Peter Mansbridge, PGI National Spokesperson

In my association with the PGIs, I have come to understand some of the many reasons why a person has low literacy skills – including learning challenges that undermined self-confidence, difficult childhood circumstances or perhaps economic pressures that short-circuited educational opportunities. Every adult learner I have met expresses so much gratitude to their tutor for imparting the gift of literacy. By participating in a PGI event, you are helping to deliver that gift.

– Peter Mansbridge, Anchor of CBC-TV’s The National and National Spokesperson for the PGIs.

Shelagh Rogers, Honourary PGI National Chair

“Across this vast country the PGIs have become a ribbon of hope that links a network of unsung heroes – volunteer literacy tutors. Their work is instrumental to the effort by adults who struggle with reading and writing. It is a noble cause indeed, and I applaud and support each and every learner and tutor.”

– Shelagh Rogers O.C., Host of CBC’s The Next Chapter and Honourary PGI National Chair

PGI Outcomes and Use of Funds

$340,645 net dollars were raised by the PGIs in 2016. These funds were allocated to local literacy programs, services and activities.