The Westcoast Reader is a valuable community service and learning resource. Hi Rick and SSPAC members, I am speaking on behalf of The Westcoast Reader (The WCR), as Editor and Manager, and for the thousands of readers, community partners, experts, educators, and other supporters of this valuable resource. Together, we strongly believe that Capilano University has both a responsibility and an opportunity to continue to support The WCR and the many communities it serves. Contents photos and screen shots are included here to show you what we do 1. Preamble 2. Background of The WCR page 2 3. Recent sample projects page 5 4. Building a future page 5 1. Preamble Capilano will provide not just a myriad of opportunities, but also a series of well defined options that will lead them (students) from the beginning to the end of their university journey. Collaboration Social action and community engagement for Cap Year and Capstone courses Capilano University is in a unique position to inspire forward thinking and to showcase itself as a leader in culture and trends as a learning institution. While more and more students work on community projects and look toward social entrepreneurship and experiential learning environments, Capilano University can take a leadership role by investing in and showcasing its special projects, which give students unique opportunities to take part in making a positive impact on society. For example, The WCR and its Editor can help students work on community projects, internships and program development in their Cap Year or for their Capstone courses by focusing on language development, for example, and social action and community engagement. Connecting universities to business and industry Opportunities for Global Competition Like Mitacs*, started by the new President of UBC, Dr. Arvind Gupta, Capilano University can build partnerships between academia, industry and the world. Cap U. can start to collaborate with business catalysts such as technology incubators in order to invest in its current innovative projects like The WCR while creating new ventures/commercialized products (such as apps & software) to fund or create sustainable businesses so that existing projects can work toward self-sufficiency. These conversations have already started as The WCR has recently been approached by Invoke Labs. *a not-for-profit organization recognized internationally for nurturing the next generation of research and business-savvy innovators. 1
The Westcoast Reader is a valuable community service and learning resource. Vast opportunities for Public Relations and Further Community Engagement 2. Background of The WCR Capilano University has the opportunity to increase its connections to and work with the K-12 sector in BC, Canada, the United States, and beyond. The WCR has spent over three decades at Capilano University 1. Creating a truly remarkable community for over 100,000 readers in over in 300 communities in B.C. 2. Publishing a quality, award-winning learning resource for educators and learners across the province and now outside of B.C. borders print and online platforms. 3. Building brand loyalty associated with Capilano University and our many readers and Community Partners, such as the Pacific Newspaper Group. 4. Developing pathways to learning and engaging the following groups: K-12 Students, Aboriginal Groups, ESL and Literacy Learners, International Students and 10 other categories of readership. Connecting with the K-12 community Our connections with School Districts with our print edition across all regions of B.C. could give Capilano University an additional opportunity to increase its connections with the K-12 sector within B.C., and beyond B.C. s borders. Opportunity Connecting with the international community With our The WCR Online Learning Community, The WCR is tapping into the international market. Opportunity Google Analytics Google Analytics reveals, for example, on October 5, 2014, readers are geographically located in Japan, the Philippines, Brazil, India, Thailand, Spain and France (Canada, the U.S. and U.K. needless to say) age: all ages use the online community, but the highest numbers are between the ages of 18-24 and 25-34. Meeting deliverables and our mandate for 35 years Each month the editor adapts local, national and international news stories from our many community partners, four of which include CBC, The Vancouver Sun, The Province and the Canadian Press. Facilitating greater knowledge and growth across the population The newspaper is written at three reading levels between Grades 2 and 4 in order to facilitate greater knowledge and growth across the population Opportunity 2
The Westcoast Reader is a valuable community service and learning resource. The WCR is with you! Opportunity The WCR writes about the community. And it is an integral part of the community. Every face-to-face community connection we make, Every article ever written and published, Every tweet, Every Facebook and website post, Every workshop ever conducted, Every conference attended, Capilano University, which is part of our brand, gets recognition and excellent PR. Our Facebook page has Capilano University s logo front and centre. The Facebook page states Published by Capilano University. Opportunity and responsibility The WCR is the only resource of its kind left in North America. Opportunity and responsibility Why? The WCR is an award-winning newspaper born over 35 years ago to serve the needs of learners who are not fluent in English; however, over time, as a result of community/reader feedback, this resource has become more innovative and current in order to serve a wider diversity of readers. Our online community now further deepens our connections with the community. Opportunity and responsibility Many of my Elders look forward to and read the newspaper with interest. I have kept a copy of each one and the teachers notes that accompany it. It always can fit into a lesson plan and can be used for years. 2011 WCR Satisfaction Survey I think a big part of what we re doing is to help students find their voice and use their reading skills to become good citizens to be part of the conversation. This newspaper helps with this big important goal. Thanks to the Westcoast Reader for providing us with this great resource and for the reminder to participate. 2011 WCR Satisfaction Survey 3
The Westcoast Reader is a valuable community service and learning resource. Read about us in The Vancouver Courier. Product samples October 2014 Print October 2014 front page of The WCR newspaper and accompanying Teachers Notes (lesson ideas & learner exercises) I thought the last issue was terrific. Such a good blend of high interest and important issues. an email comment from a former UBC reading expert/current reader on October 2, 2014 The WCR Online Learning Community Snapshot of our online community - readers can listen to articles being read, watch videos. Learn more with links. Engage more with the material and text; for example, they can see the octopus who was brooding her eggs for over four and one-half years! Nearly 800 views online on October 3, 2014 4
The Westcoast Reader is a valuable community service and learning resource. 3. Recent sample projects, coverage within the community by re-visioning learning support for students, staff, faculty, and the institution as a whole. Our community will be enhanced through a dedicated focus on service learning. On October 4, 2014, the editor was in New Westminster to see the unveiling of the bronze war sculpture, $2 coin and Canada Post stamp for the iconic Wait for Me Daddy photograph taken in October 1940. On October 3, 2014, the editor was in Vancouver s Chinatown learning more about the Choi Project s initiatives to revitalize Chinatown and to empower our families and communities to take part in local food movement. 1. On September 24, 2014, Raise-a-Reader was another campaign the editor supported; she and two team members were out in the pouring rain, hitting the downtown streets at 7:00 a.m. to raise money for children s literacy. 2. 3. 1. Editor of The WCR, Nila Gopaul, and Whitey Bernard, who was the 5-year-old boy in Claude Dettloff s photo Wait for Me, Daddy! 2. Choi Project participants 3. Raise-a-Reader WCR post We empower British Columbians by connecting with the most current and relevant newsworthy local stories so that important information can be accessed. 4. Building a future Capilano University has the opportunity to increase its connections to and work with the K-12 sector in BC, Canada, the United States, and beyond. The future of the WCR online community is dependent upon Capilano University s support and the active participation of its readership. As with any community The WCR is dependent upon relationship in order to grow and remain relevant. Exploring and fully supporting several opportunities is in Capilano University s best interest. Readership/future students Over time, our readership has expanded to service a diverse group of learners, such as K-12 students in over 35 B.C. School Districts; Aboriginal groups; ESL Groups; International Students; and about 10 other populations who look forward to reading the print edition each month and who frequent our online learning community and social media pages. 5
The Westcoast Reader is a valuable community service and learning resource. Investment/sustainable business model Capilano University continues to break down barriers between areas of study, fields of research, disciplines and professions. The WCR has been approached by Invoke Labs to capitalize on its big ideas. This is something The WCR would like to explore. Building relationships and investing in a commercialized product(s) with business catalysts such as tech incubators (Invoke Labs) is one way to invest in the future and fund existing social projects at Capilano University and to work across disciplines and professions. Thank you for this opportunity to participate in the strategic plan, Nila Gopaul EAP Faculty/Editor, The Westcoast Reader Capilano University, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada Adjunct Faculty, The Harvard Institute for English Language Programs Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA 778-989-0162 Our Online Community Facebook Twitter.It s wonderful to have a resource that is relevant to people in BC with articles about current events, entertainment, and items of general interest (safety, feature stories, and helpful hints for everyday life). I always look forward to a new issue because I read it from front to back myself! Exemplary Literacy Materials Online gives The WCR five stars Thanks for the great work. This should be available to a wider audience of learners like those in other provinces who don t have a resource like this. Diane Desrosiers, Outreach Settlement Worker Just wanted to drop you a note to say what a great job you are doing with The Westcoast Reader.I think you have made the paper more useful and more relevant. Great job.i can see the dedication you apply to The Westcoast Reader and it shows in every issue.!terry Peters, Managing Editor of the North Shore News It would be great if teachers could direct students to your site to download a full PDF of the publication for at-home reading. Sometimes teachers are unwilling to part with their class copies for fear that they might not come back! (The extras on your site are a nice bonus videos, audio and related links.)! Gordon Powell, Coordinator of Library & Information Services, Richmond School District 6