Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan (formerly READ Saskatoon) has a long history as a local literacy organization that offers free literacy services to adults and families.
Since 1979 we have provided adult tutoring services with the help of trained volunteers and community partners. Today we have expanded to offer adult, family, children’s, and financial literacy programs, as well as literacy facilitator trainings and resources.
We Believe:
- We believe everyone has the right to learn, regardless of age.
- We believe strong literacy skills are not attained by chance.
- We believe communities have a right to responsive and effective literacy programs.
- We believe lifelong learning habits contribute to strong and resilient communities.
- We believe our own cultural perspectives are limited and therefore we will not make assumptions about the experiences and cultural expressions of others.
Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan’s Vision:
A community that values, promotes, and supports literacy.
Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan’s Mission:
Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan advances literacy and learning through the work of staff, trained volunteers, and community partners.
Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan’s Programs
Fit the Learner
Our literacy programs range from confidential adult one-on-one tutoring to adult group literacy skills training to programs designed for parents and families.
Fit the Volunteer
Volunteers are trained and receive on-going support from our staff.
Fit the Community
Foundations is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of individuals who value literacy and care about the impact low literacy has on individuals and families living in our community and our province.
Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan’s Staff
Sheryl Harrow-Yurach
Executive Director
[email protected]
Favourite Book: The Diviners by Margaret Laurence. In my early 20s I discovered this book. A couple decades later, its strong, resilient characters coupled with the prairie scenery remains my favourite read.
Sheri Porrelli
Program Manager, Adult & Financial Literacy
[email protected]
Favourite Book: Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. This was the first book I read by this author, and I was amazed by how she could write such a moving story while incorporating such fascinating neuroscience.
Rachael Sutherland
Program Manager, Children’s and Family Literacy
[email protected]
Favourite Book: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. This a recent favourite of mine, I liked the way the book explores the concepts of loneliness and solitude through the eyes of a young woman living and working in Glasgow, Scotland.
Cecilia Mryglod
Office Manager
[email protected]
Favourite Book: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I was immediately transported in time and I could see and smell the things he described. I was invested in the characters and I couldn’t put it down.
Michelle Busa
Donor Relations and Fund Development Manager
[email protected]
Favourite Book: When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. This book challenged my perception of poverty around the world and in Canada and gave me a different perspective on the work we do in our community.
Kat Cloutier
Volunteer & Office Administrator
On Maternity Leave
Favourite Book: House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski. This book combines my love of reading and research, and beautifully toes the line between fantasy and reality.
Theresa Tavares
Communications Coordinator & Office Administrator
[email protected]
Favourite Book: If You Want to See a Whale, by Julie Fogliano and Erin E. Stead. I keep going back to this book every time I need a reminder to be patient and purposeful. I believe nothing beats the gentle wisdom of a good children’s picture book, and this one warms my heart every time.
Jocelyn Hofmann
Senior Financial Literacy Coordinator
[email protected]
Favourite Book: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. I love this book because it made me think of the impact, good or bad, people have on your life.
Lindy Carter
Financial Literacy Coordinator
[email protected]
Favourite Book: Nice Big American Baby by Judy Budnitz. This short story collection changed the way I felt about magic realism, about political writing, and about fiction in general in all its many shapes. Over the years, I’ve read these stories many times. As I’ve grown and changed, somehow, like magic, they seem to change too—revealing new perspectives on our complicated, beautiful, surprising, and formidable world.
Caitlin Wall
Children’s Literacy Coordinator
[email protected]
Favourite Book: The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton. This book introduces readers to an unforgettable character, who I continuously had to remind myself was fictional. Dawnie Walton establishes herself as a unique and powerful voice that confidently uses her Black, female perspective to tell a complex tale about politics, music, and systemic racism that spans decades. Even days after finishing this book, I still had to convince myself that the characters and situations in it were not real.
Becca Page
Children’s Literacy Coordinator
On Maternity Leave
Favourite Book: Kids These days: A Game Plan for (Re)Connecting with Those We Teach, Lead, & Love by Dr. Jody Carrington. Dr. Carrington explains the influence relationships, communication, and (re)connecting has on the development of children. This heartfelt, informed celebration of children and those who love them highlights the importance behind building relationships with children. This book is funny, relatable, grounded in research, compassionate and inspiring.
Cathlin Berndt
Literacy Trainer, Facilitator, & Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
Favourite book: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The book is so beautifully written and is a very moving story. I love the unique perspective of the narrator and the descriptive language. It is also historical fiction which is one of my favourite genres.
Charlene Siwak
Adult Literacy Coordinator
[email protected]
Favourite book: Projections and the Short Story Advent Calendar by Hingston & Olsen Publishing. These short story collections have become favourites of mine because they include culturally diverse literature and have introduced me to authors from around the world. I love these stories because they have authentic characters, engrossing plots, and can serve both as mirrors and windows to different human experiences and perspectives.
Kayla Schneider
Family Literacy Coordinator
On Maternity Leave
Favourite Book: White Oleander by Janet Fitch. I attribute this book to my passion for working with vulnerable families. It was gifted to me from my grandmother who is very special to me.
Anita Fengstad
Family Literacy Facilitator
[email protected]
Favourite Book: Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman. This books reminds my of my mom who could fix anything.
Virginia Gardiner
Family Literacy Facilitator
[email protected]
Favourite Book: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. This book is precious to me because when my children were growing up, I would read this book to them every night. To this day I always end our conversations with “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my babies you’ll be.”
Masesi Masilela
Family Literacy Program Assistant
Favourite Book: The Power of a Half Hour: Take Back Your Life Thirty Minutes at a Time. My favourite quote from this book is, “The value of the gifts is in what the act of giving communicates.”