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Reading Level: Level 3
February is Black History Month
Canada Post has issued this special stamp to acknowledge the history of Vancouver’s Hogan’s Alley. What is Black History Month? During this month, we honour the achievements and contributions of black people, past and present. Many of these men and women have fought for equal rights.
Continue ReadingLegal Aid BC: Dealing with separation – Part 5
Submitted by Nate Prosser and Alex Peel, Legal Aid BC, Edited by Nancy Carson • Illustrations by Danette Byatt Dealing with separation – Part 5/6 Sally left an abusive relationship. Her husband hit her. She took her children and went to stay with a friend. Sally wants to be sure that she will be safe. She needs help, so…
Continue ReadingMeet a library champion
Submitted by the Vancouver Public Library Meet Shu Ming Chen: Doctor, recent newcomer to Canada, and proud library champion. Her mission: Support her community and help immigrants discover their local library and all that it offers. Q: Why did you become a library champion? A: When newcomers have just landed, they feel isolated and anxious…
Continue ReadingFun fact about B.C. – neon
Adapted from The Province by Nila Gopaul Neon signs are electric signs. They contain neon and other gases. The signs are made of glass tubes. These tubes are bent and made into interesting shapes with different colours. In the 1950s, Vancouver had 19,000 neon signs. This means that there was one sign for every 18 people!…
Continue ReadingCanada Winter Games – 2015
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Level 3 Listen to “Canada Winter Games”– Level 3 Reading by Corey Muench Prince George, B.C., will host the Canada Winter Games in February 2015. The city will also celebrate its 100th birthday.
Continue ReadingWord of the Year – 2014
Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year is … vape. Vape means to inhale and exhale the vapour from an electronic cigarette (e-cig). Vape is short for vapour (noun) or vaporize (verb). People also use vape as an adjective, such as a vape pen and a vape shop. Why vape? E-cigs have become more common in the world. E-cigs give off vapour, not smoke. People used the word twice as…
Continue ReadingLegal Aid BC: Sally goes to court – Part 4
Submitted by Nate Prosser and Alex Peel, Legal Aid BC, Edited by Nila Gopaul • Illustrations by Danette Byatt Going to court, Part 4/6 WCR and Legal Aid BC co-publish a series offering readers information about their legal rights in Canada. Sally was in an abusive relationship. Her husband hit her. She took her kids and left…
Continue ReadingCoconut Boys from Kelowna
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nancy Carson Level 3 Two men from Kelowna are friends. Kevin Carta and Ryan Geni both wanted to start a business. Carta likes healthy, organic food. So, he thought about making a special pasta. It would be gluten-free. Geni is a vegan. He wanted an “ice cream” without using…
Continue ReadingLegal Aid BC: Applying for legal aid – Part 3
Submitted by Nate Prosser and Alex Peel, Legal Aid BC, Edited by Nila Gopaul • Illustrations by Danette Byatt Applying for Legal Aid, Part 3/6 WCR and Legal Aid BC co-publish a series offering readers information about their legal rights in Canada. Sally was in an abusive relationship. Her husband hit her. Sally left her home….
Continue ReadingSeven-year-old wants to help
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Joshua Smith is only seven years old. But he plans to feed over 500 homeless people this Christmas Eve. Joshua and his mother, Traci Smith, have helped feed homeless people for two years. “He’s an average kid,” says his mother. “He’s bratty. He’s sassy. Doesn’t want to…
Continue ReadingDon’t eat the marshmallow … yet!
Adapted from CBC News by Nancy Carson Level 3 (Video, recipe and slideshow on next page) In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Walter Mischel designed an experiment. Mischel is a psychology professor. He wanted to study self-control in young children. The children were ages four to six. Read the PDF. Don’t eat the marshmallow…yet
Continue ReadingStudents write to a newspaper
Submitted by: Jennifer Partridge, West Point Grey United Church, ESL teacher Jennifer Partridge’s students wrote letters to a newspaper. They wanted to write about Vancouver’s traffic problems. The learners also wanted to talk about solutions. Here are three of their letters: Think about what issues affect your community. Write to your mayor or city council or local…
Continue ReadingVancouver chocolate bar wins gold medal
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nancy Carson Level 3 Marc Lieberman is a very happy man. He started a chocolate company in Vancouver. He opened Mink Chocolates eight years ago. Now he has two stores. The other one is in Surrey, B.C. Read the PDF: Vancouver’s chocolate bar wins gold medal” “Going nuts” A few…
Continue ReadingLegal Aid BC: What is abuse? Part 2
Submitted by Nate Prosser, Legal Aid BC, Edited by Nila Gopaul • Illustrations by Danette Byatt What is abuse? Part 2/6 Sally and her children are not living in their home. They are staying with a friend. They left because Sally’s husband hits her. Sally is visiting Lisa. Lisa is a community worker. That means that Lisa helps…
Continue ReadingFall Festival of Chocolate
The story of chocolate Level 3 Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Chocolate comes from the beans of a cacao* fruit tree. The cacao bean is the seed of the fruit. (say: ka-kow) Cacao trees can grow 15 metres high. The trees grow in tropical rain forests.
Continue ReadingElephants know the voices of their enemies
Level 3 Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nancy Carson Can you recognize different languages? Do you say, “Oh, that sounds like Spanish,” or “That sounds like French.” Can you do it when you do not understand the words? Elephants can! Listen to the story Elephants know the voices of their enemies. Reading by Nila Gopaul-Level 3 Read…
Continue ReadingLegal Aid BC: Getting help with abuse – Part 1
Submitted by Nate Prosser, Legal Aid BC, Edited by Nila Gopaul • Illustrations by Danette Byatt Getting help with abuse – Part 1/6 WCR and Legal Aid BC co-publish a series offering readers information about their legal rights in Canada. Sally and Marsha are friends. One day they meet. They sit and talk. Then Sally talks…
Continue ReadingOctober is Foster Family Month
Adapted from The Province by Nila Gopaul October is Foster Family Month in B.C. Foster care is a way to give a family life to children and teens who cannot live with their own parents. There are about 3,200 foster parents in B.C. They care for 5,900 children and teens in B.C. Many of these parents are reaching…
Continue ReadingB.C. First Nation wins land claim
Level 3 [stextbox id=”audio”]Listen to the story B.C. First Nation wins land claim – Level 3 [/stextbox]Reading by: Corey Muench Watch a video of this news story: Visit the links Read more about this landmark case (with video). For more background on this case, read this CBC article (with map).
Continue ReadingGet to know BC: the World’s Largest Paddle
“Get to know BC” is a new occasional feature with fun facts about the province. The small town of Golden, BC is home to the world’s largest hand paddle/oar. The Guinness Book of World Records listed the entry earlier this year. This paddle is 13 times larger than an actual oar. It is over 2.8 metres (9…
Continue ReadingDorothy Arey, a champion for 23 years
Level 3 Adapted from the CBC website For 23 years, Dorothy Arey was a CBC radio announcer-operator. She worked in a town called Inuvik, which is in the western Canadian Arctic, in Canada’s North. Arey helped people keep in touch. The main language in Inuvik is English. But Arey was a champion of her own…
Continue ReadingSummer stories: My favourite memory
2014 Write a Story contest honourable mention Story by Harlei Kelliher Osoyoos, BC This story is by one of our honourable mentions. Click the link to read this story.
Continue ReadingSurvivors Totem Pole
Skundaal is a carver. She is Haida and Coast Salish. She is carving a special totem pole. The log is 980 years old. It will honour survivors from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. A survivor is someone who has had a difficult life but has remained strong. The totem pole will be raised in Fall 2014. There…
Continue ReadingTough jobs in B.C.
Tough jobs in B.C. Adapted from The Province by Nila Gopaul Level 3 Bronwyn Barter is a paramedic in Nelson, B.C. Paramedics help people in emergency medical situations. They help people before they get to the hospital. Bronwyn wanted to be a paramedic at five years old. At the time, she was with her sister and father. It…
Continue ReadingYou can text 911 for help
Adapted from The Province by Patty Bossort Level 3 Are you deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech impaired? Now you can text for help. The new service is called T911. You can text police, ambulance and fire emergency services for help. The service is available in: • Southwestern BC • Metro Vancouver • Squamish • Whistler • Pemberton •…
Continue ReadingSummer stories: The nature of wilderness
2014 Write a Story contest honourable mention Story by Rick Edmonds Prince George, BC This story is by one of our honourable mentions. Click the link to read this story.
Continue ReadingCanada Post honours C.D. Hoy
Level 3 Canada Post has seven new stamps. A famous Canadian photographer is on each stamp. See the stamps here. C.D. Hoy is on one of these stamps. Hoy was a famous photographer. He lived in Quesnel, B.C. B.C. road trip The Westcoast Reader editor and Nancy Carson drove to Quesnel, B.C. in 2012. It was summer. They went to the Quesnel and District…
Continue ReadingImmigration problem worries Maria
Submitted by Nate Prosser, Legal Aid BC Level 3 Maria is a refugee from Mexico. Maria is scared. She thinks she might have to leave Canada. In 2005, Maria came to Vancouver from Mexico with her two kids. She claimed refugee status. Maria and her children stayed in Canada as refugees. They became permanent residents….
Continue ReadingThe real me
2014 Write a Story contest winners Story by Alberto Holz Osoyoos, BC This story is by one of our four winners. Click the link to read this story.
Continue ReadingMini-farms sprouting at Delta schools
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 Students in Delta schools are learning about farming. They grow, harvest, cook, preserve and distribute their own produce. Project Pickle makes pickles. Project Pickle started at Pebble Hill Elementary School in 2012. Their mini-farm was five raised garden beds. Students planted 200 cucumber plants in June. They harvested 35…
Continue ReadingThe Virgin of Guadalupe – Patron Woman Saint of Mexico
Submitted by Javier, Hastings Learning Centre, Hastings Racecourse, Vancouver The Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego for the first time on December 9th, 1531. She appeared on the mountain of Tepeyac when he was walking in the direction of the church to visit his uncle, Juan Bernardino, who was gravely ill and was not…
Continue ReadingToday’s cheerleaders
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 Cheerleaders are athletes. Cheerleaders can start training in elementary school. Cheerleaders train in dance, tumbling and gymnastics. The sport is dangerous. Read the PDF and do the exercise Today’s cheerleaders Visit the links View the photo gallery at Vancouver Sun.
Continue ReadingThe Sun Run is 30 years old
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 The Vancouver Sun Run is an annual event. It is held every spring. This year will be the 30th Sun Run. People walk and run 10 km. Thousands of people participate. There is food, music and fun for all. The BC Sports Hall of Fame is honouring the Sun…
Continue ReadingSuccessful foster kids: Chris Tait
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 Chris Tait lived in foster care from the age of one. Tait is 22 years old now. He is an aboriginal youth. He lived in one foster home until he was 13 years old. His five brothers and sisters lived with him. At age 13, Tait moved to…
Continue ReadingFoster care and education in BC
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 Who graduates from high school in BC? About 80 percent of kids graduate from high school. Only 32 percent of kids in foster care graduate from high school. How long do young people get help from their parents? Many young people live with their parents until they are…
Continue ReadingLighthouse Park is worth a visit
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 The lighthouse Point Atkinson lighthouse is a national historical site. It was built 130 years ago. The lighthouse overlooks Burrard Inlet. It protected ships on the Strait of Georgia. The federal government of Canada owns the lighthouse. They want to sell the lighthouse. The community loves the Point Atkinson…
Continue ReadingSimple steps to composting
Level 3 What is compost? Nature makes compost naturally all the time. Leaves, grass, and branches die and pile up. Slowly they turn into dirt. That dirt feeds the living plants. It is called compost. People make compost by piling garden and kitchen waste in piles, bins, or barrels. It’s easy to make! Feed your…
Continue ReadingLegal Aid can help
Contributed by Nate Prosser, Legal Aid BC Level 3 Do you have a legal problem? Are you unable to pay for legal help? Call Legal Aid. Legal Aid is free. Legal Aid BC helps people with legal problems. Legal Aid BC can help you in many languages. Ask Legal Aid for help if: you have been…
Continue ReadingKamloops Daily News closes doors
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 The Kamloops Daily News was the only daily newspaper in Kamloops. It published for 80 years. The paper had 27,000 subscribers. The Kamloops Daily News stopped publishing in January. Fifty-five employees lost their jobs. They got two months’ notice. Read the PDF and do the exercise Kamloops News Visit…
Continue ReadingInternational students come to BC
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 Students come to British Columbia from many countries. They are called international students. They go to schools all over BC. They like Vancouver. Vancouver is a multicultural city. The city values its environment. These students spend $2billion every year in BC. This income supports more than 23,400 jobs in…
Continue ReadingFamily literacy
Adapted from ABC Life Literacy of Canada and Decoda Literacy Solutions Level 3 Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is important. Children learn and develop through fun family activities that include reading and learning. For the entire month of January, families in BC are encouraged to learn together. Read…
Continue ReadingThe world’s newest mammal – the olinguito
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun and The Smithsonian Level 3 Researchers found a new mammal in South America. The new mammal is called an olinguito. Olinguitos are small. Their fur is reddish-brown. Olinguitos are cute! They have faces like teddy bears. They jump through the trees and travel at night. Olinguitos live in Ecuador and Columbia. They…
Continue ReadingRemembering the life of Nelson Mandela
Written by Tracy Defoe Level 3 Hero People in Canada, and around the world remembered the life of Nelson Mandela in December 2013. He was a hero to many people for the way he lead his life. Mandela was devoted to democracy, equality and learning. He was a leader for change in his country. He…
Continue ReadingTyphoon hits the Philippines
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 A typhoon hit the Philippines on November 8, 2013. It is the worst typhoon in the history of the Philippines. The typhoon was called Haiyan. The typhoon brought huge winds and rain. Authorities expect to find 10,000 or more dead. About 700,000 people lost their homes. Altogether, about 9.7…
Continue ReadingA new kind of orchard in the city
Adapted from The Province Level 3 A vacant lot in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside became an orchard. Ten years ago, the city removed a gas station. That empty lot is now an orchard. Solefood runs the orchard. The design of the orchard solved two problems. 1. The city still owns the land. City land is valuable. The…
Continue ReadingSnow geese
Adapted from The Province Level 3 Snow geese migrate over the coastal area in Delta, BC. They rest in the fields around Delta. Snow geese fly here from Wrangel Island. Wrangel Island is north of Siberia. They fly about 5,000 km each direction. They arrive at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta between the middle of…
Continue ReadingDolphins remember sounds for a long time
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 Imagine an old friend calling you on the phone after 20 years. You have not heard this person’s voice in all that time. Could you recognize him or her just by the sound of their voice? A dolphin could. Every dolphin has a name. The name is a special…
Continue ReadingA special day
Adapted from a story printed in the December, 2013 edition of The Westcoast Reader I’m Angela. I’m originally from China Wenzhou, Zhejiang. Wenzhou is a coastal city, it means “song and dance of the rural.” I’m a professional dancer and I used to dance in a troupe in Wenzhou. I was also a dance teacher in an…
Continue ReadingSafety on the Internet
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 How do you stay safe on the Internet? How do you keep your children safe on the Internet? Telus started a program for parents, kids and teachers to help keep us safe on the Internet. Read the PDF. Try the Exercise Safety on the Internet Visit the links: WCR…
Continue ReadingGolf teaches about life
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 Kids learn best when they are having fun. Learning to play golf can be fun. Kids learn more than golf skills at First Tee. Kids learn the basic skills to play golf. At the same time they learn important values. Read the PDF. Try the Exercise. GolfTeaches Visit the…
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