Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge that Literacy Northwest’s work, and the work of our community partners, takes place on traditional Indigenous territories across Northwestern Ontario.
We are grateful to be able to work and live in these territories.
We acknowledge the history that many nations hold in this area, and are committed to a relationship with First Nation, Metis, and Inuit peoples based on the principles of mutual trust, respect, reciprocity, and collaboration in the spirit of reconciliation.
Building a Region Where Everyone Can Learn, Work, and Belong.
Literacy Northwest is Northwestern Ontario’s regional backbone for literacy, foundational skills, and workforce readiness — serving Thunder Bay, Kenora, and Rainy River districts.
The Challenge
Northwestern Ontario is one of Canada’s most geographically vast and resource-rich regions — and one of its most underserved when it comes to adult literacy and foundational skills.
Across Thunder Bay, Kenora, and Rainy River districts, thousands of adults face barriers to employment, further education, and full participation in their communities — not because they lack potential, but because they lack access to the right supports.
Low literacy affects employment outcomes, health literacy, financial stability, and civic participation. It’s not a personal failing. It’s a systemic gap — and closing it requires coordinated, sustained regional effort.
1 in 5 Canadian adults has literacy skills that limit their ability to meet everyday demands.
For more information about the importance of literacy skills, check out Community Literacy of Ontario’s report
Get SET: From Learning to Working
Get SET is Ontario’s pre-employment and soft skills development program.
Designed for adults who are ready to enter or re-enter the workforce, on pathways to further training, or needing to navigate today’s complex systems, Get SET builds the foundational skills that employers actually need: communication, teamwork, problem-solving, professionalism, and adaptability.
Get SET helps people take that critical first step — from wherever they are, toward wherever they want to go.
- ✅ Available through local service providers across the region
- ✅ Designed for adults with diverse learning backgrounds
- ✅ Aligned with Ontario’s Skills for Success framework
- ✅ A proven pathway into employment and further training
The Region We Serve
One Region. Three Districts. Hundreds of Communities.
We serve Thunder Bay, Kenora, and Rainy River districts — a territory spanning over 400,000 square kilometres, from the Manitoba border to the edge of cottage country, from the US border north to Hudson Bay.
Distance is not an abstraction here. It shapes everything: how services are delivered, how practitioners are supported, and how learners access what they need. Literacy Northwest exists because this region needs — and deserves — dedicated, locally grounded coordination.
Who We Serve
🧑🎓 Adult Learners
Looking for adult literacy, upgrading, or employment skills programs in Northwestern Ontario? We can connect you to the right provider in your community.
🤝 Partner Organizations
We support literacy and employment service providers across the region with coordination, training, and shared resources.
🏢 For Employers
A skilled, work-ready workforce starts with foundational skills. Learn how Get SET can support your hiring pipeline.
🏛 Funders & Government
We are the regional network for Get SET in Northwestern Ontario. Learn about our accountability, reach, and impact.
Contact
Literacy Northwest
Mailing Address: 1116 Waterford St., Thunder Bay ON P7B 5R1
Email: admin@literacynorthwest.on.ca
Charitable Registration #: 13691 7226 RR0001