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Literacy Nipissing Executive Director Vandra McQuarrie unveils the agency's new logo. Photo by Dennis Chippa.
It was a big change in direction for North Bay’s literacy agency. A new name, a new logo and introduced by its new Executive Director.
Saturday’s annual Family Literacy Skate, held in conjunction with the Ontario Early Years Center-Nipissing, was a perfect opportunity to announce the change from the North Bay Literacy Council, to Literacy Nipissing.
Vandra McQuarrie, the agency’s new executive director, explains the name and logo are the only things changing at the agency.
“Same service, same ability to help adults who need upgrading in reading, writing, math and computers. It’s just a new updated look and an easier name to say for everybody.”
The North Bay Literacy Council has been around for 37 years, and from the outset, serviced mainly the North Bay proper.
But McQuarrie says that has changed, and students are now coming from all over.
“We’ve reached over 37 hundred adults in that time. But we have also grown our service area. So now we go as far out as Mattawa. We have students from Redbridge, from Rutherglen. So they’re coming from all over, not just North Bay. We needed to upgrade our image and reflect the learners that we now serve.”
The logo, designed by Kirk Titmuss, was chosen over the course of several months by the agency’s board of directors, with input from both McQuarrie, and retiring Executive Director Jane Jackson.
McQuarrie admits Jackson was a driving force behind the change.
“Jane Jackson has given so many years to this agency. She handed over the reins. The new name and the new logo was her vision, to leave the agency with a new direction before she retired. I just kind of was able to ride on her coat tails and take it to the next level.”
But it wasn’t just logo announcements.
Family Literacy Day featured over 300 people taking advantage of a free skate at Sam Jacks arena, as well as free hot chocolate and snacks.
Upstairs, kids could take part in literacy themed crafts put on by Ontario Early Years Centre Nipissing staff.
If you haven’t seen the logo for Literacy Nipissing, wait.
Thanks to funding from North East Community Opportunities, Literacy Nipissing will spend a good part of the year making sure it’s logo, and its mandate, is front and center.
