PWC hosted our 14th Annual Power of Words Breakfast on Friday, September 8, 2023 in recognition of International Literacy Day. Local musician Slo’ Tom (Tom Stewart) performed the opening song, It’s a Condo Now, which helped set the mood for an uplifting morning. Hélène Cayer, a former learner in our computer skills program, delivered the Land Acknowledgement. Jeff Larocque from CKCU FM emceed the event and had us all laughing with his stories of past antics! Five of our learners spoke about their experience in the program, sharing their kind and inspirational words about their tutors and experience with PWC! Our guest speaker Derick Fage, host of Daytime Ottawa on Rogers TV, spoke about living with an invisible medical condition, bullying, isolation, living life to its fullest, building meaningful relationships and the benefits of having a support system, and the importance words can have in our lives. Margaret MacDonald, President of the PWC Board of Directors, spoke about what literacy and PWC mean to her, and Executive Director Dee Sullivan concluded the event with the launch of our annual book draw and the announcements of our continued special partnership with Perfect Books and Books on Beechwood. Both bookstores agreed to donate 10% of all book sales on September 8 to PWC to celebrate International Literacy Day! Rogers TV was once again on hand to cover the event. The Newport Restaurant provided the delicious, hot breakfast. During the event, attendees could buy a ticket for our Book Draw and the chance to win a recently released book generously donated by authors and publishers. We would like to thank all who spoke or participated in our event in some way. It is because of you that our literacy community can continue to grow and reach those who need it.

PWC would like to express our gratitude to the sponsors of the 2023 Power of Words Breakfast!

• CUPE
• LiUNA!
• ROVLN
• Eastern Ontario Training Board
• McCay Duff LLP
• Paterson & Company
• The Marcus Team EXP Realty Brokerage
• Dencs Team | CIBC Private Wealth
• Perfect Books
• Todd Henry RBC Private Wealth Management
• Books on Beechwood
• Cooperator’s Insurance Josée Brisson
• Ussra Hussain – Desjardins
• ABFK
• Hummingbird Chocolate
• Starbucks South Keys

PWC would also like to extend our gratitude to the publishers and authors who generously donated to our annual book draw!

• Barbara Fradkin
• Biblioasis
• Brenda Chapman
• Canada Post
• Cormorant Books
• ECW Press
• Elizabeth Hay
• Firefly Books
• Greystone Books
• Hachette Book Group
• HarperCollins Canada
• Nathaniel Whalen
• Nimbus Publishing
• Penguin Random House Canada
• Raincoast Books
• Sutherland House Books
• The Walrus
• University of Toronto Press (Lars Müller Publishers)