September is literacy month in Manitoba and tomorrow is international literacy day.

Carole Didyk, literacy coordinator for the Portage Learning Centre notes this month needs to be used to change some shocking statistics regarding literacy in our country.

She explains 42% of Canadians between the ages of 16 and 65 do not have the minimum level of literacy.

Didyk adds improving literacy has multiple benefits including, improving economic, ans social programs.

She says literacy is a broader problem than just reading and writing, including; numeracy, computer literacy, and the application of knowledge in problem solving.