Lt. Gov.’s wife promotes summer reading camp program

Ruth Ann Onley wants Aboriginal children to achieve their full potential.

That’s why she considers it a privilege to speak and tour on behalf of her husband David’s Lieutenant Governor’s Aboriginal Summer Reading Camp program.

Her husband, David Onley, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, suffers from polio, which means it’s difficult for him to travel to the more than 30 Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities where the camps take place.

With accessibility being part of the Lieutenant Governor’s mandate, Onley said literacy is part of that access.

"That means education as well, that kids can have access to better education and more," she said Friday at Lakehead University,

Onley spoke to more than 90 summer counselors who will run the programs. While she hopes the program will improve Aboriginal literacy rates, counselors can grow too.

"Just see the young people bloom together both the kids at the camps and the counselors. I think it’s such a win-win. You never know the impact you can have on a life."

The program, which started under former Lt. Gov. James Bartleman, is a continuation of support to make sure First Nations youth know they’re not forgotten, Onley said.

"We care, we care so much that we want their future to be a good future. We want them to be able to learn and grow," she said. "To become a learner, a grower…and that’s moving forward. You’re moving towards achieving your full potential."

The program helps over 2,200 children. It’s managed by Frontier College on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor’s office.