Toronto Writer Simon Leigh Dreams Big for Adult Literacy

Leigh is a featured reader at “A NIGHT OF DREAM”, a benefit fund raiser for adult literacy. Says Leigh, “It will be a big event in a big cause; Touch Lounge has offered us a huge venue. If you’re going to dream, dream big!”

“Adult literacy is vital,” he insists. “One in four Canadian adults have trouble reading anything, and one in four of our High School graduates can only handle simple reading and writing. Critical thinking is impossible without good reading skills.”

He reflects on his twenty years of teaching University and College English. “Each year I taught, it became harder. I thought it was just me, but it’s true: High Schools are graduating students with weaker and weaker English skills.”

Leigh, with fellow writers k.g. Sambrano and Nik Beat, will donate all proceeds to the cause of boosting adult literacy. “In books—you can meet strangers, live their lives, fall in love and travel to other lands and worlds—free,” he adds with a grin.

Leigh, from Sydney, Australia, has lived in Canada for thirty-five years now. “For me, literacy is the key to a good future for all Canadians. We’ve got to help solve the illiteracy problem; like obesity and childhood diabetes it’s not going to solve itself.”

Simon Leigh will be reading from his scandalous novel, Wild Women.

“A Night of Dream”
Date: October 14th @7:30 p.m.
Location: Touch Lounge 499 King St. W. (1 block west of Spadina)
Admission: Suggested donation of $15.00 Proceeds to Adult Literacy