Heather Reisman on Canada’s illiteracy crisis: ‘I’ve never seen a problem so solvable’

Canada faces a significant literacy deficit that could be costing our  economy tens of billions of dollars annually, yet the solution requires modest investment and a national effort, according to Heather Reisman, founder and CEO of Indigo Books and chair of the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation. Between 22 and 32 percent of Canadian adults struggle with functional literacy: the ability to read a newspaper, fill out job applications, and navigate modern life. Research from Deloitte and TD Bank suggests that for every one percent improvement in literacy rates, Canada could add as much as $67 billion to its economy. The Hub spoke with Reisman to better understand the scope of the problem and what can be done to address it. Here are five key takeaways from the conversation: Parents hold the key to building strong readers The foundation for literacy begins much earlier than most parents realize. “From the moment a child is born, we have the opportunity to build the connections in the brain that then lead to reading,” Reisman explained. “The time to build strong reading skills is from birth to 10 or 11.” Unlike breathing or socializing, reading is not an innate human capability. The brain must be trained to recognize patterns, decode symbols, and construct meaning from text. It must be taught. This training begins with simple activities: reading aloud, singing, and speaking directly to infants and toddlers. “What you do is you lay down the beginning of that hardwiring, those connections, because you’re building language and your brain is wide open,” Reisman said. The CEO emphasized that parents should continue reading to children even after they learn to read independently, selecting slightly more advanced material to increase their comprehension and vocabulary. Screen time poses a growing threat to childhood literacy development The ubiquity of digital devices presents a unique challenge for developing readers. Reisman advocates for strict limits on technology for young children. “Children under 11…honestly, with all the research I’ve seen—I have grandchildren, I talk to my kids every day—don’t give your kids technology,” she said. The choice between screens and conversation happens constantly in everyday situations. “You’re at a restaurant, you have a choice. You can take out the iPad, the iPhone. Instead, do storytelling,” Reisman suggested. “Invite them to talk about their day. Invite them to tell a story.” Emerging research on the impact of screen time on literacy and attention is becoming increasingly concerning. Reisman pointed to work by researchers, including digital humanities professor Kaitlyn Regehr and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, that provides parents with evidence-based guidance on managing technology exposure. Haidt has linked skyrocketing child suicide and depression to smartphone use, which in Canada has climbed to 32.3 percent of youth feeling depressed. The economic case for literacy investment The financial implications of Canada’s literacy gap are staggering, said Reisman. “For every 1 percent that we raise [literacy rates in Canada], we add somewhere between 40 and 60 billion dollars to the economy,” Reisman noted, citing studies from major financial institutions. Despite these enormous potential returns, literacy initiatives struggle for funding and attention. “I’ve been in business all my life. I’ve never seen a problem so solvable with such huge financial returns as addressing literacy,” she said. “It takes so little money to do this. We just have to focus on zero to 12.” Reisman suggested Canada should aspire to have the most literate population in the world, treating literacy as a national priority comparable to infrastructure investments like broadband. Ontario is beginning to take action After years of difficulty gaining traction, Reisman sees encouraging signs from the Ontario government. “I want to do a call out to our new minister of education of Ontario, Paul Calandra, whom we have recently met with and who has just committed to do some real work,” she said. The province is exploring initiatives targeting early care workers and high-needs schools, building on previous work by former education minister Stephen Lecce. However, Reisman acknowledged that advocacy remains challenging. “It’s been the heaviest lift of anything we have ever had to do,” she said on efforts to mobilize government action on literacy. The Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation, which Reisman co-founded, hopes to expand this work to other provinces, though progress has been slower than she had hoped. Reading builds empathy and critical thinking Beyond economic benefits, literacy shapes fundamental aspects of citizenship and community, added Reisman. “When you read stories, when you learn things…If you have people who are confident, who are good readers–which is a foundational thing for critical thinking–if you have people who are empathic, the chances are you will build a stronger, more productive society economically and socially,” Reisman explained. She emphasized that the benefits of reading extend far beyond decoding text. “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader,” she said, quoting a favourite phrase. “If you raise a reader, you build empathy, you build skill, you build confidence. It literally is one of the magic keys to a rich life.” This story draws on a Hub Dialogues podcast. It was edited using NewsBox AI. 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