When young Nick Forsyth met hockey legend Jacques Demers, it was a life-changing moment.

Forsyth was attending a Facing Off With Literacy event at the London Convention Centre put on by Literacy Link, a regional literacy network. He learned that Demers is functionally illiterate.

“He said he also had problems with reading and he told us about his life and his problems. If someone like him can go from nothing to a big-time hockey star, then I can do better, too.”

Forsyth was encouraged to attend the event by his teacher, Sharon Loucks, at the Cornerstone Classroom more...