Amazing Grace: Remembering a Literacy Legend

Grace Saabas, long-time literacy volunteer, passed away last week, shortly after her 90^th birthday. Her pioneering work in the literacy field is a significant part of her legacy.

Born an only child from Tavistock Ontario, Grace graduated from Christian Education at the University of Waterloo in 1958,  as well as the Mother House in Baltimore, where she developed a lifelong passion for education, literacy and church work.

As a member of the Lutheran Church Women, Grace first heard about the Laubach Literacy movement in the early 1970s, and took her first tutor workshop in 1972 through the St.George’s-Tyndale Parish House, a Neighbourhood Centre in Montreal. She tutored there for several years, and eventually joined the RECLAIM Literacy Council in Montreal.

Grace served just about every role imaginable in the literacy field, always as a volunteer. First and foremost, Grace tutored adult learners, an important role that guided her in her work.  She became a Literacy Trainer (and Supervisor). She led the national Training and Certification Committee to train and certify Literacy Trainers and establish national training standards. She served as  President of RECLAIM, Laubach Literacy – Quebec (now Literacy Quebec), Laubach Literacy of Canada (President 1993-96) and was the Canadian representative to Laubach Literacy International (now ProLiteracy).

She organized conferences, workshops and meetings with Senators, MP’s, Governors General, volunteers and learners. She treating everyone with the equal respect, and her trademark dry wit.

Grace was a mentor and a friend. I first met Grace in Bedford, Quebec in 1989, when I applied for my first job in literacy, as National Development Officer for Laubach Literacy of Canada. Grace interviewed me, as part of her role as Director of the organization. She was willing to take a chance on a recent arrival from Toronto, with a recent Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and no relevant experience. She provided the support and the opportunity for me to learn and to grow into the position.

Over the next three decades, Grace taught me about adult literacy, the important role of volunteer action, and the meaning of service to the grassroots community. Her mentorship shaped my own approach to literacy work, and life.

I apprenticed under Grace to learn the ropes of a model of literacy education based on the Each One Teach One philosophy. I watched her in action, as we travelled around Canada in the 1990’s, doing field work, at a time when the federal government, under the National Literacy Secretariat, supported a humanistic approach to adult literacy.

Married to (the late) Reverend Helmut Saabas, Grace was mother to three sons, John, Paul and Andrew, grandmother to seven, and great grandmother to two. Grace and Helmut opened their home and their hearts to guests from all over the world, through their implication in church work, education and literacy.

I am blessed to have shared time with Grace, to have learned from her, laughed with her, stirred up some adventures, and shared a glass or two of scotch!

Grace Saabas (right) attends opening of Yamaska Literacy Council in 2000. With Wendy Seys, YLC Executive Director. Cowansville, QC

My hope is that I can honour Grace’s  memory by providing mentorship and support to others who enter the literacy field, a place I have called home for more than 30 years.

Thank you, friend, for your many contributions, and for being one of a kind. You made a difference!

With love and respect,

Wendy