This month, Paul Rosen will go from gold-medal sledge hockey champion to literacy awareness champion. About a year ago, the 51-year-old Thornhill resident decided to confront his secret struggle with reading and writing. Now, having overcome this challenge, he is set to be named as a literacy ambassador for ABC Life Literacy.
Rosen said he’s honoured to be chosen. After six months of courses, he went from a Grade 6 reading level to a university reading level. He was inspired to go public, in part, by Jacques Demers, a well-known former hockey coach who revealed his own struggle with literacy a few years ago.
“It started to affect me in my twenties and thirties, with reading and writing,” he said. “I guess it really hit home when I started to be the face of the team and having to do so many interviews.” Rosen hopes to convey to others who are struggling with literacy, especially adults, that it’s not their fault.
“If I can help somebody and make them realize that this is just another obstacle that they can turn into a great opportunity, then I’m on board.”
So far, his favourite read has been a biography about hockey player Bob Probert.
