Again this summer, some of us spoke at the Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf fundraiser for literacy. Many of us spoke about literacy and told our stories. Every year it is an important event for raising funds for literacy and sending our message.

Literacy Partners of Manitoba's staff and Board had a retreat on International Literacy Day, (September 8) and September 9 in Brandon. As Manitoba Learner Representative, I was there representing the adult learners of the province speaking for them at the meetings. - Abe Freisen

Ontario

The Ontario Literacy Coalition Learners' Council continues to contribute to the OLC in many ways-in actions and testimonies. Our most difficult job this past year was in using the written word for communication with other learners. We have worked on what kind of learner information should be on the OLC Web site, we have finished the development and publication of "Close Up" a pamphlet on the Learners' Council and we have contributed to the "Learners' Council News" section of the OLC's Literacy on the Move" Newsletter.

Learners' Council representatives participated in an MTCU Learners' focus group. This group discussed the merits of designs for posters intended to encourage people with low literacy skills to get involved in literacy programs.

Council representatives visited schools and literacy programs to talk about literacy and how to get involved in the OLC. They participated in literacy network and literacy program meetings and in public outreach events. They attended conferences such as the Canadian Public Health Association and the Nunavut Conversation. Some representatives had the opportunity to be interviewed by the media. Council members were featured in newspapers (The Toronto Star) and magazines (Homemaker), on radio (CJLK) and on television (Shaw Cable). As you can see, the Learners in Ontario are eager to work on behalf of literacy! - Pennyann Tibbitts (tibbitts@csolve.net)

New Brunswick

Greetings from the picture province! My name is James LeBlanc and I am the new representative from New Brunswick.

The New Brunswick Coalition for Literacy coordinated a major literacy event for September 8th, called a Literacy Trade Fair. I participated along with other learners in the province. The main literacy groups operating in the province showed how far they've come in the decade following International Literacy Year. As well, The Canada Post Literacy Awards were given out. This year's winner for Individual Achievement is Yvonne Westall.

After ILD, I and your friend and former colleague, Dorothy Silver, will be participating in five learning disability and literacy forums. Along with Jan Greer of the NBCL and Faby McKay of the Learning Disabilities Association of New Brunswick, we will provide day-long workshops to students and instructors. We will share our challenges, support each other in our experiences and will learn about learning disabilities and ways to make learning more positive. People will get an information folder, watch a video and take part in group discussions.

These forums will happen in Saint John, Moncton, Miramichi, Edmundston and Fredericton. I am very excited about it and can't wait to get started. At these forums Dorothy and I will also announce the upcoming New Brunswick Bilingual Literacy Conference being planned for April 2001. I can give you more details on that next time. - James LeBlanc (phantom5@nbnet.nb.ca)

Yukon

What I have done this summer was a lot of travelling on Coalition business. I was at Teslin Tlingit Career Week for Students giving a presentation for Yukon Learn. At Yukon Learn, I helped learners fill out forms and give an orientation. As part of The Yukon Literacy Strategy, I sat on a steering Committee and reported back to the Yukon Learn Board. For the Millenium Book Writing Workshop, I traveled to Faro, Ross River, Carcross, Carmacks, Pelly, Mayo and Whitehorse. I attended a Healthy Communities Poster Presentation in Watson Lake and met with other learners.

We celebrated International Literacy Day with a reading tent, lunch and entertainment. There were guest readers, a puppet show, an afternoon coffee party, Literacy Bingo and on-going videos. On September 28, Volunteer Recognition and Canada Post Awards evening was held in the City of Whitehorse Council Chambers.