This story was written by Eugene Miller, from Woodstock, Ontario. Eugene is a student at Woodstock and District Developmental Services, a nonprofit agency which provides a range of services designed to enable people with developmental disabilities to successfully participate in community life.

Well it was quite a day when I went to see Elvis Stojko in Barrie. I traveled to Barrie because of a contest that was held across Canada. I was really surprised when the sponsors from Coca Cola called my house to tell me I won a trip to see Elvis Stojko. He presented me with a fleece Roots Olympic Jacket, plus $500 dollars to go towards a computer for the literacy program at Blossom Park.

I will remember this day for as long as I live. Seeing Elvis Stojko for the first time was very exciting. I felt very proud to win an essay contest such as this. The title of the contest was «Why the Special Olympics are important to my family.»

Literacy students: if you stick to your education many doors will be opened for you to experience more things. In conclusion I would like to thank all those who helped me in the preparation of this essay. I really appreciated it. So thank you everyone.

[This story was taken with permission from Keynotes, published by Literacy Link South Central, Winter 1999 edition]

The battle for world literacy is too often a story of unsung heroes. That’s one reason why the NALD newsletter will bring to you, on a regular basis, a list of those individuals, programs and organizations honoured with international, national and provincial recognition for outstanding work in the global literacy initiative.

National

Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C. Literacy Public Awareness Award - 1999 Recipient : Royal Bank Charitable Foundation
Mary Isabel Mackey Award - 1999 Recipients :
Organizers - Janne Cleveland, U. of Victoria; Jessica Duguay, Bishop’s University; Chantale Guillemette, U. of Sherbrooke; Karolina Hladik, U. of Winnipeg; Susannah Van Damme, U. of Toronto
Tutors/Reading Buddies - Jamie Hadden, U. of Victoria; Kelly Hepburn, Trent University; Denise Leung, U. of British Columbia; Shannon Slattery, U. of Toronto; Igor Tchoukarine, U. of Sherbrooke

Provincial

Alberta
Literacy Awards of Merit - 1999 Recipients
Administrator category: Carolyn Patterson, Librarian, Calgary Learning Centre Program Coordinator : Sue Hansen (Goddard), former Alberta Literacy Help Ligne Coordinator
Student : Roger Pequin, Drayton Valley Literacy Society
Organization : Wayne Boss, Boss Consulting
Classroom Instructor : Dr. June Fiorito, Associate Professor and reading specialist, Canadian University College
Volunteer Tutor : James Shuel, Edson
Special Award : Yvette Souque, Program Consultant, NLS, Human Resources Development Canada

Manitoba
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Literacy - 1999 Recipient : Cheryl Campbell, Winkler
Margaret Laurence Award - 1999 Recipients : Solange Constant, Urban winner; Warren Johnson, Rural winner

New Brunswick
Alpha Awards - 1999 Recipients :
Voluntary Service Organization Awards : Conseil régional d’alpha «Madawaska-Centre»
Volunteer Awards : Alban Arsenault - Avenir Alpha; Flora Atyeo - Minto Literacy Council; Rina Bossé - Projet «Clé» St-Joseph; Diane Hunt - Laubach Literacy NB
Alpha Award for Facilitator Excellence : Joe Felix - English Mission CASP; Roland Guitard (posthumous) - Noranda CREW; Terry Phillips - Carleton Literacy Council CASP; Françoise St-Amand - Formation de base St-Léonard
Student Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement : Camille Arsenault, Avenir Alpha; Steven Hossack, John Howard Society CASP (Fredericton); Marie-Ange Bernier, Comité de formation de base Saint-Quentin; Nancy Kerfont, Saint John Learning Exchange CASP; Madeleine Brown, Partenariat Saint-André; Elizabeth O’Brien, Saint John Learning Exchange CASP; Yvonne Bulger, Partenariat Le Goulet I; Mary Sears, R.E.A.D. Saint John Ltd.; Aline Degrâce, Comité St-Jean-Baptiste "Alpha"; Vance Symes, Rexton & Area CASP; Albéo Guay, Partenariat Drummond; John Waite, Dalhousie CASP; Mélina Levesque, Comité communautaire Mad-Vic; Wanda White, Saint John Learning Exchange CASP; Phebée Mallet, Partenariat Le Goulet.
Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for Early Childhood Literacy : Sussex Regional Library

Nova Scotia
Patron for Literacy Award - 1999 Recipient : Sheree Fitch
Honourary Life Patron for Literacy Award : Senator Joyce Fairbairn
NSPLC Partnership Awards - 1999 Recipients : CBC Maritimes for «Street Cents» Literacy Segments; EastLink Community Television for «MathWorks» Provincial Pilot
NSPLC Literacy Initiative Awards 1999 Recipients : NS Department of Education & Culture for the «Community Learning Initiative» (CLI); Nova Learning for the NS Learner Award; The Co-operators for their computer technology distribution program

Quebec
LPQ Literacy Award - 1999 Recipient : Dennis Trudeau, Newswatch, CBC