This poem was written by Chris Williams, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Chris is originally from Oshawa, Ontario. He went out West, liked what he saw and decided to stay. He completed the Adult 12 programme at SIAST and now has to decide if he’s going to University or take a technical course. Chris wrote this poem after being exposed to the beauty of literature in an English A class. It is his first attempt at poetry and it took courage for him to reveal this work.

Through eyes of injured Kindness still seeking,
Her warm sand heart, to pass through my fingers,
With the touch, the eye, her soft breath speaking,
Fate laughs as I cry, a heart still lingers.
Hidden emotion once frozen to thaw,
My burden or joy is seeking through fear,
After shattering pain that no others saw,
Is the warm sand touch of her heart near?
Time is glassing my eye to flesh beauty,
Maturity’s battle only half fought,
Pray, please God guide this man to walk truly,
Or my accepted burdens be for naught.
She must be there, I cannot grow weaker,
Beauty of the heart journeys this seeker.

[This poem was taken, with permission, from an anthology of stories, poetry and other works (by students of Basic Education 10 and Adult 12, SIAST Kelsey Campus) entitled VISIONS X. We would also like to thank the cover designer, Chris McKay, for permission to display his artwork.]

The battle for world literacy is too often a story of unsung heroes. That’s one reason 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 liter

UNESCO International Literacy Awards - 1999 Recipients:
The International Reading Association Literacy Award: Family Literacy Programme of the Basic Skills Agency, United Kingdom
The Noma Literacy Prize: National Literacy Mission, India
The King Sejong Literacy Prizes: Directorate for Adult Literacy and Training, Ministry of National Education, Niger; Ministry for the Promotion of Women and Human Development (PROMUDEH), Peru
The Malcolm Adiseshiah International Literacy Prize: “Corresponding Services Project” of the Literacy Movement Organisation, Islamic Republic of Iran

Canada Post Literacy Awards - 1999 Recipients
Individual Winners (English): Arnold Stewart, Niagara Falls, ON; Lillian Mead, Charlottetown, PE; Archie Paulette, Fort Smith, NT; Gordon A. DeWolfe, Bible Hill, NS; Barbara Stewart, Quesnel, BC; Michel Roland Desjardins, Stony Mountain, MB; Leonard Duby, Calgary, AB; Elgin Murrin, Cox’s Cove, NF; Dorothy Silver, Fredericton, NB; Clurite Delpeche, Lasalle, QC; Hilda M. Tuck, Mayo, YK.
Individual winners (French): Anne Gervais, Saint-André, NB; Robert Guindon, Gloucester, ON; Monique Cloutier, Lachute, QC; Corinne Arsenault, Wellington, PE; Rosa Clément, Saint-Pierre-Jolys, MB; Edna Hall, Trois Cailloux, NF; Pauline D’Eon, Pubnico-West, NS; Adèle Dallaire Hétu, Saint-Paul, AB.
Leadership Awards (English): National Adult Literacy Database, Fredericton, NB; Let Older Volunteers Educate, Charlottetown, PE; Reading Support Program, Dartmouth, NS; The Discovery Centres, St. John’s, NF; The YWCA of St. Thomas-Elgin, St. Thomas, ON; Continuing Education Delta School District, Delta, BC; Rockwood Education Centre, Stony Mountain, MB; Syncrude Canada Ltd., Fort MacMurray, AB; NWT Literacy Council, Yellowknife, NT; Regina Early Learning Centre, Regina, SK.
Leadership Awards (French): Sylvie Pagé and Michel Laliberté, Producers, Tout Écran, Sainte-Foy, QC; Alpha Yukon, Whitehorse, YK.
Education winners (English): Pauline Kay, Calgary, AB; Regina Ramos-Urbano, Winnipeg, MB; Frances Shamley, Glencoe, ON; Robert Wedel, North Vancouver, BC.
Education winners (French): Roger Doiron, Richibouctou, NB.

Awards For Excellence In Workplace Literacy - 1999 Recipients:
Small Business Literacy Initiatives, Valley View Villa - Stellarton, Nova Scotia
Medium Business Literacy Initiative, Noranda Mining & Exploration Ltd., Brunswick Smelting Division - Belledune, New Brunswick
Large Business Literacy Initiative, Bristol Aerospace Limited - Winnipeg, Manitoba

New Brunswick
Lieutenant-Governor’s Early Childhood Literacy Awards: 1999 Recipients -
Individual: Alma Sarard, Fredericton; Lyna Eve and Carole Cormier, Chez Lyne Daycare Centre, Shediac; Barbara Gilliland, Saint John
Library: The Oromocto Public Library and the Florenceville Library
Grandparent: Margaret Brooks, Perth-Andover; Charles Ramsey, Fredericton
Organization: Le Jardin des Merveilles, Bathurst; West Side Co-op Preschool, Saint John.

Ontario
Frances Lever Memorial Award - 1999 Recipient: Dan Haley, Peterborough