Literacy Awards Presented

On September 13, 2000 a number of literacy awards were presented at an event sponsored by Canada Post Corporation and the Literacy Development Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The awards presentation was held at The Fluvarium in St. Johns and representatives from literacy groups, school districts, schools, government, Memorial University, colleges and the general public were in attendance.

Mr. Len Carroll presented the annual Canada Post literacy awards for Newfoundland and Labrador. This year the three awards presented were: Individual Achievement Award, Educator Award and the Community Achievement Award.

The Individual Achievement Award, which celebrates the achievements of a learner, was presented to Mr. Thomas Pierce of Fortune. After being a high school dropout who worked in a fish plant, Mr. Pierce began upgrading his reading and writing in Adult Basic Education (ABE) and went on to earn his Grade 12. Now he has a college diploma, has published two books and was involved in setting up the Burin Peninsula Writing Alliance.

L-R: Mr. Len Carroll, Canada Post Corporation and Mr. Thomas Pierce, winner of the Individual Achievement Award equivalency diploma.

The Educator Award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to literacy, was presented to Dr. William Fagan of Portugal Cove for his 30 years of involvement in literacy as a volunteer, advocate, program designer and author. He is also a professional educator in the literacy field at the school and university levels.

The Community Leadership Award, which recognizes non-profit, volunteer and labour organizations that have demonstrated a long term achievement in furthering the cause of literacy, was presented to Teachers on Wheels, St. John’s for their 25 years of commitment to literacy.

L-R: Ms. Janet Goosney, Teachers On Wheels accepts the Community Leadership Award from Ms. Luanne Leamon, Department of Education.

The Council also presented Teachers on Wheels with a plaque in recognition of their 25 years (1975- 2000) of offering literacy services. This adult literacy group focuses on one-to one tutoring with trained tutors. In 1975 they began as an Opportunities For Youth (OFY) project and in 1977 became a volunteer organization.

A similar plaque was presented to Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council at their AGM in Gander on May 25 th . The plaque recognized their volunteer contributions to adult literacy in Newfoundland and Labrador . T he Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council oversees volunteer tutors in more then twenty communities in the province.