National Adult Literacy Database

An overwhelming majority of Canadians (94 per cent) believe that small businesses play a critical role in the growth of the economy and almost nine-in-10 (88 per cent) view them as vital job creators, according to an RBC/Ipsos Reid survey.

Newfoundland and Labrador's Department of Education has developed new online resources to provide more information on early childhood learning and development to parents, caregivers, and professionals who work with children and families.

Government figures show that Canada issued 34,185 temporary work permits to Americans last year, just shy of the record 35,060 handed out in 2010, and officials expect that number to keep growing.

"I have no trouble remembering my first class with Frontier College: in an old railway box car, with five or six tired, but expectant faces looking up at a green, cloth “blackboard” tacked to the wall, where some English idioms and their Portuguese equivalents were chalked up in columns. My education began that evening. It’s still going on. Thank you, Frontier College. You gave me my teaching life." -- Colin Brzezicki

Educators now focus on how to teach students the 21st-century skills they'll need to thrive in college and to succeed in a very different type of workforce. Corporate leaders, university professors and others have worked to define and describe those skills, which include critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration and ethical leadership. What's striking is how closely these proficiencies mirror the lessons taught by athletics.

Gordon Li was nominated for the award by the Regina Literacy Network for his personal literacy accomplishments since emigrating from China and for his commitment to supporting others who are learning English as an additional language.

"On behalf of all premiers, I congratulate the 2012 recipients of the Council of the Federation Literacy Award," said Darrell Dexter, Premier of Nova Scotia and Chair of the Council of the Federation. "The determination of literacy learners and the devotion of literacy advocates are an inspiration to all Canadians. The recipients of this award are all truly deserving of this recognition."

This is an exciting new project from the award-winning Millennium Mathematics Project at the University of Cambridge. To celebrate London 2012 they have developed free online mathematical resources exploring math and science through the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Nearly three-quarters of Canadians believe workplaces are shunning older job applicants based solely on their age, a worrisome finding given labour force trends in Canada. In a survey conducted by Ipsos Reid exclusively for Postmedia News, 74 per cent of those asked either "strongly" or "somewhat" agree that employers discriminate against older people looking for jobs.

In the context of ongoing discussions on early childhood learning and development, provincial and territorial ministers of education have released a statement on the intrinsic value of play-based learning and its central role in the formative years of young learners.

Workers affected by the Bowater closure in Queens County, Nova Scotia, are getting career specialists to help them train and find new employment.

The Government of New Brunswick and the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) have partnered to support community adult learning programs for Aboriginals. This initiative follows a successful two-year pilot project which assisted 30 adult learners, with 20 now employed or pursuing post-secondary education. The new funding and partnership are expected to help an additional 200 Aboriginal learners.

As a partner in Coursera, the University of Toronto joined Stanford, Princeton, Michigan and a dozen other major universities offering free online courses to anyone, anywhere in the world with a computer. Online education has been around in various forms for a while, but the response to these courses has been massive.

A career coach says victims of workplace bullying can't be afraid to complain to the company or even to take legal action. You need to stand up for yourself, and you must do it immediately. You should begin by documenting the instances of the behaviour that you feel is bullying in as much detail as possible.

With this support, 400 northern youth aged 14 to 30 will begin a dialogue with mentors. These 400 young people will be exposed to Canadians professionals and given examples of potential career avenues in the rest of Canada, while also incorporating local values and local opportunities that reflect the reality of Yukon careers, history, and heritage. Mentors will gain awareness and knowledge about Canada's North and its people.