National Adult Literacy Database

It is clear that finding and using sources of sound financial information and advice and being able to manage one's own financial affairs effectively are more important than ever for Canadians. In recognition of these challenges, a number of organizations have joined together to raise awareness of the issues, to help find solutions, and to declare November 2012 as the second annual Financial Literacy Month in Canada.

Almost two-thirds of Canadians are working more than 45 hours a week – 50 per cent more than two decades ago. Work weeks are more rigid, with flex-time arrangements dropping by a third in the past 10 years. To top it off, only 23 per cent of working Canadians are highly satisfied with life. That’s half as many as in 1991.

It's not ghosts or goblins or even public speeches that scare workers the most this Halloween. In an Accountemps survey, nearly three in 10 (29 per cent) respondents said making a mistake on the job is their biggest workplace fear.

The Golden Oak program makes it possible for adult learners to build necessary skills, and also creates an environment where new readers of any age can discover the pleasure of reading a good book. The mandate of the Forest of Reading program has always been to foster a lifelong love of reading, and of course it’s never too late to begin.

Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty has introduced in Parliament Bill C-45, the Jobs and Growth Act, 2012. The Act implements key initiatives from Economic Action Plan 2012 to help grow Canada’s economy, fuel job creation and secure Canada’s long-term prosperity.

Halloween isn’t just about dressing up and trick-or-treating. ABC Life Literacy Canada offers 10 tips, tricks and treats for the whole family to enjoy this Halloween – all in the name of learning.

The Homelessness Partnering Secretariat and the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills have worked together to develop a guide which highlights easy-to-use literacy and essential skills tools available through HRSDC. Learn about the new guide during a teleforum on October 25 beginning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time.

The implementation of revised international System of National Accounts economic accounting standards resulted in a slight downward revision to Canada's average annual growth in business sector labour productivity over the period 1981 to the second quarter of 2012.

"ADHD is a complex neurobiological disorder that remains highly misunderstood," said Heidi Bernhardt, national director of CADDAC. "By sharing up-to-date medical information and real-life stories, CADDAC and its partners are sending a unified message to help educate and better understand ADHD and what it is like to live with the disorder."

Join the party to celebrate one of Canada’s most prestigious book awards, The Scotiabank Giller Prize, at the Scotiabank Giller Light Bash, in support of Frontier College. This year, there are parties held from coast to coast. You can celebrate in Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver. On Tuesday, October 30, join the action by watching the Scotiabank Giller Prize! Each party will have its own special fun.

For Essential Skills Day on September 21, Literacy Alberta asked practitioners across the province to put on their thinking caps and visualize the nine essential skills in a photo scavenger hunt. Winners were the Centre for Newcomers, the Centre for Family Literacy, and VegMin Learning.

Sandi Howell is Provincial Manager, Sector Council Program, Essential Skills and RPL, at Industry Workforce Development (IWD), in Manitoba’s Department of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade. She also serves as the province’s strategic advisor to Workplace Education Manitoba.

Clear Language and Design's Sally McBeth has selected two "humble items" from her household mail to illustrate the benefits of choosing clear language in writing. The first piece she has rewritten for the sake of clarity; she is offering the second one as an exercise to help mark International Clear Language Day.

The Canadian Library Association is pleased to announce that October has been designated as Canadian Library Month. The idea for a month dedicated to library and information services in Canada was developed by library partners from across the country to help raise public awareness of the valuable role that libraries play in the lives of Canadians.