National Adult Literacy Database

The National Adult Literacy Database has extended the nomination process for its fourth annual Innovation Technology Award. Submissions will now be accepted until April 15, 2013.

The survey provides LES workers with a unique opportunity to speak about their own experience and reality as a member of that workforce. It is part of a larger study that will allow CLLN to provide a picture of the demographics of Literacy and Essential Skills practitioners as well as what kinds of work they do, where they do it and how they do it.

The Council of the Federation Literacy Award covers the entire spectrum of the field, including family, Aboriginal, health, workplace and community literacy and will be given to recognize the excellence of educators, volunteers, learners, and community organizations (including non-governmental organizations) and businesses in each province and territory. Nominations for 2013 must be postmarked by June 14.

On March 6, Bay Street's sharpest minds will compete against one another to raise money for Frontier College, Canada's original literacy organization. Frontier College President Sherry Campbell is inspired by the continued growth of the Scrabble Corporate Challenge, now in its ninth year. "It's a wonderful reminder of the value that the corporate community places on literacy," she said.

The National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) takes this opportunity to extend its congratulations and best wishes to individuals in the field of literacy and essential skills who were recently chosen to receive Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Effective February 12, 2013, the Government of Canada's Aboriginal Canada Portal will be closed. The portal was developed in 2001, when it was more difficult to find Aboriginal resources and services on the Internet.

This year's Family Literacy Day celebration (January 27) came just weeks after very encouraging news about literacy and families in Canada. Results from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study show that Canadian parents have one of the highest levels of involvement in literacy-related activities with their preschool-age children. "The results ... confirm that Canadian parents are doing an excellent job in fostering a culture of literacy in the home," said Ramona Jennex, Chair of CMEC and Nova Scotia's Minister of Education.

Help inform and shape thinking around policy, practice and research as we prepare for PIAAC. The Institute will examine and compare the learning from IALS and ALL across Canada and other countries, and explore how we can make the most effective use of the soon-to-be released PIAAC results. We will look at the new segments – problem-solving in technology-rich environments and the reading components – and at the implications of changes in levels and cut-off.

Community Literacy Classroom on Wheels, popularly known as the COW Bus, visited the Samson Bingo Hall in Hobbema, Alberta, on January 18, 2013. Over 3,000 books were distributed to First Nations families on the occasion of the family literacy celebration.

"As librarians, we see first-hand what materials kids are actually reading and getting excited about. Over the past few years, there’s been a lot of anticipation in children’s books with new trends bubbling up to the surface each year. But what does the future hold for children's literature?"

This month the ESL Literacy Network is launching Education Opens Doors, a video featuring learners in the Bridge program at Bow Valley College. The program provides pathways to further education for immigrant youth, ages 18-25, with interrupted formal education.

Grass Roots Press has an international reputation for publishing high-quality resources for adult basic education and English as a Second Language communities. The niche publishing company, based in Edmonton, Alberta, carries over 500 books, DVDs and software packages.

The National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) is beginning a new year with an updated Vision, Mission and Values/Guiding Principles. NALD staff, under the direction of CEO Bill Stirling, started the renewal process with the NALD Board of Directors, including the CEO, adding the finishing touches and formalizing the new guidelines and the NALD Value Proposition at a recent board meeting.

Canadians across the country have an opportunity to show appreciation for extraordinary volunteers in their communities. The call for nominations for the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards is open until March 1, 2013.

CMEC has just published a new report that examines how better data and evidence can be developed to support jurisdictions' efforts to improve the academic achievement and attainment of Aboriginal students in provincial and territorial elementary and secondary schools.