National Adult Literacy Database

The unveiling of a new award promoting literacy innovation was among the highlights of Life Literacy Night, ABC Life Literacy Canada’s annual awards ceremony, held at Toronto’s Gardiner Museum recently.

Since Raise-A-Reader was launched nationally in 2002, the fundraising and awareness initiative has raised more than $17 million for literacy programs. On September 28, 27 Postmedia newspapers participated from coast-to-coast to raise money for programs in their own communities.

Young brains soak up the information around them like tiny, too-cute sponges. That's the reason, put simply, why it is important to get children interested in reading in the early years of life.

During Literacy Action Week each November, Literacy Nova Scotia and individuals and organizations with an interest in supporting adult literacy concentrate on ways to inform governments and the public about literacy and essential skills in their community. Meetings with government officials, information sessions and other activities are held throughout the province.

Young poets from Fall River and Truro, Nova Scotia, are winners of the Creative Writing Contest for Youth held in celebration of the International Year for People of African Descent.

Financial Literacy Week is a national awareness and engagement campaign that seeks to increase the financial literacy and math skills of Canadians through access to tools, resources and community events.

Free Essential Skills Day tools and resources are now available for download. Access posters, brochures, web banners, fact sheets and case studies to help you make the most of Essential Skills Day (September 23) and raise awareness of the importance of workplace education.

A majority of Canadian employees are living paycheque to paycheque and report they would be in financial difficulty if their pay were delayed by even a week, according to a new survey on the financial health of the country’s workers.

September is all about back-to-school – time to get back into routines, make lunches and go to bed early. And since there’s so much to do and children are still in summer mode, it’s hard to make sure the family is focusing on learning.

“This Labour Day, workers must not only celebrate previous achievements, but set our sights on an agenda for progress to bring about the more just, fair and caring society that so many of us crave.”