National Adult Literacy Database

Each month NALD releases Library user statistics in a feature known as the Top 20 downloads. The report examines the number of NALD Library documents which are viewed and downloaded by visitors to the NALD website.

The roundtable was an opportunity for Minister Lisa Raitt to hold open dialogues with key stakeholders and seek their input on a number of issues faced by women in the workplace. Discussion topics included employment equity, workplace violence, harassment, discrimination, recruitment and retention.

One organization that has been promoting literacy and learning among its members, for over a decade, is the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). CUPE released a new video earlier this year titled ‘Why is CUPE involved with literacy work?’

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.