National Adult Literacy Database

If you're an avid reader and take great pleasure in getting lost in the stacks of our libraries, take a tour and savour the ambience of these outstanding libaries.

Britannica offered its first digital edition in 1981 for LexisNexis users, published the first multi-media CD in 1989 and the first encyclopedia on the Internet in 1994. It also expanded into the school curriculum market.

The national chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students says: "Instead of cutting important programs such as the Service Canada Centre for Youth, the federal government should be increasing funding to help youth and students get a head start in life." For post-secondary education, students are recommending four concrete budget steps to ensure students and their families are not being left out.

Organizers of this Alberta-wide professional development symposium are seeking presenters and organizations with creative and innovative methods to engage, strengthen, support and foster literacy and learning as a lifelong process for adult learners, adult and family literacy learners, educators and volunteers through interactive workshops, formal presentations and facilitated discussions.

ABC Life Literacy Canada is pleased to announce that nominations for the 2012 Peter Gzowski Life Literacy Fellowship are now being accepted online. The fellowship is open to accredited media and freelance journalists working and residing in Canada, along with current journalism students attending an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada.

Nominations for the 2012 Council of the Federation (COF) Literacy Award, recognizing outstanding achievements in adult literacy, will be accepted until May 22, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger has announced.

The Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals in the field of literacy. Honorees are in the following categories: Elder, Learner, Youth, Practitioner and Business/Organization. Nominations are being accepted until March 16, 2012.

This Alberta event brings together community leaders, education institutions, community learning organizations, government representatives, employers, media and other community partners who are passionate about adult learning.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently announced that the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency will provide $27 million over five years to expand adult basic education in Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

The Big Rothesay Read in New Brunswick is about to embark on its fourth year of involving the entire student body of Rothesay High School and increasing numbers of teachers, parents and citizens in a community-wide reading initiative.

'Sharing Our Gifts' encourages families to celebrate the learning they do together by creating a family scrapbook. “We use the word scrapbook loosely to mean a special place to keep evidence of the activities families have done together,” explained Jinny Greaves, program coordinator.

Through the annual Saskatchewan Literacy Awards of Merit, the Lieutenant Governor honours people who demonstrate a spirit of dedication and commitment to literacy and learning. The deadline for applications is March 16, 2012.

The PEI Literacy Alliance has released the results of an environmental scan of literacy and essential skills programs on PEI. “Affordable and accessible adult programs are needed to address the training needs of Islanders," says Catherine O’Bryan, executive director. “This scan shows us there are some positive practices taking place and what else can be done.”

Since 1992, Literacy Nova Scotia (LNS) has been supporting the literacy community by working to ensure that all Nova Scotians have equal access to quality literacy, essential skills, and lifelong learning opportunities.

The Canadian Literacy and Learning Network (CLLN), a non-profit charitable organization, represents literacy coalitions, organizations and individuals in every province and territory. CLLN shares knowledge, engages partners and stakeholders, and builds awareness to advance literacy and learning across Canada.