National Adult Literacy Database

“Take a stand for teachers” is the slogan of World Teachers’ Day 2012 which UNESCO is celebrating along with its partners: the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF and Education International. Taking a stand for the teaching profession means providing adequate training, ongoing professional development, and protection of teachers’ rights.

An adult learning centre agent from Quebec shares his methods for approaching local businesses. The demand for these programs is out there; the key is to let employers and workers know that these innovative training programs are available.

Since 2001, Literacy Nova Scotia has set aside the first full week in November to celebrate, promote and acknowledge the many roles that literacy and essential skills play in the lives of every citizen in Nova Scotia. All friends of literacy are encouraged to take action and to tell others about the importance of literacy and essential skills in everyone’s life.

Author Sheree Fitch is honorary spokesperson for the New Brunswick Literacy Coalition. The coalition initiated the Sheree Fitch Adult Learner Scholarships given out annually from monies raised by Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournaments for Literacy.

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.

As the country continues to experience skills shortages in key sectors of the economy, Randstad Canada describes the country's growing shortage of highly skilled labour as critical, predicting shortages in the manufacturing, automation and energy and utility industries.

Designed for primary and secondary schools in Britain, No Pens Day is for speaking and listening and reflects the increased focus on embedding speech, language and communication into all subjects.

ABC Life Literacy Canada has announced the 2012 Life Literacy Award winners in recognition of outstanding achievement in adult literacy and essential skills. Awards were presented in the categories of community literacy, workplace education, journalism and corporate excellence.

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 websites NALD.

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.

Organizations that focus on developing healthy workplaces enjoy tangible benefits. These take the form of increased productivity, higher staff engagement, lower absenteeism, lower benefits claims costs, lower turnover, and greater resilience. Returns on healthy workplace investments reported by large private-sector organizations can range from $1.81 to $6.15 for every $1 invested.

We should never underestimate the important roles played by community learning centres across our vast country. One remarkable centre, located in what has been described as one of Canada’s poorest postal codes, is Vancouver’s Canucks Family Education Centre.

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.

The New Brunswick learning event captured on video the five case study presentations delivered during the day. They illustrate real examples of literacy, essential skills and learning strategies that have been put to the test and implemented in New Brunswick workplaces.

New Brunswick lost 1,335 people to other parts of the country, primarily Alberta, between January and July this year. That represents the largest exodus since late 2006 and nearly triple the rate experienced in 2011.