National Adult Literacy Database

FREDERICTON, N.B. - The National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) has issued a call for nominations for its fourth annual NALD Innovative Technology Award. NALD established the award in 2010 to bring greater visibility to an exemplary or innovative technology product, project or service that benefits the field of adult literacy and essential skills.

"Hiring in Canada is expected to outpace last year as employers focus on growing their businesses and meeting greater market demand," said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. "While employers remain watchful over factors impacting the global economy, we see more job opportunities opening up in everything from health care and information technology to trucking and manufacturing."

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.

Canada will launch a brand new program on April 1 to recruit innovative immigrant entrepreneurs who will create new jobs and spur economic growth, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney has announced. "Our new Start-Up Visa will help make Canada the destination of choice for the world’s best and brightest to launch their companies," he said.

The first issue of our 2013 Essential Skills Bulletin Series is now available for free download. About the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) is the first of two bulletins that cover the highly anticipated international survey of adult literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills.

The National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) has joined other literacy organizations across Canada to observe Family Literacy Day on January 27. NALD had the opportunity this week to speak to Toronto Public Library to help highlight what is important to remember when it comes to family literacy.

The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick, a provincial, non-profit literacy and essential skills organization, is looking for a full-time Director of Communications and Events. Candidates should have a passion for literacy and the non-profit sector.

"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?"

The “new normal” of collective bargaining in Canada — modest economic prospects matched by modest expectations — may provide a degree of certainty not seen in several years, The Conference Board of Canada has concluded in its Industrial Relations Outlook 2013: Embracing the “New Normal.”

The new Job Alerts will provide emails to Canadian subscribers twice a day that contain job postings from a variety of sources, including Job Bank and other recruitment systems. Job Alerts will continue to be refined and improved over time to ensure it works effectively and efficiently for users.

The New Year is here, and with it come promises of change – eating healthier, going to the gym and getting a new job, perhaps. Improving your literacy skills can also help you make the ultimate change.

Employment rose by 40,000 in December, the fourth increase in five months, according to a new Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada. December's increase was all in full-time work. The unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage points to 7.1%, the lowest in four years.