National Adult Literacy Database

I DO BUSINESS - National Summit & Tradeshow was held on March 4-6, 2013 in Toronto. The three-day event was a great success, with over 150 individuals participating from coast to coast to coast. This National Summit boasted a variety of top-notch speakers on business and Aboriginal Entrepreneurship. Participants also noted that the networking opportunities were excellent, with many people leaving the event with binders full of business cards representing new opportunities and new friends.

Literacy Partners of Manitoba leads the way in increasing peoples’ awareness of the importance of literacy and essential skills in Manitoba: they work with communities to develop knowledge and expertise; showcase the best projects and people who help them in working with literacy; and build networks and form partnerships with stakeholders and individuals who are part of the cause. The Raise-a-Reader Fund is an extension of LPM, which has been secured and supported by PostMedia and the Winnipeg Free Press.

The federal government has announced a significant investment in Canada's colleges and polytechnics through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The announcement was part of the Minister of State's keynote address at the Association of Canadian Community Colleges' Applied Research Symposium.

LCNB reports that its Adult Learners’ Writing Contest, Message in a Bottle, was a great success this year with 33 submissions from adult learners across New Brunswick. They congratulate all who entered the contest and thank them for "spreading the word about adult learning through your own powerful words and stories."

The Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES) invites eligible organizations to submit concept papers to indicate their interest in being part of a pan-Canadian network (PCN) focused on improving the labour market outcomes of Canadians through strengthened literacy and essential skills (LES).

Campus Stores Canada (CSC) released a landmark study on the use and perception of "access code" learning materials among Canadian students and faculty. The study demonstrated that the use of such codes was widespread, but more education is needed regarding how they work and how much they cost.

"Much commentary has gone under the bridge in the days since the Government of NL released its 2013 budget. As taxpayers, we all have a stake in the investments our government makes in this province." - Literacy Newfoundland and Labrador

"The financial literacy of Canadians is vital," said Chris White, Vice-President of Government Relations for IBC. "Canadian families are working harder than ever and deserve to know how to spend and invest those hard-earned dollars to secure their futures."

The aim of this survey is to gather a broad base of information about adult learners in Canada. Intended for anyone who has taken an adult learning course over the past year, the survey closes at the end of Adult Learners' Week April 6-14.

Each month NALD releases Library user statistics in a feature known as the Top 20 downloads/20 Plus téléchargés. The report examines the number of NALD Library documents, in both English and French, which are viewed and downloaded by visitors to the websites NALD and BDAA.

Through a nine-month project, Literacy Link South Central talked to young single males on Ontario Works to find out about their interests and activities, especially as they relate to technology. This research informed the content of a set of four modules (with accompanying practitioner overviews that speak to the Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework (OALCF) and a general introduction guide).

During Adult Learners’ Week, Quebec English Literacy Alliance (QELA) will be working with the Cree School Board at the Sabtuan Regional Vocational Training Centre at a three-day workshop where vocational training instructors and students will use essential skills to create video segments.

Read about factors that contribute to adult learner success in the Northwest Territories. This report provides some in-depth analysis about how to facilitate learner success in adult literacy and basic education (ALBE) programs. It builds on the NWT Literacy Council research (2009) into non-academic outcomes.

A revised and updated version of Lankshear’s previous edition, this book discusses literacies as social practice. The text offers an examination of how modern digital collaborative tools shape how we engage in social learning, and how social learning affects our practice and mastery of new literacies.

This is the week we celebrate adult learners here in our community and across the country for their commitment to lifelong learning. The time and energy they devote to learning have personal benefits but also improves our communities and workplaces. Adult Learners’ Week is also the perfect opportunity to explore the many types of learning available to adults from all walks of life.