National Adult Literacy Database

It is clear that finding and using sources of sound financial information and advice and being able to manage one's own financial affairs effectively are more important than ever for Canadians. In recognition of these challenges, a number of organizations have joined together to raise awareness of the issues, to help find solutions, and to declare November 2012 as the second annual Financial Literacy Month in Canada.

Enterprising Non-Profits will provide workshops, business plan support and grants to non-profits interested in starting new social enterprises. The Citizen’s Bridge pilot project expands BUILD’s (Building Urban Industries for Local Development) successful driver training program to over 20 referral partners and will provide support in obtaining proper identification and financial literacy training to help people who have challenges connecting to employment.

Canada remains a nation of French and English speakers, but people are speaking a greater variety of languages at home, as long-term trends in immigration shape the country’s linguistic landscape.

With email the preferred mode of communication in the workplace, many businesses are finding they need to help their employees brush up on some basic interpersonal skills. Poor writing skills can affect corporate reputation and financial success, and result in individuals taking a hit in earnings potential.

The Homelessness Partnering Secretariat and the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills have worked together to develop a guide which highlights easy-to-use literacy and essential skills tools available through HRSDC. Learn about the new guide during a teleforum on October 25 beginning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time.

The new investment is designed to provide work experience to Canadians with disabilities that will lead to ongoing employment in small or medium-sized enterprises across Canada. Some of the projects will increase employer awareness of the valuable contribution people with disabilities can make to their businesses and the Canadian economy.

"Plagiarism – defined by the university as an act or instance of copying, stealing or appropriating another’s words, work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own – is just one of nine scholastic offences set out by the university. Others include cheating on an exam and resubmitting work for which credit was assigned in another class." - Western (University) News

The Prince Albert Literacy Network's Child Care Worker Preparation for Certification Program has won the 2012 Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award. The program prepares First Nations, Métis and unemployed learners with lower levels of literacy to pursue child care careers.

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.

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.

Sandi Howell is Provincial Manager, Sector Council Program, Essential Skills and RPL, at Industry Workforce Development (IWD), in Manitoba’s Department of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade. She also serves as the province’s strategic advisor to Workplace Education Manitoba.

Oh, cover letters — you’re such a mystery. I mean, what do you do, exactly? And who has the time to read you? There’s already a resumé, an email to which the resumé is attached … or wait, are you in the body of that email? Is that where you should be?

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.

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.

The B.C. government has committed $250,000 for the two-year First Nations Forestry Technician Training Program, being offered at numerous college and universities across the province, including College of New Caledonia and Vancouver Island University.