National Adult Literacy Database

The province is taking steps to make sure international students studying at language schools in Nova Scotia receive a high-quality education. Nova Scotia is the first province to introduce legislation that will regulate language schools.

Despite persistent economic pressures, salaries for creative communications professionals across Canada continue a steady climb in key categories, while industry insiders report widespread optimism for future career and business opportunities.

The ACCC Board is pleased to announce it has named Denise Amyot as the new President and CEO of the Association, effective June 4, 2013. Ms. Amyot most recently served as President and CEO of the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation, where she built on her track record of leadership excellence by implementing a strategic plan emphasizing beneficial partnerships with private sector, government institutions, not-for-profit organizations and academia.

After a fairly problematic first quarter, the Quebec labour market seems to be picking up steam. This is the main finding of the latest Flash-Emploi CRHA released by the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés.

Purolator Inc. has released a survey that found job satisfaction among Canadian administrative professionals to be high at 83.5 per cent. Of the HR professionals surveyed, 79.9 per cent believe administrative professionals are taking on more responsibilities in their organizations. Administrative professionals surveyed agree - 63.2 per cent have seen an increase in their workload in the past three years.

National Volunteer Week 2013 marks the 10th consecutive year Investors Group has supported the campaign. In celebration of this commitment to community from Canada’s leading corporate supporter of volunteer recognition, Volunteer Canada is collaborating with volunteer centres in communities from coast to coast to roll out Canada’s first comprehensive, national volunteer recognition program.

ABC Life Literacy Canada’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Gillian Mason as the new president of the national non-profit adult literacy and essential skills organization. Ms. Mason will begin her new role on May 21, 2013.

This is a reminder that the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) has taken steps to enhance its popular online library. NALD library users have the opportunity to post their comments when accessing and making use of online resources. This interactive feature is designed to help promote the high calibre of the NALD library offerings and also to assist users in their search for resources that are best suited to their purposes.

This year British Columbia will present the COF Literacy Award to an organization that, through partnerships and collaborations, demonstrates outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy. As noted by Paige MacFarlane, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, “We are proud of all of our recipients, as well as all those who have been nominated over the years. The depth and breadth of work promoting literacy is truly impressive.”

The Forest Products Association of Canada has successfully used social media to recruit deserving students to work this summer at leading forest products companies. The Green Dream internship social media contest invited students to apply for four-month paid summer jobs by submitting a video application and soliciting online votes.

Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Status of Women, has issued a call for projects that will increase opportunities for women in non-traditional roles, as part of a call for proposals to increase economic opportunities for women in Canada.

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.

The Sabtuan Regional Vocational Training Centre (SRVTC ), Cree School Board, is on a native reserve in Quebec with 1,400 inhabitants, and serves nine different communities. When Michael Lewis, Director of the SRVTC, discovered that in a group of 16 students starting a program, they were lucky to end up with six to eight, he knew that applying the techniques he already knew would not result in the change he was looking for.

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.