National Adult Literacy Database

Coined by writers of the satirical television show The Thick of It, 'omnishambles' has been applied to everything from government PR blunders to the crisis-ridden preparations for the London Olympics. This year’s American champion is 'gif,' short for graphics interchange format, a common format for images on the Internet.

The ESL Literacy Network is an innovative website that responds to the needs of learners with Interrupted Formal Education (LIFE) and addresses the professional development needs of ESL literacy practitioners in Alberta. The Financial ESL Literacy Toolbox is available from the network, which is based at Bow Valley College, to help learners build their financial literacy skills.

“New Brunswickers live in a world that is changing at an unprecedented pace, so it is absolutely vital that we develop a culture of learning that can move our province forward,” said Premier David Alward, one of the co-chairs of the event. “If we don’t re-imagine and re-engineer the ways we learn, our families and communities will not be able to benefit from the quality of life and economic prosperity we enjoy today.”

Each year, from November 5 to 11, Canadians join together to celebrate Veterans’ Week. This Veterans Affairs Canada web page contains suggestions for learning activities and tips on researching school projects whether for youth, educators, the young at heart or those who want to remember Canada's fallen heroes through learning.

"Financial Literacy Month is an opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of acquiring life skills that can allow Canadians to act knowledgeably and with confidence when managing their personal financial affairs," said Minister of State for Finance Ted Menzies.

Grade one students across Canada will receive a gift this month to help encourage and instill the joy of reading at a young age. TD Bank Group and the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) are distributing more than 500,000 copies of I've Lost My Cat, written and illustrated by Philippe Béha, as part of the 13th annual TD Grade One Book Giveaway program.

Visa is launching the game in support of Canada's Financial Literacy Month which takes place in November each year. As part of the celebration, Visa is extending its sponsorship of Credit Education Week Canada (CEWC) for a sixth consecutive year, which again includes support for a student essay writing contest.

"Our national financial literacy push began in the aftermath of the financial crisis, which left everyone feeling a bit clueless on the subject of money. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced a national task force in the 2009 budget and, after extensive public consultations, a report with 30 recommendations was issued in early 2011." - Rob Carrick in The Globe and Mail

On the eve of Financial Literacy Month, a new opinion research survey found that only one-third of Canadian youth, ages 10 to 17-years, say that their parents regularly talk with them about money and finances.

Pearson Canada is helping students power up to learn with new iBooks textbooks. Three of Pearson's bestselling textbooks, re-imagined for the iPad and brought to life with engaging video, audio, assessment, interactive images and 3D animations, are now available in Canada.

“The Education Act is actually the first legislation in Canada to formally recognize the role of parents as a child's first and most important teacher,” said Alberta Education Minister Jeff Johnson. “As a parent, that is something I am very proud of.”

The Chilliwack Learning Community Society is celebrating its Read While You Wait (Ladybug Book Bin) program with a new two-minute promotional video that describes how this early family literacy outreach program works.

Some 160 educators, policy-makers, literacy experts, elders, businesspeople and other northerners have come together for a unique pan-territorial forum to explore effective northern approaches to adult literacy and skills development. The conference Made in the North: Adult Literacy and Skills Development takes place in Yellowknife October 23-25.

A best-of-both-worlds education program – theory-based, hands-on, job-friendly – "might happen more often if Canada had a national strategy for post-secondary education, one that clarifies what the country expects from the institutions creating its next generation of leaders and skilled workers, and defines how Canadians will know when they’re getting it right."

The Golden Oak program makes it possible for adult learners to build necessary skills, and also creates an environment where new readers of any age can discover the pleasure of reading a good book. The mandate of the Forest of Reading program has always been to foster a lifelong love of reading, and of course it’s never too late to begin.