National Adult Literacy Database

Lack of employee engagement is a major problem in many organizations, according to a national survey of human resources professionals. Workers in government and business sectors are more problematic in this regard than those in the education field and the not-for-profit sector.

With March being Fraud Prevention Month in Canada, it’s a good time to go over some of the precautions we should take when posting personal information online, even when it’s not financial data.

The National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) supports the activities of its partners by promoting national and provincial/territorial events in the fields of adult literacy and education, family literacy, workplace learning and essential skills. One of these key occasions is International Adult Learners’ Week (IALW) being observed this year from April 2 to 9.

A historic agreement has been struck between the leaders of First Nations and universities in Atlantic Canada to enhance educational opportunities for Aboriginal people.

 In 2010, ABC Life Literacy Canada was chosen as the “charity of choice” for the Third Annual Canadian Short Screenplay Competition (CSSC), the most prestigious short film script contest in Canada. One dollar from every CSSC entry received in the competition from around the globe will be donated to ABC Life Literacy Canada.

A new MOU identifies a number of priority areas such as: youth career planning and skills development; strategies to address barriers to training and employment; short-term training, including literacy, adult basic education and essential skills; and partnership development with industry and private and public sectors in the development of training and employment opportunities.

The Farm Technician Apprenticeship Program was developed by the Nova Scotia Agricultural College through consultation with the Trade Advisory Committee, made up of PEI farmers and farm workers. Participants receive a provincial Certificate of Qualification after three years of employment with a farm mentor and eight weeks of in-class training each year that is delivered by the Nova Scotia Agricultural College on PEI.

This year, thousands of youth from across the province will have the opportunity to pursue their passion for Ontario's natural resources through experience-based work and learning positions.

A new forecast scenario for Saskatchewan's construction industry says a rising demand for potash, oil refinery expansion and a recovery in the housing market are behind the province's current construction growth, and that demand for labour will peak next year.

“While many people at the public consultations supported the concept of a merger, there were serious concerns and questions about the proposal,” Rob Norris said. “The consultant’s report is clear that the proposal is not in the public interest.”

To mark the upcoming international celebration, adult learners at UWinnipeg were recently invited to share their personal learning journeys – how and why they returned to pursue post-secondary education. A student at UWinnipeg is considered to be an “adult learner” if he/she has taken a break of three or more years from formal education before starting or resuming university. 

OLC’s Spotlight on Learning:  Becoming Agents of Change conference was held in October 2010 in Toronto. This new website is designed not only to highlight the conference, but also to feed the momentum and energy in the field with continued learning, news updates, and stories of change that have been inspired by learning. Full of workshop videos, resources, downloads and much more, this website encourages a continuum of learning.

“The only privacy filter you can trust is the one in your head. If you don’t want something on the Web, on the news or spread around the office, don’t say or share it.”

Survey results released this week suggest 88 per cent of Canadian businesses are now offering their employees flexible work arrangements. However, the survey also suggested that 45 per cent of companies offer these perks to only their most senior employees.

"The author communicates with the book; the book communicates with the reader, and e-books are another connection between them. Whether the technology is printing a text on a Xerox machine or reading it in a book or writing it on a wall, there is always a triangle:  writer, text, reader."  – Margaret Atwood on subject of e-books