National Adult Literacy Database

ABC Life Literacy Canada and HSBC Bank Canada are working together to help Canadian families increase their literacy skills this year. HSBC Bank Canada is the 2013 and 2014 title sponsor of the HSBC Learning Activity Centre, in support of ABC Life Literacy Canada’s Family Literacy Day January 27.

Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI) has announced that the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund has awarded $837,321 in grants to 12 community organizations engaged in financial literacy projects across Canada.

Canadians across the country have an opportunity to show appreciation for extraordinary volunteers in their communities. The call for nominations for the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards is open until March 1, 2013.

CMEC has just published a new report that examines how better data and evidence can be developed to support jurisdictions' efforts to improve the academic achievement and attainment of Aboriginal students in provincial and territorial elementary and secondary schools.

Canadian parents and teachers are succeeding at creating an environment at home and at school that promotes good reading skills among children, according to reports released today by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) and the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). But while the reports show that Canadian Grade 4 students perform well in reading by international standards, there remains room for improvement.

"Whether Canadians with sight loss need information about education, interview techniques, or workplace accommodation, access to employment resources for people who are blind or partially sighted will ensure meaningful employment in a wide range of fields for years to come," says Penny Hartin, Chief Executive Officer of the World Blind Union.

Junior Achievement of Canada is pleased to announce the launch of the new "Keep your balance" interactive tool for students. The tool was developed in partnership with Accenture and allows students to understand how the financial and environmental decisions they make can impact their life.

I DO BUSINESS. National Summit & Trade Show (Success for Aboriginal Entrepreneurs) will bring together business and literacy to support current and emerging Aboriginal entrepreneurs from coast to coast to coast in Canada. Planned for March 4-6, 2013, in Toronto, this event brings to the forefront the importance of connecting economic development and adult literacy to support Aboriginal business development.

Over 100 eminent academics have signed a letter to Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister John Duncan demanding that core funding for Aboriginal organizations be restored to protect vital research projects underway. The signatories highlight that researchers partner with tribal councils, the National Aboriginal Health Organization, and other Aboriginal representative organizations to address "health, education and infrastructure issues that are preventing Canadian First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities from reaching their full potential."

Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and Minister Responsible for Youth, has released an updated strategic plan supporting volunteer development in the Northwest Territories.

The Financial Literacy Month Video Contest is challenging you to create an original and inspiring video that shows and explains how you are saving for or managing your money to achieve a financial goal. Videos of all eligible participants will be evaluated for creativity, production quality and messaging by a panel of three judges selected by FCAC. The deadline for submissions is November 30.

As part of the 14th edition of The Gift of Reading, the Literacy Foundation and program spokesperson, actress Marie Turgeon, invite you to buy a brand new book for a poor child in your region. Through this simple act, you contribute to preventing the reading and writing difficulties that can lead to young people dropping out of school.

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.

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.