All of us at LPM hope you are having a wonderful summer!
We are on summer hours right now, and since we are in and out, please call us first at 947-5757 before you come for a visit. Fall will be here before we know it, and with it comes our Open House, Raise-A-Reader day and our AGM. Stay tuned for details!
What's new at our Resource Library
How quickly the summer is going! I certainly am enjoying every bit of the warm weather. Please call or e-mail ahead if you would like to drop in. I will only be in two days a week, Wednesday and Friday, from about 10:00 to 4:00 so please call first at 954-3854 to confirm that I’ll be in.

PLEASE REMEMBER to answer the “questions to wonder about” and win a prize! There are no correct answers … we just want to hear from you. The questions are on our website home page with the instructions for how to do this. Send in your answers and attend our Open House on September 8 to collect your prize! Read here for some summer reading ideas.
This issue of our e-bulletin takes a look at some of the highlights from the past year...
September

 

At our September Open House, The Honourable Diane McGifford, Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, brought greetings from Premier Doer, and reviewed the province's contributions to literacy in the past year.

She signed the official statement proclaiming September Literacy Month in Manitoba.

She was pleased that federal funding of the coalitions had been reinstated, and commended LPM for its continued commitment to literacy during difficult times. She singled out Executive Director Lorri Apps for special praise, speaking of her tireless efforts to save the organization.
October

Raise-a-Reader
LPM had 12 volunteers – including Anna Beauchamp, John Sawchuk, Judy Baker and Traci Reid from Adult Learning and Literacy, Candyce Jones from Bookmates, Shannon Barry from Planners Plus, Anita Martens (Learner Speaker), Monica Feist, Connie Bell, Jan Graham (aka The Word Monster), Rob Sarginson and Lorri Apps - at the corner of Tache and Marion. They collected almost $900 between 7 and 9am when they gave people a special edition of the Winnipeg Free Press on their drive to work.

In 2007 in Manitoba, just over $22,000 was raised on Winnipeg streets. Across Canada, $2.7million was collected. Every cent stays in the community where it was raised to help literacy organizations with their work.
November


In November, LPM celebrated 20 years of furthering literacy in Manitoba!
The Honourable Jim Rondeau, Minister of Competitiveness, Training and Trade was in attendance (pictured here with Lorri Apps and Monika Feist). He is a founding member of LPM’s parent organization, Literacy Workers Alliance of Manitoba. Shirley Skogan and Ron Robinson were presented Literacy Partners of Manitoba Honourary Life Memberships, thanks to their commitment to literacy.
February

Plain Language Training
For 4 days in February, Charles Moody trained 11 new Plain Language writers.

Professional writers from Manitoba Hydro, Elections Manitoba and Nine Circles Community Health Centre tapped into Charles’ expertise to develop awareness and proficiency in Plain Language Writing. The training events were jointly sponsored by LPM and The Winnipeg Foundation’s Community Plain Language Project.

The evaluations were excellent! Participants liked using examples from their own workplaces and valued the hands-on practice as well as the “friendly, laid-back atmosphere” and Charles’ “clear presentations”.

March
Joy at IRCOM
The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba held a celebration to mark International Adult Learners’ Week on Friday March 7, 2008. The event also recognized the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 26 Right to an Education.

IRCOM invited friends of their adult literacy program to experience the joy and enthusiasm of these newcomers to Canada. The success of the program is due to the hard work of instructors Elizabeth and Dorata. They have done a spectacular job in helping more than 30 learners in their transition to Manitoba life.

Dressed in their brilliant traditional costumes, the learners danced, played music and offered food representing their African and Asian homelands. The most advanced learners also gave speeches and demonstrated their improving language skills after just 6 months of classes.
April

The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), Manitoba Advanced Education and Literacy, and Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth were the organizers of the Pan-Canadian Interactive Literacy Forum held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on April 14 and 15, 2008.

The forum allowed participants to view, via web cast, keynote speeches live from across Canada. Manitoba was one of the “live” sites. Manitoba’s theme was Literacy Works! Building a Skilled and Resilient Workforce. In addition to keynote speaker Charles Coffey, Manitoba hosted workshops to give participants the opportunity to hear about this theme from a variety of experts.
May
Public Speaker Training Graduation
On May 22, five learners received their Literacy Partners of Manitoba - Certificate of Achievement for completion of the Public Speaker Training. The graduates were from Flin Flon, Selkirk, and Portage-la-Prairie. The training took place at the Selkirk Adult Learning Program located in the Friendship Centre. It was facilitated by Jan Graham, Learner Outreach Coordinator for LPM, one afternoon a week for four weeks.
June

Learner Stories
Read here about some of the trials and triumphs of some Learner Speaker's Bureau graduates.
Contact Us
Do you have an event coming up? Do you have praise to pass along? Is there something happening in your program you’re particularly proud of? Give us a call at: (204) 947-5757, fax us at (204) 956-9315 or email: communications@mb.literacy.ca. We want to hear about it!

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