News from the Federal Office of Literacy and Essential Skills
 

The Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES) posted a call for proposals on June 30. If you are a member of Literacy Partner's list serv you will already have received it. During a recent conference call hosted by OLES with the executive directors of the national literacy organizations, and provincial and territorial coalitions we learned that this is the first of three targeted calls that will be posted this year.

This first call is focused on workplace (for projects working with adults in the workplace and those trying to enter the workforce). The reason for the emphasis on workplace is that 67% of the 42% of low literate Canadians are working. The deadline is September 15. A second call is to be posted in the fall targeting the Aboriginal sector and the third call will be focused on Family/Community in February or March. More.
What's new at our Resource Library
It looks like it’s safe to say that spring is done and summer has arrived! For many of you, that means a break from your regular routine and having summer off to enjoy your time and do “fun” things! Why not put visiting our Resource Centre on your list of “fun” things to do?

I have been making progress with some changes in our library collection. There is now a longer list of Fiction titles in our online catalogue. Another subject area that has more titles is Readers for New Literates. A search of these two subjects in our online catalogue will give you a long list of summer reading! Most exciting, we’ve done a recent update to our online catalogue so have a browse and see what’s new.

A REMINDER . . . to answer the “questions to wonder about” in our May News Bulletin … and win a prize! And remember, there are no correct answers … we just want to hear from you. Keep an eye on our website or click into our May 2008 News Bulletin for the questions and prize information.

To see what's new at our resource library, please see more.
Plain Language Training – August 13 - 15

LPM launches two new Plain Language courses
Literacy Partners of Manitoba, under its Institute, The Manitoba Institute for Literacy and Learning, is presenting two new and important Plain Language workshops. The workshops are aimed at communications and marketing staff in government, business and not-for-profit sectors.

Charles Moody, from Victoria, BC, and a former Winnipeger, is a leader in Plain Language in Canada.

Charles’ Introduction to Plain Language is a pre-requisite to the advanced course.

Joining our Plain Language team this summer is Alexa Campbell of Red River Community College. She will offer Writing for the Web - applying Plain Language techniques to the internet. This course is for anyone who writes entries to a website or is concerned about site accessibility issues.

Participants will benefit from these practical, hands-on courses. A certificate is given.

More details here.
Summer Events at the Winnipeg Public Library

Check out what’s happening for kids at your local library this summer!
Kids can read away their fines, join the Read Aloud Program, or join the LOL Summer Reading Club – details can be found at http://wpl.city.winnipeg.mb.ca/library/
Storytime for Kids at McNally

Storytime for Kids
Storytime is a weekly half-hour program for 3 to 5 years-olds who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Each week our experienced storytellers perform a delightful story in the Hundred Acre Wood in McNally Robinson for Kids Grant Park and Polo Park stores. There is no fee and registration is not required. The Grant Park Storytime takes place every Friday at 10:00 am with Kim Rannie, a local actor and mother of two. The Polo Park Storytime takes place every Thursday at 10:00 am with Deborah Gay-de-Vries who is also a local actor and mother of two.
Literacy Instructor opening for fall

Transcona Literacy Centre Inc. is hiring an Adult Literacy Instructor for their Drop-in Stages Program. If you are interested, please see here for details.

Adult learning in Canada: Characteristics of learners
Research has shown that in a knowledge-based economy and society, economic opportunities and active participation in the broader society are increasingly linked to an individual’s ability to command and control his or her own life. It is this context that makes the distribution of adult learning across the population of such importance. More.
Health Literacy in Canada
Initial results from the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS)

With health-literacy skills that are considered to be at Level 2 and below (IALSS definition), 60% of adult Canadians lack the capacity to obtain, understand and act upon health information and services and to make appropriate health decisions on their own. More.
Candian Council of Learnings Report on Literacy: Reading the Future

What is Reading the Future about?
Reading the Future is the first report of its kind in Canada. It provides:
  • Canada's first projections of adult literacy levels, through to 2031;
  • an unprecedented look—more detailed than ever before—at the “face” of low literacy; and
  • effective approaches to improve literacy among six identified groups.
Wanted - Writing Submissions for Featured Learner Writer

 

We would like to regularly feature a Learner Writer on our web site homepage.
If you have a story or poem to share, we would love to read it!
Please see the submissions guidelines.
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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