International Literacy Day Festivities

The Honourable Drew Caldwell, Minister for Education and Training, with Alanna Hillis and Sylvia Provenski of LPM, at the Margaret Laurence Awards at the country fair in Brandon

The wild weather, warm welcome, and wonderful entertainment will long be remembered by those who attended the Margaret Laurence and Canada Post awards at the Optimist Field in Brandon on September 9th, 2000. In the afternoon, the literacy winners received their awards; in the evening, they were celebrated with a lavish dinner held in the Keystone Centre.

Many LPM members helped out at the country fair, which focused on literacy. In their efforts to pull a fire engine, a literacy team, ably anchored by learner-speaker Abe Friesen, proved that the spirit was willing, but the flesh weak.

Alanna Hillis and her team of volunteers must be commended for their outstanding work in organizing the country fair with its literacy theme, which attracted more than 1000 visitors and dozens of community partners.

During the presentation of awards, the wind threatened to sweep the celebrities from the stage, and Canada Post representative Brian Garagan amused us with comments about the visible demonstration of airmail. Only the Herculean efforts of some youthful volunteers who anchored the stage saved the party from following Dorothy into the land of Oz.

The Margaret Laurence Awards for Excellence are presented by LPM to outstanding tutors for their volunteer work in the field of adult or family literacy.

Learner Ken Wakefield presented an award to his former tutor, Bill Taylor, of Samaritan House Training Centre, Brandon. The Honourable Drew Caldwell, Minister of Education, presented awards to tutors Beda Drury of Journeys Adult Education Centre, Winnipeg; and Rosella Aylward, of the Transcona Literacy Centre, Winnipeg.

Brian Garagan, manager of media and community affairs for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Judy Weber-Fraser, director of operations for South Saskatchewan and West Manitoba, and Gary Palmer, Brandon area manager, presented the Canada Post Awards.

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Valerie Unwinaccepted the Business Leadership Award on behalf of Palliser Furniture. Delsie Cousineau and Germaine Isaac accepted the Community Leadership award on behalf of the Transcona Literacy Centre.

Individual achievement awards were presented to Raymond Roy (French) and Diane Doyle (English).

In the evening, award winners were wined, dined, and entertained at a dinner hosted by the Family Literacy Events Committee at the Keystone Centre. Guests were given a taste of Brandon’s rich cultural diversity. Thanks to Marion Terry and Marie Matheson for organizing this wonderful conclusion to the weekend’s festivities.

The literacy community thanks Lise Labonte for bringing greetings from the National Literacy Secretariat, and The Honourable Drew Caldwell for helping us celebrating International Literacy Day 2000.