Bi-monthly newsletter for members of Literacy Partners of Manitoba

Margaret Laurence Award Winners Celebrated

In honour of the vital volunteer work being done by hundreds of volunteer literacy tutors in communities across Manitoba, the 2^nd annual Margaret Laurence Award for Excellence in volunteer literacy tutoring ceremony took place on the eve of International Literacy Day, on Sunday, September 7^th in Selkirk. Literacy is a "work of heart" for Manitoba's volunteer tutors. Volunteer literacy tutors are the hidden heroes who donate countless hours teaching reading, writing and numeracy skills to adult learners. The award recognizes the valuable contribution that volunteer literacy tutors make to communities in over 60 locations in Manitoba.

100 people were under sunny skies for the afternoon of celebration at the Selkirk Regional Library. "Low literacy is an invisible problem which affects the life opportunities of a third of Manitobans", this year's event coordinator, Rob Sarginson stated to the crowd.. There are over 500 active, dedicated literacy volunteers across the province who tutor adults, offer transportation, raise funds, catalogue materials and many more tasks. This work is a vital contribution to developing our economy. Increased literacy gives people the ability to make more informed choices," he stated.

Nominator Margaret Chambers introduced the 1997 rural winner Eleanor Melsted, from the Interlake Adult Leaming Association. Eleanor has been helping adults to improve their reading and writing skills for three years at the adult basic education class in Gimli. She had a wonderful rapport with the students and had been willing to tackle any task. Eleanor is an astute observer and a precise practitioner; she had taken many hours of extra training in order to do her job even more effectively.

Linda MacKenzie introduced the urban winner, Dorothy Schell, who has an illustrious history with the Stevenson-Britannia Literacy Program. Dorothy has been helping adults improve their reading and writing at the adult basic literacy class at Stevenson Britannia School for four years. Dorothy has been an active fundraiser and an enthusiastic practitioner.

Honourable mentions were extended to: Bev McNabb from the Community Headways program in Portage la Prairie, as well as Muriel Lowe from the LEARN program in Russell. They received complimentary memberships in the provincial coalition. Continued on page 5

Presentation of Plaque ( L to R ) Yvette Souque, from NLS, Rural Elenor Melsted, Cheryl Campbell, President LPM, Rob Sarginson, Coordinator.