ABC Life Literacy Canada Launches New Strategic Plan
Since 1990, ABC Life Literacy Canada has been proud to work with a fantastic community of literacy and learning experts who help adult learners each day to improve their skills. We’ve had great successes together, we’ve adapted to the needs in the community and we’ve learned along the way. We felt it was time for our strategy to reflect the new ABC Life Literacy and I am so pleased to share it with you.
Our new mission is to: strengthen organizations that promote adult learning by developing and supporting the use of high-quality introductory learning materials and resources written in clear language.
Our new vision: We envision a Canada where everyone has the tools and opportunities they need to improve their literacy and essential skills.
ABC’s new strategy builds on our success and enhances our work to support the literacy and learning community.
We so value our collaborations and look forward to continued work together to help expand opportunities for Canadians to improve their literacy and essential skills.
Mack Rogers
Executive Director
New abclifeliteracy.ca Website!
In addition to launching our strategic plan, we've also launched a new website! The site is designed to showcase the variety of programming available to the literacy and learning community across the country, as well as act as a resource hub. In the coming months, the French version of our site will be available. Check it out at www.abclifeliteracy.ca!
Celebrating Literacy Innovation
The winners of the 2019 Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award (LIA) were presented their awards at Life Literacy Night held late October. Family Service of Greater Vancouver received top award honours and four innovative programs were selected as honourable mention winners of the LIA, each awarded $5,000 for their winning programs.
“We’d like to congratulate this year’s deserving winners. At Canada Life, we support educational initiatives that focus on adult literacy and recognize the need for programs that provide adult learners with the essential skills they need to succeed in life. That is why we’re proud to support ABC Life Literacy Canada and the Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award. Working together with community organizations, we make a positive impact that helps improve the well-being of all Canadians.” – Debbie Down, Director of Community Relations, Canada Life
The LIA honourable mention winners are:
Community Living Toronto, Toronto ON Program: Individualized On-campus Post-Secondary Experience Network (IOPEN)
The Individualized On‐campus Post‐Secondary Experience Network (IOPEN) provides an inclusive post‐secondary learning experience for adult learners with an intellectual disability. Through the program, learners have the opportunity to participate in a college-level class with unmodified learning outcomes. If successful, participants can continue their learning toward achieving a four-course certificate in their chosen area of study at Centennial College.
Literal Change, Toronto ON Program: Literal Change Facility Program
The Literal Change Facility Program currently runs in two maximum-security facilities in Toronto and serves Ontario’s adult male remand population. A team of trained teachers work one-on-one with the learners to build level-appropriate basic literacy skills. The program was developed in response to an identified need in detention centres for remedial literacy.
Momentum’s Money Matters financial empowerment program is designed to increase confidence and help participants with mental health and/or addiction challenges successfully manage their money. The program is unique in its approach in that it is comprised of two delivery components: Financial Education, a series of money management workshops, and Financial Administration, a one-to-one program where a Financial Administrator directly manages participant finances to ensure things like rent and bills are paid. Participants’ journey through the program typically last between six months to two years. Momentum’s Money Matters provides important financial literacy education to an underserved and particularly vulnerable population in need of wraparound services.
The Discover Online Integrate Information Technology (DOI2T) program is a collaboration between the Sioux Lookout Learning Centre and Good Learning Anywhere (GLA), a much larger operation responsible for the Indigenous stream of adult Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) online training for all of Ontario. A relatively new program, currently in its second year, DOI2T is a successful partnership program, designed to light a spark among adult learners and to adapt to learners’ needs.
Employment Program Works Financial Literacy Into the Mix
An Alberta-based community literacy organization has added a new twist to its youth employment program. The Taber Youth Employment Program, run by Taber Adult Learning, has incorporated financial literacy training into its seven-week in-class instruction.
Now, in addition to learning skills such as job hunting and interviewing, participants are equipped with the necessary skills to manage a household budget after they find employment. Read more.
The 21st annual Family Literacy Day is exactly two months away! How are you participating this year? Don't forget to tell us by registering your event on our website to let people know how you'll be celebrating.
You can also download this year's resources free of charge on FamilyLiteracyDay.ca. This year's tools include a poster, bookmark and tip sheet, among other fantastic tools.
We are so pleased that Barbara Reid, award-winning Canadian author and illustrator, has returned as the Honourary Chair of Family Literacy Day!
Montreal Families Celebrate Financial Literacy Month
On Monday November 4th, 25 children and their parents gathered at Dawson Boys & Girls Club in Verdun, Quebec to celebrate Financial Literacy Month. Families were on site for an event hosted by ABC and HSBC volunteer employees as part of the HSBC Family Literacy First program.
The newest resources available from the program is the Numbers & Cents Module, which offers three workbooks focused on family financial literacy.
To learn more about HSBC Family Literacy First, visit www.familyliteracyfirst.ca or check out the three program videos on YouTube:
Date: Monday, December 2nd Time: 2:00-3:00pm EST
Many adult literacy practitioners recognize the value of remote and online learning. But how can you successfully integrate remote learning into your work? Where can you learn about best practices? What tools and resources are available to help you?
Join us for a webinar on remote learning and adult literacy. Moderated by Janet Mowat, Programs Coordinator at ABC Life Literacy, this webinar will feature three panelists:
Dr. Tony Bates - Senior Advisor at Ryerson University's G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, and Research Associate at Contact North, Ontario
Linda Wright - Director of Distance Projects at Sioux-Hudson Literacy Council in Sioux Lookout, ON
Alison O'Handley - Executive Director of the Dartmouth Learning Network in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Together, we hope to:
Dispel practitioners' common fears around online & remote learning
Share resources & best practices
This webinar will feature presentations by the panelists, a moderated discussion, and a Q&A with attendees. Register for the webinar.
We Want To Hear From You!
Help guide ABC Life Literacy's policy and advocacy work by telling us what your organization is doing in those fields, and how we can help support your work! Complete the survey by November 30th and we'll enter you into a draw to win one of three $100 gift certificates to your local independent bookstore.
We're Hiring!
ABC Life Literacy Canada is looking for a Bilingual Programs Coordinator. You will join our team of five Programs Coordinators, who are responsible for outreach, coordination, and community engagement for ABC programs and initiatives in their respective regions of Canada. Learn more and apply.
An Alberta-based community literacy organization has added a new twist to its youth employment program. The 
As Financial Literacy Month 2019 comes to a close, we are pleased to announce a number of new Money Matters resources to help you keep working towards your financial literacy goals all year round. Resources are available for free download on 
On Monday November 4th, 25 children and their parents gathered at Dawson Boys & Girls Club in Verdun, Quebec to celebrate Financial Literacy Month. Families were on site for an event hosted by ABC and HSBC volunteer employees as part of the HSBC Family Literacy First program.
