Premier Calls For Award Nominations To Recognize Exceptional Adult Learner

February 19, 2008

Premier Gary Doer is calling for nominations for the 2008 Council of the Federation Literacy Award to recognize outstanding achievements in adult literacy.

“Manitobans require strong literacy skills to meet the needs of a challenging labour market, achieve their economic and educational goals, and enhance their health and social well-being,” Doer said. “I congratulate all adult learners who have decided to improve their literacy skills and welcome the opportunity to recognize their achievements through this award.”Canada’s premiers created an award in July 2004 to recognize the efforts of individuals and organizations involved in the literacy field. Each of the 13 provinces and territories awards medallions and certificates to acknowledge achievement in literacy skills, innovative practice and exemplary programming. The awards will be announced at the Council of the Federation meeting in July. The Manitoba recipient will be honoured at an official ceremony in the fall.

This year, the Manitoba award will be given to an adult learner who has made outstanding progress in his or her own literacy learning, has helped others and has overcome challenges in learning to read and write.

All nominations must be postmarked by May 9 and the winner will be notified before the public announcement in July.

Nomination forms and more information about the award are available on the Internet at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ael/all/index.html or by calling the Adult Learning and Literacy Branch at 1‑800‑282-8069, ext. 1053.

This marks the fourth annual call for nominations for the Council of the Federation Literacy Award. Manitoba’s first recipient for outstanding achievements in literacy went to Faye Belhumeur of Swan River. The second award was presented to Daphne Joyce Prince of Winnipeg and the third award was received by Norine Moar of Swan River in 2007.

The Manitoba government strongly supports adult, family and community literacy programs, the premier said. In 2007, the province introduced an Adult Literacy Act, the first of its kind in Canada, to formalize parts of the existing adult literacy program and guide development of a new adult literacy strategy. Funding for 34 adult literacy programs across the province has doubled since 1999.

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