2008 Canada Post Community Literacy Awards Winners

Alberta | British Columbia | Manitoba | New Brunswick |
Newfoundland and Labrador | Ontario |
Quebec| Saskatchewan

Alberta

• Individual Achievement - English

  Erica Richards, Edmonton

  Erica’s formal education ended after kindergarten, and some people thought she was not capable of learning.  She disagreed, and so did Project Adult Literacy.  With courage and determination, Erica has made great strides in improving her literacy and life skills.  She is starting to “find herself” and she keeps a journal to deal with severe abuse in her past.

• Educator Award – English

  Diane Hardy, Calgary

  With her passion for education, Diane coordinates programs, develops materials, teaches, tutors, and assesses a variety of literacy classes at Bow Valley College.  Her current focus is to promote ESL literacy transitioning programs for at-risk young adult immigrants, and a framework she developed is being piloted at two other post-secondary institutions.

British Columbia

• Individual Achievement - English
  

  Jeremy Clare, Victoria

  Jeremy decided to improve his literacy skills because there were just too many things in this world that he could not do.  That list is much shorter now.  Since starting his adult education courses, he has voted in his first election, taken up digital photography, given speeches on literacy in front of hundreds of people, and organized an Earth Day clean up in his favourite park.

• Educator Award – English
  

  Rose Marie Watson, Vancouver

  While teaching ESL classes at Vancouver Community College for 40 years, Rose Marie has been a strong advocate who helped shape the field of adult ESL learning in BC.  In addition to arranging free ESL tutoring at community centres, she was project leader of the Homefront Learning Program, which sends volunteer tutors to the homes of homebound ESL learners. 

Manitoba

• Individual Achievement - French
  

  Lisa Forest, Île-des-Chênes

  Mother of five children, isolated, without a diploma, Lisa was working overtime to keep her house. In 2005, with an uncertain future, she finally resumed her studies. At Pluri-elles, her eyes were opened wide to the world and the future. Motivated by her daughters and providing motivation for her teenagers, Lisa plans to obtain her high school diploma and then her diploma in office management. Her dream: that everyone has the opportunity to develop through education.

• Educator Award – English
  

  Lorri Apps, Winnipeg

  As Executive Director of Literacy Partners of Manitoba, Lorri successfully encouraged the province to declare September as Literacy Month.  In her quest to promote literacy, she has also forged partnerships, secured funding, served on many boards and committees, and tutored adult learners.  She is currently working to develop Canada’s first Institute for Literacy and Learning.

New Brunswick

• Individual Achievement – French
  

  Victorin Boudreau, Pointe-Verte

  Victorin took Grade 6 three times before dropping out. He became a father and worked as a day labourer, but with courage and determination, he returned to literacy classes more than once. At 55, he enrolled again, determined to obtain his diploma. In February 2008, he was diagnosed with a vision-related learning difficulty that is now on its way to being corrected! Victorin deserves great credit for coming so far!

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Educator Award – English
  

  Muriel Chislett, Stephenville

  A retired teacher and avid volunteer, Muriel is the Student Co-ordinator of the Bay St. George Literacy Council.  In addition to matching tutors with learners, she also helps train an average of 10 new tutors per year, organizes volunteer appreciation events and co-ordinates the recycling program that raises funds to expand local literacy initiatives.
  

Ontario

• Individual Achievement - English
  

  Hortense McCarthy, Toronto

  As a child in Jamaica, Hortense only got to grade three.  After making sure her children had a good education, she decided at age 60 that it was her turn.  She was tired of relying on others, so she made learning a priority in her own life.  With her new literacy skills, Hortense finally felt strong enough to get her Canadian citizenship.

• Educator Award – English
  

  Christine Harwood, Ottawa

  In her 15 years as a literacy practitioner in Canada, Christine has taught in multi-level classes, delivered workshops, moderated panels and led literacy awareness sessions at the national, provincial and local level.  She also develops resources, such as the adult library literacy manual Getting to Know the Library, which is going to be translated into American Sign Language.

• Educator Award – French
  

  Danielle Larose, Barrie

  A committed educator, Danielle Larose makes a real difference in the community. She demonstrates expertise with staff and students and leadership qualities through her outstanding performance in workshops, classes and program management. In addition to many concrete achievements, she obtains funding for various programs, shrugs off obstacles and keeps an open mind, because literacy is a fundamental right.

Quebec

• Individual Achievement - English
  

  Eric Savage, Cowansville

  After dropping out of school as a teen, Eric mixed with the wrong crowd and got into trouble with the law.  He was drifting, but that changed when he began his literacy learning.  His new skills gave him a sense of direction, and now he plans to finish school and take a welding course.  He hopes his story will inspire others who want to turn their lives around.

• Individual Achievement - French

  France Giroux, Saint-Prosper-de-Dorchester

  France had an unfortunate experience while in school. Humiliated by a learning difficulty, she lost her self-esteem. At 16 years old, she found work in a factory, but her own insecurity later came out in her daughter, whom she felt powerless to help. Since her enrolment in literacy classes in 2003, France has experienced great personal growth and moves from challenge to challenge with a perseverance that will positively affect her daughter’s future.

• Educator Award – English
  

  Lynn Butler-Kisber, Montreal

  A professor at McGill University, Lynn has mentored adult literacy educators as they learned how to support the development of literacy in others.  She has served on 147 committees and received more than $3-million in funding for literacy research.  She also established and edits a peer-reviewed educational journal called LEARNing Landscapes.

• Educator Award – French
  

  Lucie Gilbert, Verdun

  Originally a secretary at CEA Champlain, Lucie in turn taught history and francization there before becoming a literacy teacher. In this field, her great human qualities become apparent and are put to good use. By encouraging learners to take the initiative, she passes on a great deal of vocabulary, information, concepts and core values. For Lucie, teaching French comes through teaching respect and freedom.

Saskatchewan

• Individual Achievement - English
  

  Bridget Stone, Cando

  When she started her literacy learning in 2004, Bridget could not read recipe directions.  Now, this single mother of three is working towards her grade 12 diploma and hopes to become a youth care worker. When asked how learning to read has changed her life, Bridget says, “I feel good, happy, smart and proud.  I am a good role model for my children and others.”