Overview
Albertans take part in national and international literacy events throughout the year. These events help reinforce the importance of literacy in our lives.
To learn more about these and other literacy events in your area, contact your:
The Council of the Federation Literacy Award
The annual Council of the Federation Literacy Award was created in 2004 by Canada's premiers to recognize literacy achievements in every province and territory. The award recognizes:
- outstanding achievement
- innovative practice
- excellence
2024 Literacy Award Recipient – Alberta
County of Lethbridge Community Learning Council
The County of Lethbridge Community Learning Council (CLCLC) has provided adult literacy programs to the region since 2015. Staffed by only two people, Melanie Patenaude and Roxanne Samoleski, CLCLC is a key learning organization in the area, particularly in the provision of English Language Learning (ELL). Patenaude and Samoleski work collaboratively with the community to support adult learners in overcoming barriers to learning. CLCLC works with newcomers and Low German Mennonites to learn English, navigate Canadian society, and engage with the larger community. Employers recognize the value of helping their non-English speaking employees learn English, in one case paying Spanish-speaking staff to attend ELL classes. CLCLC exemplifies inclusion through its approach to strengthening communities by innovative, collaborative, ELL and literacy programming.
See all of the 2024 award winners across Canada.
Previous award winners include:
Family Literacy Day
January 27 is Family Literacy Day across Canada
Family Literacy – it only takes 15 minutes of fun!
Doing an activity together as a family for just 15 minutes a day can help develop long-lasting literacy skills in children and strengthen the literacy skills of adults.
Family Literacy Day was created in 1999 by ABC Life Literacy Canada. The day raises awareness of:
- the importance of reading
- doing other literacy-related activities as a family
Activities can be as easy as:
- reading or making up a story together
- playing a board game
- singing a song while cleaning the house
- reading signs while riding in the car
Events take place in communities across Alberta. Visit ABC Life Literacy Canada to learn how you can celebrate Family Literacy Day.
International Literacy Day
International Literacy Day is on September 8.
One in five Albertans aged 16 and older struggles to understand and use information from books, news stories and instruction manuals.
International Literacy Day raises awareness of and concern for literacy issues around the world. The day was adopted in 1965 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Find more about International Literacy Day.
Literacy awareness videos
Use these videos to explore and share the importance of literacy, programs that help Albertans build their literacy skills and where to find information about available programs in your community.
Benefits of literacy
Reading and writing are important for you and your family in these ways:
Literacy success stories
Meet:
- Jennifer who went back to school and got her General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
- Danny who learned how to read and is now a champion for literacy
- Pedro who became the first person in his family to graduate from high school and post-secondary
- the Siksika Nation and how they’re building a love of learning in their community
Promoting literacy learning
These short videos promote literacy learning in communities throughout Alberta:
- find literacy resources
- supports for English as a second language learners
- literacy resources in your community
- finding the help you need
- learning at any age
- learn on your schedule
Explore literacy learning at community adult learning programs near you.
Contact
Connect with the Foundational Learning and Skills Development Unit:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Email: [email protected]