Nominations for the 2012 Council of the Federation (COF) Literacy Award, recognizing outstanding achievements in adult literacy will be accepted until May 22, Premier Greg Selinger announced.
“The ability to read and write is the basis for success in today’s world,” said Selinger. “Recognizing the achievements of adult learners helps them gain the confidence needed to take the next step, whether it’s toward further studies or into the job market.”
Canada’s premiers created the COF Literacy Award in 2004 to recognize outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy. COF literacy medallions are awarded in each province and territory every year.
Last year’s winner, Michael Moore, worked with a tutor for three years to improve his literacy skills. He is now pursuing a college diploma to become a counsellor, serves on the Winnipeg Transit Critical Crisis Team and volunteers with a suicide-prevention hotline.
To be eligible, a nominee must:
• be an adult-literacy learner who has been actively involved in literacy or essential skills programming within the past 18 months;
• have made significant progress in learning;
• have assisted others with learning and/or affected others in the literacy community; and
• reside in Manitoba.
The award recipient will be selected by an independent selection committee and will be notified before the announcement. The award will be presented in the fall of 2012.
To download a nomination form or for more information, visit www.gov.mb.ca/all or call the Manitoba Adult Learning and Literacy Branch at 204-945-8142 or toll-free at 1-800-282-8069 (ext. 8247).
This is the eighth annual call for nominations for the COF award.
The government of Manitoba is committed to providing Manitobans with opportunities to increase their levels of education, obtain meaningful employment and improve the quality of their lives through its support of adult-literacy programming, said Selinger. Manitoba’s Adult Literacy Act, the first of its kind in Canada, came into effect on Jan. 1, 2009. The act required the development of a provincial strategy, which now provides direction on adult-literacy programming in the province.
