The individual award recipients will receive a unique, hand-carved stone sculpture and a $500 cash prize. The group award recipients will be recognized with a commemorative plaque and indisputable bragging rights for one year!
Anyone may nominate residents of Calgary who are foundational learners or education innovators. Simply submit a completed nomination for your nominee(s) and include support letters from others to provide further information about your nominee(s)’ character and accomplishments. Let us know what makes them special!
The Life of Learning Awards will be presented at Calgary Learns’ award ceremony on
. The
. For more information email us at
You Are Wanted!!
Do you believe in the power of education? Are you interested in being part of an organization which helps build capacity of adult learning programs across Calgary? If the answer is YES, consider becoming a Calgary Learns’ Board Member!*
Our Board Members consistently comment on the value they receive as a board member. They not only learn more about the broader needs in our community and the great programs offered across the city. The Board comments on:
- the dynamic conversations at meetings,
- being part of inclusive, results oriented team,
- valuable networking opportunities gained
If you are interested in learning more about the role and Calgary Learns, please contact Nancy Purdy, Executive Director 403-266-6444 ext. 1 or
npurdy@calgarylearns.com.
* To avoid conflict of interest, Board Members do not work for organizations who receive Calgary Learns funding.
IFL Conversation Café - review
On February 4th we held the reprise of our IFL Conversation Café. Our first attempt in December was hampered by a nasty blizzard, resulting in just a small gathering. For you new readers, IFL is our Integrating Foundational Learning Project, a multi-year initiative to help organizations better serve adults learning at a basic level.
Over 40 educators attended our Feb 4 event, which showcased the experiences of four IFL participants: The Drop-In Centre, MS Society, Canadian Mental Health Association and Calgary SCOPE Society. IFL learning specialist, IFL learning specialist, Terri Peters, laid out the project’s framework and tools: explicitly integrating Canada’s essential skills, group facilitation strategies and clear language—all for greater learner success. Staff of the participating IFL organizations then showed how they applied IFL principles in a wide range of learning situations to meet the needs of their learners.
“As a teacher, my best ideas were those I stole from other people,” Calgary Learns’ E.D. Nancy Purdy confessed in the afternoon’s introduction. Although her remark was tongue-in-cheek, we love that humble approach to sharing and collaboration. In this same spirit, we want to continue sharing the IFL learnings and to keep the conversation going—including learning and sharing how you help learners find success.
Please stay tuned. We will roll out the IFL final case studies (plus ‘steal-able’ materials) this spring and are currently exploring funding sources to expand our professional training opportunities in this area.
Program Funding 2014
Calgary Learns was pleased to allocate $1,028,300 for 2014 to a diverse range of programs offering foundational learning. Congratulations to the following successful applicants.
Adult Basic Literacy – Total ABL funding: $264,021
- Bow Valley College – Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE)
- Bow Valley College – Lifeline to Literacy
- Bow Valley College – Speech-Assisted Reading and Writing
- Calgary John Howard Society – Literacy Program
- Calgary John Howard Society – Words to Success
- Further Education Society of Alberta – Family Literacy Program
- Mount Royal University – Transitional Vocational Program, Adult Basic Education
- Youville Recovery Residence for Women – Youville Literacy Program
Community Issues – Total CI funding: $207,000
- Association of the Inside Out Integrated Theatre Project – Inside Out Integrated Theatre
- Calgary SCOPE Society – Integrated Community Kitchen
- Canadian Mental Health Association – Peer Options Workshops
- Centre for Newcomers Society of Calgary – Women’s Life Skills Program
- Deaf & Hard of Hearing Society – Family-focused Sign Language Instruction
- Families Matter Society – Community-Based Family Education
- Immigrant Services Calgary – Citizenship Learning Project
English Language Learning – Total ELL funding: $308,794
- Bow Valley College – Computer Enhanced ESL Literacy
- Bow Valley College – ESL Volunteer Tutor Program
- Bow Valley College – Volunteer ESL Tutor Training Project
- Calgary Chinese Community Service Association – Stepping Stones: Forward into the Community
- Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association – Pebbles in the Sand
- YWCA of Calgary – English for New Canadians
Employability Enhancement – Total EE funding: $248,485
- Calgary Catholic Immigration Society – Computer Training for Employment
- Calgary Immigrant Educational Society – Computer Combo Program
- Calgary John Howard Society – Learning Education Enhancement Program
- Calgary Public Library – Digital Literacy in the Community
- Momentum – Business Development for Foundational Learners
- Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research – Digital Literacy Program
For more detailed information, please visit our
website.
To All Programs Receiving Funding
The provincial ministry funding these programs has a new name.
Please make sure you use the correct logo on all your promotional material. Download the new, easy-to-use “combined” logo
here.
ESL Learning Support Service
Most adult learners in English as a Second Language programs, including basic literacy, LINC and bridge to work classes manage the assigned coursework and show expected progress. There are those, however, who struggle to acquire a new language within the contexts of their classes and require some form of individualized support to make gains in their language acquisition. For these individuals, the learning of English language and/or literacy skill development is and continues to be extremely difficult.
With help, support and accommodation, even struggling learners can succeed but they need specific strategies both inside the classroom and in their everyday lives. CIWA’s learning support service provides struggling learners with strategies to enhance their language learning and makes recommendations for instructors for rethinking their teaching practices in order to accommodate these learners and ensure their success.
To learn more about this service or to book a consultation, contact Theresa Wall at 403.263.4414 ext. 152 or
theresaw@ciwa-online.com.
Member Profile: CIWA
Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) is a culturally diverse settlement agency that recognizes, responds to, and focuses on the unique concerns and needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls and their families. They have developed innovative programs, entered into partnerships and become an organization that is truly responsive to the unique and diverse needs of its constituency. They have made the transition to Canada a more comfortable, pleasant and successful one for more than 60,000 immigrant women.
CIWA offers 36 programs and projects that use a holistic approach to service delivery in the areas of settlement and integration, literacy and language training, employment support and bridging programs, family violence, parenting, individual counselling, in-home support, civic engagement, health, housing and community development. All clients coming to CIWA, for group session or individual appointments, have access to childcare support. They provide customised programs for youth and seniors. One of the most distinguishing features of their service delivery approach is community-based programming. They work in collaboration with community partners and offer programs and services in more than 100 locations around Calgary.
For more information, visit
www.ciwa-online.com
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