The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick held their annual Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Literacy Awards at Old Government House in Fredericton on June 11^th, 2024.

“These awards were established in 1998 by Dr. Trenholme Counsell during her term as New Brunswick’s Lieutenant Governor to recognize outstanding achievements in the fields of literacy and essential skills,” said Lynda Homer, Executive Director of the Coalition and Master of Ceremonies for the event. “The Literacy Coalition is proud to have carried on the tradition of presenting these awards annually since 2007.”

The Honourable Brenda Murphy, Lieutenant Governor, gave opening remarks in both official languages. She spoke of Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell’s incredible legacy as a champion of literacy in our province and thanked the award winners for inspiring others and for their commitment to excellence.

“It is always a pleasure to highlight the important work of the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick,” Her Honour said. “It really has been quite rewarding to build on the partnership between the office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick”.

While Dr. Trenholme Counsell was unable to attend the event this year, her daughter-in-law Ashley Counsell brought greetings and heartfelt praise to the award winners on her behalf. She spoke about how important these awards are to her family and did a beautiful reading of one of Dr. Trenholme Counsell’s favourite poems, On the Road to Anywhere.

Deputy Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Ryan Donaghy brought greetings on behalf of the province in both official languages. He congratulated the winners on their important work, and highlighted how his department will continue to work to ensure that everyone has the right to read, write, and thrive.

Six award winners were presented with a framed certificate and an engraved pewter bowl presented by Literacy Coalition President Brent Melanson, and the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Honourable Brenda Murphy.

LCNB Recognizes Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Literacy

The Owens Art Gallery received the first award for Community Literacy Program. Located in Sackville at Mount Allison University, the Owens Art Gallery has built a community literacy program dedicated to removing barriers to art and improving visual, museum, and cultural literacy. Emily Falvey, Director and Curator accepted the award on behalf of the Gallery. Emily spoke of the Gallery’s amazing work and how the award has validated their efforts in leading literacy and lifelong learning programs. She also gave praise to Lucy MacDonald, Curator of Education and Community Outreach, who contributed much to the Gallery’s many literacy programs.

Central Valley Adult Learning Association, also known as CVALA, received the second award for Community Literacy Program. CVALA is committed to adult education and literacy, helping over 200 individuals annually with their Canadian Adult Education Credential prep classes and digital literacy programs. Accepting the award on behalf of the organization was Executive Director Laura Burris, who spoke of CVALA’s incredible staff, teachers, and board members who make their work possible. She also read a moving essay from one of their learners, which spoke of how learning changed their life.

Myriam Raiche Landry was the recipient of the Early Childhood Literacy award (en français, Alphabétisation de la petite enfance). Myriam is an exceptional educator who is deeply committed to improving literacy and French language skills for young children. One of her most recent and successful projects has been helping the 4-year old children from the Communautaire Beausoleil childcare centre create and publish their very own book. Myriam brought this incredible book with her to show everyone, speaking passionately about the process of creating the book and how proud the children are of it.

Roseanne Clark received the award for Outstanding Effort in Indigenous Literacy. Best known as an ambassador of the Wolastoqey language, Roseanne has led her family in the development of a Wolastoqey online dictionary, “Words from the Crow Clan” (“Kahkakuhsuwakutomuhtit ’Kolusuwakonuwal”). Roseanne spoke in both English and Wolastoqey to accept her award. She thanked her siblings, who have been working tirelessly alongside her on the dictionary, calling it a labour of love. She said how the award validates the incredible time and effort that went into making it, and it has been getting steady usage from all over the world. She hopes it will have a positive effect in preserving their language.

Jeff Somers received the award in the category of Published Author. He is the author of Avery and the Special Shoe, which is about an active and spunky little girl who happens to be living with Cerebral Palsy. Jeff stated that there were many people to thank for their work on this book, including a very special little girl who allowed her story to be shared. At the end of his remarks, Jeff presented Honourable Brenda Murphy with a copy of his published book.

Sally Armstrong was the final winner for the evening in the category of Individual Outstanding Contribution to Literacy. An award-winning author, journalist, and human rights activist, Sally’s work is well known across the world. Her remarkable book, The Nine Lives of Charlotte Talyor, is set in New Brunswick and showcases Sally’s love for, and close ties with, our province. She gave praise to each of the previous winners, and expressed how honoured she was to be supported by people who have given so much to New Brunswick. She told a moving story of a woman who said how The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor inspired her to improve her reading, as well as anecdotes from her work with women and girls in Afghanistan who are fighting for their right to literacy and education.

“Literacy is the most powerful tool of all,” Sally said in conclusion. “It’s more than learning to read. What literacy is about is building self-esteem, finding your place in the world, and even nation building.”

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The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick provides leadership to advance literacy, lifelong learning, and essential skills for all citizens through partnerships and collaboration with government, educational institutions, business, labour, community organizations and individuals.

For more information contact Lynda Homer, LCNB Executive Director:
Phone: 506-461-3880
Email: lcnb@nbliteracy.ca

May 29, 2024 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FREDERICTON, NB – The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick is proud to name the winners of the 2024 Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Literacy Awards. The awards will be presented on Tuesday, June 11^th in Fredericton at Old Government House. The reception with refreshments will begin at 6:00 pm, with the ceremony starting at 7:00.

These awards recognize outstanding achievements in the fields of literacy and lifelong learning. In 1998, Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell established the awards during her term as New Brunswick’s lieutenant-governor. Since 2007, the Literacy Coalition has continued to present these awards annually.

“We are very pleased to name Sally Armstrong as a winner of the Outstanding Individual Contribution to Literacy,” says LCNB President, Brent Melanson. She is an award winning author, journalist, and human rights activist. She has dedicated her career to telling the stories of women and girls, highlighting their fight to survive and thrive in the midst of great conflict.

Sharing her time between New Brunswick and Toronto, Sally resides in Bathurst for 6 months of the year and has spent many summers there since she was a teenager. Her remarkable book, The Nine Lives of Charlotte Talyor, is set in New Brunswick and tells the story about Sally’s great great, great grandmother, who was known as “The Mother of Tabusintac”. It showcases Sally’s love for, and close ties with, New Brunswick, bringing to life the conflicts and communities of the past which shape our reality in the present.

As an incredible activist for women and girls, Sally has brought international attention to the struggles of women and children in turbulent areas across the globe. She is a member of the Order of Canada, and has been awarded multiple Honorary Doctorates, including an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Royal Roads and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from McGill University.

Roseanne Clark is the recipient of the Outstanding Effort in Indigenous Literacy award. Best known as an ambassador of the Wolastoqey language, Roseanne has led her family in the development of a Wolastoqey online dictionary, “Words from the Crow Clan” (“Kahkakuhsuwakutomuhtit ’Kolusuwakonuwal”). This incredible project is a living document that, as stated on their website, “serves as a testament to the resilience and endurance of the Wolastoqey people, who have preserved their language and traditions in the face of immense challenges”. Over the years, the Wolastoqey language has been displaced by English and is threatening to go extinct. However, Roseanne refuses to allow that to happen, and has been an incredible advocate fighting for its survival. Roseanne has also translated many children’s books and has written a book herself about a family member.

The Early Childhood Literacy award goes to Myriam Raiche Landry. Myriam Raiche Landry is an exceptional educator who is deeply committed to improving literacy and French language for young children in the Miramichi, Rogersville, and the Baie-Saint-Anne regions. Myriam received her diploma in early childhood education in 2023. Since then, one of her most outstanding projects has been working with 4-year-olds from the Carrefour Communautaire Beausoleil childcare center to help them create their own book. All of the illustrations and content in the book were created by the children, who were thrilled to see the results of their creativity and hard work. Myriam’s dedication and efforts in ensuring that the next generation of French speakers have all the tools they need to succeed is truly inspirational.

Jeff Somers is the recipient of the Published Author award. His book, Avery and the Special Shoe, is about an active and spunky little girl who, like thousands of other kids, happens to be living with Cerebral Palsy. When his daughter was diagnosed with the disease, Jeff wanted to find stories, books, and toys that would help her learn and process what it meant to live with the condition. However, there weren’t many out there where she could see herself in the story. And so, Avery and the Special Shoe was born. Jeff is also an East Coast Music Award and Covenant Award nominated musician from Moncton, and leads the music team at Lewisville Baptist Church.

We have two winners in the Community Literacy Program category.

Established in 2008, the Central Valley Adult Learning Association (CVALA) is committed to adult education and literacy. Each year, over 200 individuals benefit from their free programs which are tailored to meet diverse learning needs, including Canadian Adult Education Credential (formerly the GED) prep classes and digital literacy programs. Many learners who find themselves directionless have relied on CVALA’s programs to ensure they can continue their learning journey.

The Owens Art Gallery in Sackville at Mount Allison University provides a multifaceted series of education and outreach programs that support children, youth, adults, and many more. Under the guidance of Lucy MacDonald, Curator of Education and Community Outreach, the Owens Art Gallery has built a community literacy program dedicated to removing barriers to art and improving visual, museum, and cultural literacy. These programs are grounded in a simple, yet powerful idea: learning is easier and deeper when you feel like you belong. In 2023 to 2024, the gallery’s various programs reached 3,405 people, including 2,036 children and youth.

The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick provides leadership to advance literacy, lifelong learning, and essential skills for all citizens through partnerships and collaboration with government, educational institutions, business, labour, community organizations and individuals.

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For more information contact Lynda Homer, LCNB Executive Director:
Phone: 506-457-1227
Email: lcnb@nbliteracy.ca

We are so excited to announce “Talk, Sing, Read Everyone, Everywhere!” in partnership with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development!

We will be delivering training to 400 early childhood educators over the next 4 years, starting with 100 in the anglophone sector this fall. This training will include coaching and mentoring so educators can feel confident in their skills.

“The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick is a recognized leader in advancing literacy in New Brunswick, with over 35 years of experience supporting literacy from birth to older adults,” said our President, Brent Melanson. “We have been a strategic partner for literacy in many areas, and we are certainly invested in providing training for early childhood educators.”

Read on about this amazing project here: https://www2.gnb.ca/…/news/news_release.2024.04.0174.html

Adult Literacy Week is an occasion to acknowledge the triumphs that many New Brunswickers have and celebrate the importance of life-long learning in our lives.

We were thrilled to receive 25 wonderful and inspiring submissions this year! Thank you to each learner who took the time to send in a submission.

Read all of the wonderful essays in our ebook by clicking here!

We are excited to now announce the winners (click on their name to read their essay):