For immediate release

Fredericton, May 27^th, 2025 – The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick is announcing the retirement of its Executive Director, Lynda Homer.

Lynda has been Executive Director since 2015, with several years of service being both President and Board Member. She brought an incredible amount of experience and knowledge to the Literacy Coalition, and has been a steadfast leader in literacy and essential skills over her career. During her time at LCNB, Lynda oversaw critical projects such as the Essential Skills for Atlantic Fisheries (ESAF) project, as well as its successor, Essential and Employability Skills – Health Sector (ESS-HS). Under her leadership, LCNB was recognized by ABC Life Literacy in 2020 in their Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award for LCNB’s Family Time Online project. Last year, Lynda was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her outstanding contribution and commitment to literacy in New Brunswick.

Lynda will be missed by the Coalition, its Board, and partners. The New Brunswick community of literacy volunteers wishes her luck and happiness in her future endeavors.

“I have worked with Lynda for a long time and she will be sorely missed,” said Brent Melanson, President of the Literacy Coalition. “She has always been the lynchpin of our organization. I wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.”

Susan Yarom, who has been with LCNB since 2018, has been appointed Acting Executive Director.

“Looking back on nearly a decade as Executive Director of the Literacy Coalition—and many more years in different roles before that—I’m filled with gratitude and a deep sense of pride,” Lynda said. “It’s been an unforgettable journey, working with so many dedicated and passionate individuals who care deeply about literacy in New Brunswick and beyond.  My heartfelt best wishes to everyone, especially to Susan Yarom as she steps into her new role as Acting Executive Director.”  

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, please contact:

Susan Yarom
Acting Executive Director
Tel.: 506.457.1227                                                                               
Email: lcnb@nbliteracy.ca

Our upcoming Literacy Gala Dinner and Auction has been rescheduled to October 16th, 2025. We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers and staff, as well as everyone who has purchased tickets and donated to the auction. We look forward to seeing you in October!

Fredericton, April 16, 2025 – The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick will be celebrating New Brunswick Literacy Day by announcing the winners of our 2025 adult learner essay contest. The 2025 theme was “Literacy Changes Lives” which led to many heart-warming stories from contestants speaking about a brighter future resulting from their adult learning program. Also, as part of our NB Literacy Day celebrations, all submissions will be featured on our website in our Adult Learners’ eBook.

The essay contest winners are:

Katrina Evans – 1^st place winner (English)
Denebe Josiane – 1^st place winner (French)
Jessica Nicholas – 1^st place winner (Indigenous)
Abigail Smith – Runner Up

Each contest winner will receive a $150 prize, while the runner-up will be awarded $75, and all recipients will also receive a framed certificate. Additionally, winners will be invited to read their essays at the LCNB Gala Literacy Dinner, which will take place this fall at the Delta Fredericton.

Literacy is crucial for the future of New Brunswick, according to Literacy Coalition President Brent Melanson. He says that “at a time when literacy skills are increasingly critical for survival and participation in society, our work to support lifelong learning for children, youth and adults has never been more important”.

“New Brunswick Literacy Day is an occasion to acknowledge the triumphs that many New Brunswickers have had.” says Lynda Homer, Executive Director of the LCNB. “We need to celebrate the remarkable individuals who are making learning a priority in their lives, and the extraordinary adult literacy educators who are helping them to achieve their goals”.

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 or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Executive Director
Tel.: 506.457.1227                                                                               
Email: lcnb@nbliteracy.ca

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 24 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:

The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick is holding their annual Adult Learner’s Writing Contest!

The theme is “Learning Changes Lives”. Adult learners are invited to share their stories about why they returned to learning, how learning has changed their life or will change their life, and what their future goals may be. The stories will be featured on our social media during Adult Learner’s week and in an ebook which will be available on our website. The winner will receive a framed certificate as well as a $150 prize and may have the opportunity to read their submission at the 2025 LCNB Literacy Dinner and Auction.

Your story should be around 500 to 600 words. It should include:

• why you returned to learning
• how learning is changing your life or has changed your life
• your goals for the future
• your name and contacts (phone number, email and mailing address)
• name of your Learning Program
• your teacher’s name and contacts (email and phone)

The deadline for submissions is March 31st at 5:00 pm. Essays should be submitted by email to administration@nbliteracy.ca

To view the essays from last year’s contest, click here.

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La Coalition pour l’alphabétisation du Nouveau-Brunswick organise son concours annuel d’écriture pour apprenants adultes!

Le thème est « L’apprentissage change des vies ». Les apprenants adultes sont invités à partager leurs histoires sur la raison pour laquelle ils ont fait un retour aux études, comment l’apprentissage a changé leur vie ou est en train de changer leur vie et leurs objectifs futurs. Les soumissions seront présentées sur nos médias sociaux pendant la semaine des apprenants adultes et dans un ebook qui sera disponible sur notre site Web. Le gagnant recevra un certificat ainsi qu’un prix de 150$ et peut avoir l’occasion de présenter sa soumission au dîner de l’alphabétisation LCNB 2025.

La soumission doit être d’environ 500 à 600 mots. Il doit inclure:

• pourquoi vous êtes retourné aux études
• comment l’apprentissage a changé votre vie ou est en train de changer votre vie
• vos objectifs futurs
• votre nom et vos coordonnées (numéro de téléphone, courriel et adresse postale)
• le nom de votre programme d’apprentissage
• le nom et les coordonnées de votre enseignant (courriel et téléphone)

La date limite pour les soumissions est le 31 mars à 17h00. S’il vous plaît envoyez votre soumission à administration@nbliteracy.ca

Pour voir les soumissions de l’année dernière, cliquez ici.

Family Literacy Day is on January 27th, and this year’s theme is “Learn to be Green, Together”.

To celebrate, we’re holding a contest on our Facebook page! You can enter for a chance to win a gift card to the bookstore of your choice – $50 gift card and two $25 gift cards will be up for grabs!

To enter, all you need to do is:

1. LIKE our page by clicking here.
2. COMMENT on this post and tell us how you’re celebrating! Will you visit the local library? Or make a craft from recycled items?
3. BONUS ENTRY: you can be entered again by sending us a picture of you and your family doing something green together! Send your photo to administration@nbliteracy.ca or tag us on Facebook!

Contest closes on January 31st!

We are so excited to announce “Talking, Singing, Reading…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