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 2026 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 27th 2026 at 11:59pm. 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 2026.

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 27 mars 2026 à 23 h 59. 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 coming up on January 27th, with the theme being “Make mealtime family learning time.” Getting everyone together for a meal is the perfect opportunity for learning, and it’s always more fun when you do it as a family!

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 post. Click here to be taken to the post on Facebook.
2. COMMENT and tell us about your family’s favourite meal, or how you will be making mealtime learning time!
3. BONUS ENTRY: you can be entered again by sending us a picture of your family’s mealtime! Send your photo to administration@nbliteracy.ca or tag us on Facebook!

Contest ends on January 27th at midnight!

This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Facebook/Meta.

On October 16th, the Literacy Coalition held its 2025 Literacy Dinner and Auction (formerly PGI) at the Delta Hotel in Fredericton. In 2022, LCNB held the last fundraiser to don the PGI name, but this important event will be continuing under a new name, and we are pleased to announce that it was a success!

The Honourable Claire Johnson, Minister of Education and Early Childhood development, gave inspiring opening remarks on behalf of the province.

This year’s Champion of Literacy was Gardiner MacDougall. One of the most accomplished hockey coaches in Canadian history, he is often referred to as the most “winningest” coach in Canadian men’s university hockey. Throughout his career, Gardiner has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the UNB President’s medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the King Charles Coronation Medal and induction into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
Off the ice, Gardiner fosters academic excellence, with more than 100 of his players achieving Academic All-Canadian honours. The Moncton Wildcats also promote the importance of literacy in their “Reading in Wild” program, which leverages their popularity to encourage children to read. In 2016, they reached the incredible milestone of a million books read through this program since its inception in 1998.

The Marian Zaichkowski Memorial Award was presented to LCNB’s recently retired Executive Director, Lynda Homer, for her outstanding work and dedication to literacy over her career. While at LCNB, she has led award winning projects, spearheaded many community initiatives, and made a difference in the lives of countless children, families, and adult learners. Lynda continues to give back to the community as President of Born to Read, a volunteer run organization giving their signature red bags of books to families of newborns.

The President’s Award was presented to Chuck Cartmill, founder and long time CEO of LED Roadway Lighting, for his incredible support of literacy both in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Under his leadership, LED Roadway Lighting has grown from a small start up to a global manufacturer with customers in more than 60 countries.
A long-time friend and supporter of LCNB, Chuck has shown exceptional generosity and unwavering support for our work.

As always, a special part of the evening was honouring and hearing from our award-winning adult learners, Katrina Evans, Abigail Smith and Ndenebai Josiane. Their awards were presented by LCNB’s President Brent Melanson, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Claire Johnson, and Colin Richardson from the Delta Fredericton.

“I would like to thank our generous sponsors and all who supported us by purchasing tickets, making donations and attending our Gala Dinner and Auction for Literacy. Thanks also to our co-chairs, Bob Scott and Ashley Counsell, and the entire Committee for all of their remarkable efforts in making this year’s event another success,” said LCNB President Brent Melanson.

Since the inaugural Peter Gzowski Dinner and Auction, the Literacy Coalition has raised more than 1.6 million dollars for literacy in New Brunswick.

“We are looking forward to hosting this fundraiser for many years to come,” said Acting Executive Director, Susan Yarom. “This event will continue to make a difference in the lives of children, families, and adult learners across the province.”

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For more information, please contact:

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

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