Greetings from LCNB’s President!
The mission of the Literacy Coalition is to provide leadership to advance literacy, life-long learning, and essential skills for all New Brunswickers through partnerships and collaboration with others.
As an organization, we continue to deliver literacy programs to communities across the province. Over the past year, these have included our annual Adult Learner’s Writing Contest, book giveaways, and distribution of our “Let’s Learn!” booklets for parents in both official languages and Indigenous languages. We have donated books and Chromebooks to newcomer Ukrainian families with the help of the Multicultural Association of Fredericton as part of our Family Literacy Day celebrations. We have also maintained our Referral Service – Free Learn Line and our Essential Skills for Atlantic Fisheries and the Health Sector website to share information and materials developed in both official languages.
Through our meetings, newsletter, and social media, we share knowledge, information and best practices about literacy which result in more effective delivery of programs.
This year was the 25th anniversary of our Dr. Marilyn Counsell Literacy Awards, which we held in person for the first time since 2019. The Awards took place on October 3rd, 2023, at the Old Government House in Fredericton. It was truly a special evening, and we were pleased to recognize seven remarkable individuals and organizations who have made exceptional contributions to literacy.
We were delighted to win an Honourable Mention Innovation Award from ABC Life Literacy for our Family Time (Family Literacies) Online program. The award recognizes organizations that develop innovative literacy programs in communities across Canada. We are very grateful to be recognized by this prestigious national organization.
After many years, our annual Gala Literacy Dinner and Auction will no longer be held under the PGI name, since the Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy has ended its affiliation with literacy groups. However, we will continue to host our major fund raiser and annual event, keeping the legacy of Peter Gzowski alive. Our next Gala Literacy Dinner and auction will be held in May of 2024, so be sure to keep an eye out for more details coming soon.
We are grateful to the Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy (PGFL) for all of their support, and for the opportunity to connect with fellow literacy organizations across the country over the years. It was this connection that drove the creation of the Literacy Champions Network, a group of literacy focused organizations with a shared commitment to improving literacy rates and advocation for increased literacy support. We are proud to be a part of this new Canada-wide network!
We have met with the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development to discuss potential partnerships. Our Executive Director has submitted several promising proposals for projects to benefit early childhood, family, youth and adult literacy in New Brunswick. We look forward to receiving a positive response from these proposals in the new year.
I’d like to recognize the incredible efforts from everyone on the Literacy Coalition team over the past year. Thank you to our Executive Director, Lynda Homer, and her dedicated staff: Susan Yarom, Administrative Assistant, and Communications Director, Peter Jewett.
Finally, thank you to our Board of Directors, who generously donate their time and experience to the management of this worthwhile organization. The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick is committed to fostering and improving literacy in this province and it would not be possible without our partner organizations and individuals like yourselves. We thank all of you for your continuous support.
Brent Melanson
President, Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick