Our Essential Employability Skills – Health Sector (EES-HS) project has officially concluded. With the end of this pan-Atlantic project, we are excited to release the final report and evaluation.

Following the huge success of our Essential Skills for Atlantic Fisheries (ESAF) project, the Literacy Coalition piloted the Essential Employability Skills – Health Sector (EES-HS) project using the innovative ESAF model.

Led by the Literacy Coalition in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council and  PEI Literacy Alliance, the project prepared unemployed and underemployed participants for in-demand, entry-level positions in the health sector workforce. The goal was to train participants and bring them into entry level worker positions in the health care sector such as laundry, cleaners, servers, kitchen staff, etc.

A website for ESAF and EES-HS has been created. Click here to access it: www.essentialskillsatlantic.ca

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Le projet pilote Compétences essentielles d’employabilité dans le secteur de la santé (CEE-SS) était une initiative de collaboration et d’équipe à l’échelle de l’Atlantique. Le projet novateur CEE-SS a permis de fournir une formation ciblée à des participants sans emploi ou en situation de sous-emploi pour des postes de premier échelon en demande dans le secteur de la santé. Le projet CEE-SS combine des compétences spécialisées et générales pour préparer les participants à combler d’importantes lacunes en matière de main-d’oeuvre.

Le besoin élevé de travailleurs essentiels dans le secteur des soins de santé et dans de nombreux foyers de soins et d’établissements avec assistance est largement reconnu, et de nombreux employeurs ont de la difficulté à combler les postes vacants. La demande de services de soins de santé devrait bientôt dépasser l’offre de ressources humaines. Dans le cadre du projet CEE-SS, on a adopté une approche holistique, en formant à la fois les participants au projet et les gestionnaires du personnel des lieux de travail participants au Nouveau-Brunswick, à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador et à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard.

Le projet CEE-SS a été financé par l’Initiative nationale sur les compétences essentielles (INCE) du gouvernement du Canada, et dirigé par la Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick en partenariat, PEI Literacy Alliance et la Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council.

Un site Web pour Compétences essentielles pour les pêches de l’Atlantique (CEPA) et CEES-SS a été créé : https://www.essentialskillsatlantic.ca/fr/

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Click on the links below to read the reports:

• Essential Employability Skills – Health Sector: Final Report
• Compétences essentielles d’employabilité – secteur de la santé (CEE-SS) – Rapport final

• Essential Employability Skills – Health Sector: Best Practices
• Compétences essentielles d’employabilité – secteur de la santé (CEE-SS) – Les meilleures pratiques

• EES-HS Evaluation Report
• CEE-SS rapport d’évaluation définitif

A video of powerful testimonials from the EES-HS participants across the three provinces has been created.

Finally, an infographic in English and French was created for a snapshot view of the entire project.

On October 11^th, The Literacy Coalition held its gala PGI Literacy Dinner and Auction at the Delta Hotel in Fredericton – the first in-person PGI event since 2019. The event raised $38,000 for literacy in New Brunswick.

This year’s recipient of the Champion of Literacy Award was Gaëtan Thomas. While in a lifelong 38-year career at NB Power, Gaëtan has championed learning activities such as a reading program by Point Lepreau employees, the provincial Junior Achievement program, and the “Petits déjeuners de la péninsule acadienne” which ensure that every child gets a breakfast every morning.

The Marian Zaichkowski Award, was presented to Drs. David and Imelda Perley for their outstanding dedication to the promotion of Indigenous literacy and culture. The President’s Award was presented to Delta Hotels by Marriot Fredericton for their exceptional support as host location for our PGI’s and the PGI award went to Gus Mazzuca for his volunteer support and contribution to our PGI events over the years.

As always, a special part of the evening was honouring and hearing from our award-winning adult learners, Afraa Yako, Britny Gould, and Martin Comeau.

“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 PGI Committee for all of their remarkable efforts in making this year’s event a success,” said LCNB President Brent Melanson.

Lynda Homer, LCNB Executive Director, said ”Since our inaugural Peter Gzowski Dinner and Auction 16 years ago, the Literacy Coalition has raised more than $1.6 million dollars. Funds raised go directly to youth, adult, and family literacy programs around the province.”

While this year may be the final year for the Peter Gzowski name, the Literacy Coalition will
continue to host its major fundraiser for literacy, the Literacy Dinner and Auction, for many
years to come!

Celebrating the Final Peter Gzowski (PGI) Literacy Fundraising Event

After nearly four decades, the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick will be hosting the final Peter Gzowski Gala Dinner and Auction on Tuesday, October 11^th. Given Peter Gzowski’s incredible contributions to literacy it is only fitting that we throw an amazing going away party.

At this year’s event we will be honouring Gaëtan Thomas, who has made remarkable contributions to literacy in our province, with our Champion of Literacy Award. Other award recipients will be announced at the event. We will also hear from some exceptional adult learners who will share their personal stories.

We hope you will join us for this very special evening.

Event Information:

Date: Tuesday October 11^th
Time: Reception and Silent Auction at 6:00 pm with Dinner and Live Auction at 6:45pm
Location: Delta Marriott Hotel Ballroom, Woodstock Road, Fredericton NB

Tickets are $150 each or $1,200 for a table of 8. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick at lcnb@nbliteracy.ca or (506) 457-1227.

All funds raised are reinvested to youth, adult, and family literacy programs in New Brunswick.

With sincere gratitude from the New Brunswick PGI Fundraising Committee

Bob Scott, Event Co-Chair
Ashley Counsell, Event Co-Chair
Brent Melanson, President LCNB Board of Directors
Greg Gillis, LCNB Board Treasurer
Sharon White, Community Volunteer
Lynda Homer, Executive Director LCNB

The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick has released a new research report, Identifying Barriers Between Language Levels and Adult Literacy Learning.

The study, funded by the Adult Literacy Funding Program – New Brunswick Innovation Fund, outlines specific barriers to accessing literacy learning programs that adults – including newcomers – experience in terms of access and engagement, program relevance, and delivery methods.

Carried out from September 2021 to March 31, 2022, this inquiry deepens our understanding of the context in which organizations and service providers deliver adult literacy programs and provides valuable insights from learners who access those programs. The report presents the key findings from the study and eight recommendations to reduce barriers between language levels and adult literacy learning.

To read the full report, click here.