If you are a director of an adult learning program (including newcomers learning program) in New Brunswick, we need to hear from you!

LCNB is partnering with co-researcher, Wendy Kraglund-Gauthier, Yorkville University, to conduct an adult literacy research project funded by the NB Innovation Fund and NB Social Policy Research Network. The purpose of the project is to identify the barriers to accessing literacy learning programs that adults, (including newcomers), experience in terms of access and engagement, program relevance, and delivery methods. Our inquiry will deepen the understanding of the contexts in which organizations and service providers design and deliver adult literacy programs and provide insight from learners who access those programs.

Click here for the online questionnaire for directors.

On November 30^th, 2021, the Literacy Coalition held its first ever virtual Peter Gzowski Invitational celebration. The event was held on Zoom, with over 40 people in attendance.

Our annual PGI event is our main and most important fundraiser, which we were unable to hold last year due to Covid. Therefore, we are so pleased to say we exceeded our fundraising goal, raising $5,375 for literacy in New Brunswick. We thank everyone who donated for their generosity!

We also want to thank our incredible sponsors for this event: Bringloe Feeney LLP, Chuck Cartmill of LED Roadway Lighting, Plugged-IN CPA, and Passiv Inc.!  Thanks also to all of our donors and participants for your kind support.

This year’s recipient of the Peter Gzowski Award went to Ashley Counsell. This award recognizes Ashley’s tireless work and dedication to our PGI events and literacy over the years.

The event also featured some well-known guests: Rick Mercer as the National MC, author Louise Penny who gave some wonderful remarks, and fantastic musical guests Ashley MacIsaac, Twin Flames, and Stephen Fearing.

Lynda Homer, LCNB’s Executive Director, was the coordinator of our event and our local host. Jordan Trethewey, Fredericton’s Poet Laureate, read his poem titled “The Wolastoq River’s Council”, dedicating it to Fredericton’s Mayor, Kate Rogers.

As always, a very special part of the celebration was dedicated to honouring our incredible adult learners. This year’s winners were Martin Comeau and Jessica Baillie. Martin was one of the winners of the Adult Learner Essay Contest, and he shared a bit of his inspiring story about how learning changed his life. Jessica is part of our Essential & Employability Skills – Health Sector project, and she spoke about how learning and essential skills have improved her life and wellbeing. Congratulations to both of our inspiring award recipients!

Since our first 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, including support for our schools, libraries and community groups. While it may have looked a bit different this year, we were so pleased that we could celebrate literacy safely!

Thank you to everyone who donated, registered and attended this amazing event!

With the conclusion of the ESAF project, we are pleased to release the final report and evaluation.

The final report, available in both French and English, details the project’s methodology and training model. It then goes on to document the results of both mentors and participants across both cohorts, as well as lessons learned, takeaways, and success stories.

Click on the links below to read the reports:

Essential Skills for Atlantic Fisheries (ESAF) – Final Report

Compétences essentielles pour les pêches de l’Atlantique (CEPA) – Rapport final

The final evaluation report, available in both French and English, summarizes the key evaluation process and outcome findings. Read it by clicking the link below:

Essential Skills for Atlantic Fisheries (ESAF) Project – Final Evalution Report

Compétences essentielles pour les pêches de l’Atlantique (CEPA) – Rapport d’évaluation définitif

August 4, 2021 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

With no funds from the annual Peter Gzowski Invitational (PGI) available this summer, the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick instead used funds from the Marian Zaichkowski Endowment Fund to provide grants to nine literacy programs which struggled due to the pandemic.

LCNB was unable to host its annual PGI event this year due to COVID-19. This meant that many programs across New Brunswick missed out on PGI funding.

11 applications for grants were received and a total of $11,000 was distributed to the following programs: Friends of the Fredericton Public Library, Carleton North Imagination Library Inc., Upper Miramichi Community School Library Summer Tutoring Program, Sussex Regional Library Summer Program, Adult Literacy Fredericton, MGR Robichaud Public Library, Hampton Alliance for Lifelong Learning Summer Family Literacy Program, Commission de la Bibliothèque Carrefour Beausoleil, and Bibliothèque publique de Grand-Sault.

“Despite not being able to host our annual PGI this year, we were glad to be able to support these very worthy literacy programs that have struggled financially due to COVID,” said Executive Director, Lynda Homer. “The work they do is extremely important.”

The distributed funds are being used for everything from community story walks to one-on-one tutoring programs.

“We are very appreciative of the literacy grant and are doing really great things with the grant,” said Krista Higgins, Library Assistant at the Upper Miramichi Community Library. “We have great students enrolled and are seeing really positive results–and very thankful parents, guardians, and students.”

The LCNB Endowment Fund was established in 2004 and renamed the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick Marian Zaichkowski Endowment Fund in 2008 to honour the founding chair.

“We look forward to when we can host the PGI again, but for now we are proud to be able to distribute nine grants,” Homer said.

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

(506) 457-1227 or toll-free: 1 (800) 563-2211 or email: lcnb@nbliteracy.ca

Additional links:

Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick: https://nbliteracy.ca/