Saskatchewan Literacy Network

A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5 ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015

Our Team Board of Directors Dorothy Hyde, President Delaney King, Vice-President Debora Rutherford, Secretary Gordon Li, Treasurer Ruth Barker Randy Belanger Rita Denis Phaedra Hitchings

Staff Karen Danielson, Executive Director Ollie Glemser, Finance Manager Desiree Harrison, Workforce & Community Literacy Shirley Larson, Administrative Assistant Naome Soleil, Benchmarks and Special Projects L to R: Rita Denis, Shirley Larson, Marilyn Stearns, Ruth Barker, Gordon Li, Karen Danielson, Her Honour the Hounourable Vaughn Solomon Marilyn Stearns, Family Literacy Development Schofield, Dorothy Hyde Learners Randy Belanger, Île-à-la-Crosse Gordon Li, Regina Lynda Richards, Swift Current

Contractors Desiree Harrison, Content Writer Nada Jerkovic, Content Writer Joanne LaBrash, Family Literacy Contracted Trainer Jessica Reiss, Action Research Network Alice Samkoe, Family Literacy Contracted Trainer Bonnie Simpson, Graphic Designer Leighton Tebay, Computer Systems Consultant Allan Quigley, Saskatchewan Action Research Network Shannon Wright, Website Designer

Funders and Supporters Cameco Corporation Community Initiatives Fund Essential Skills Ontario GoodLife Kids Foundation Government of Saskatchewan, Provincial Library and Literacy Office, Ministry of Education Government of Saskatchewan, Apprenticeship and Saskatchewan Literacy Network Workforce Skills, Ministry of Economy Institute for Cross-cultural Exchange 11-2155 Airport Drive Muttart Foundation , SK S7L 6M5 Postmedia Raise-a-Reader Toll Free: 1-888-511-2111 Prosper Email: [email protected] SaskEnergy www.saskliteracy.ca SaskTel ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015

Message from the President

The 2014-2015 year has been a rewarding year with plenty of successful partnerships and projects. Thank you to the Saskatchewan Literacy Network staff for their commitment to delivering quality work in the advancement of literacy and essential skills in the province. At this time, I would like to welcome the additions of Delaney King and Phaedra Hitchings to the Saskatchewan Literacy Network Board of Directors and acknowledge the contributions of outgoing board members, Debora Rutherford and Ruth Barker.

The Saskatchewan Literacy Network is grateful for the support and ongoing commitment from our funders as we continue to promote and support literacy in Saskatchewan.

- Dorothy Hyde

Message from the Executive Director

This year at the Saskatchewan Literacy Network, we saw the development of new resources and workshops, updates on existing resources, developed new partnerships and connected with new and existing literacy and essential skills stakeholders throughout Saskatchewan and Canada.

Thank you to the Saskatchewan Literacy Network team, Board and Staff, for the hard work and dedication throughout this year. I look forward to building upon our success in the 2015-2016 year.

- Karen Danielson ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015

Literacy @ HOME For the Love of Reading Family Literacy Resource Series A family’s special journey of growing and learning

A total of 19,787 copies (print and electronic) of the Family Literacy

Resource Series were provided to Saskatchewan communities in 2014-2015. For the For the Love of Reading is a booklet for anyone who cares for or works Success at with children and gives suggestions on how to help your child discover the School Saskatchewan Literacy Network love of reading. For the Joy of Learning is a booklet for anyone who cares for or works with young children and gives ideas to help your child enjoy learning. For the Success at School provides families with encouragement and practical ideas to help their child be successful from preschool Saskatchewan Literacy Network through high school.

For the Joy of Learning Promoting Public Awareness of the Importance of Family Literacy

An important piece of our organizational work, the Saskatchewan Literacy Saskatchewan Literacy Network Network is dedicated to promoting the importance of family literacy and the value of participating in family literacy programs in the province. This work was done in numerous ways and took place in many communities throughout Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Literacy Network took part in International Literacy Day activities at the Pre-Cam Community School in La Ronge, presentations at the Awasis Conference held in Saskatoon and participated in the National Early Years Conference in Moose Jaw.

Postmedia Raise-a-Reader

The Saskatchewan Literacy Network worked in partnership with the Postmedia Raise-a-Reader this year to provide 69 communities across Saskatchewan with funds to enhance family literacy programs or initatives. The Postmedia Raise-a-Reader campaign exists to empower today’s children and families with tools to improve their reading skills.

The Saskatchewan Literacy Network supported the Postmedia Raise-a-Reader campaign through various events including the Bridge City Boogie and Queen City Marathon Health Expo.

Spider Man and Marilyn Stearns at the Queen City Marathon Health Expo. ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015

Literacy @ WORK

Strengthening Rural Canada

The Strengthening Rural Canada – Reforcer les communautés rurales du Canada is a research project about the human and social capital of rural, small towns and remote communities in Canada. This initiative is investigating the connections between human capital and rural growth in communities. The Saskatchewan Literacy Network with their partners, Decoda Literacy Solutions and Le Réseau pour le Développement de L’alphabétisme et des Compétences (RESDAC), will be working with six communities to examine how literacy and essential skills play a role in community development.

The Saskatchewan Literacy Network is very honoured to be working with the communities of Hudson Bay and Rosetown in this project. www.strengtheningruralcanada.ca

Cultural Foundations for Financial Literacy Mentorship Guide and Workshop Cultural Foundations for The Saskatchewan Literacy Network is pleased to provide the Cultural Foundations for Financial Financial Literacy Literacy mentorship guide and workshop to support the mentorship of newcomers to Canada in MENTORSHIP GUIDE

Prepared by: Saskatchewan Literacy Network financial literacy. Workshops are designed to provide mentors, peer-mentors, service providers, business professionals, and employers with mentorship skills that will enrich discussions with newcomers about financial literacy.

Thank you to those who participated in our consultation meetings and provided feedback.

2015 Skills Canada National Competition

On May 28th and 29th, Saskatoon hosted the 2015 Skills Canada National Competitions. The Saskatchewan Literacy Network was privileged to join ABC Life Literacy Canada in the promotion of the importance of the nine essential skills at The Essential Skills Zone. Furthermore, we participated in the “Essential Skills as the Foundation of Learning” live webcast panel discussion with Skills Canada and Saskatchewan Polytechnic, to discuss the nine essential skills and how they are critical for success for individuals looking to enter the workforce and throughout their careers. L to R: Heather Cosentino (ABC LIfe Literacy Canada - Communications Specialist), Jim Warrington (ABC Life Literacy Canada - Board Chair), Karen Danielson ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015

Literacy in the Community

2015 Saskatchewan Literacy Awards of Merit

The Saskatchewan Literacy Awards of Merit acknowledge the outstanding contributions of Saskatchewan citizens, organizations and businesses for the improvement and development of literacy and essential skills in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Literacy Network is pleased to acknowledge the recipients of the 2015 Saskatchewan Literacy Awards of Merit:

• Business Leadership in Literacy Award – KMPG, Saskatoon • Professional Leadership in Literacy Award – Mr. Mark Williment, La Ronge • Volunteer Service Award – Dr. Helen Christiansen, Regina • Cameco Literacy Learner Award and Bursary – Ms. Lucinda Nielsen, Rosthern

A special thank you to Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, for hosting the event on April 22, 2015 at Government House in Regina. We would also like to acknowledge The Honourable Don Morgan, Minister of Education, Jonathan Huntington, Lindsay Brittain, Dorothy Hyde, Ruth Barker and the 2015 Selection Committee for their contributions to this year’s Saskatchewan Literacy Awards of Merit. In addition, thank you for those who attended and for celebrating the achievements of literacy and essential skills in Saskatchewan with us.

L to R: Mark Williment, Helen Christiansen, Lisa Dunville - KPMG, Top: The Honourable Don Morgan, MInister of Education Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Lucinda Nielsen providing the Welcome Address for the Saskatchewan Literacy Awards of Merit.

Bottom: Lindsay Brittain, recipient of the 2014 Cameco Literacy Learner Award, providing the Learner Address at the Saskatchewan Literacy Awards of Merit. ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015

Saskatchewan Literacy Network’s 25th Anniversary Gala

This year, the Saskatchewan Literacy Network hosted a gala on October 29th to celebrate a quarter century of promoting and supporting literacy and essential skills in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Literacy Network team was honoured to share this silver celebration with great supporters of literacy and learning for life.

Thank you to our keynote speakers, Carey Rigby-Wilcox, Bryan Dilling, Kevin MacKenzie, Craig Sled and Steve Hogle. As well, thank you to our government partners, sponsors, attendees and the entire literacy community in Saskatchewan for making our 25th Anniversary Gala at Wanuskewin Heritage Park a success. Attendees at the 25th Anniversary Gala.

2014 Literacy Symposium

On October 29th and 30th, the Saskatchewan Literacy hosted a Literacy Symposium for members of the family literacy hubs and recipients of the Saskatchewan Community Literacy Fund. This learning exchange provided an opportunity for literacy stakeholders to engage in continuous learning, share expertise and build partnerships that will support the successful delivery of their literacy and essential skills programs their communities throughout the province.

Participants at the 2014 Literacy Symposium. ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015

Resources: This year, the Saskatchewan Literacy Network distributed a total of Resources in electronic and paper formats to communities throughout 33,721 Saskatchewan and Canada Our Reach: This year, through our various partnerships and initiatives to ensure quality literacy programming is accessible in Saskatchewan, we delivered: 216 27 Hours of Training Professional Development Opportunities delivered to 355 the following Literacy Practitioners Communities represented by the following Communities

Ile-la-Crosse

La Ronge

Loon Lake Cumberland House

Debden Whitefox Red Earth Spiritwood Lloydminster Prince Albert Carrot River Nipawin Melfort North Battleford Domremy Borden Cando Warman Landis Humboldt Biggar Saskatoon Sturgis Harris Rosetown Watrous Yorkton Eston Strasbourg Pasqua Fort Qu’Appelle Edenwold Lumsdsen Balcarres Cowessess First Nation Moose Jaw Balgonie Ochapowace Hazlet Broadview First Nation Swift Current Regina Whitewood Briercrest Wapella Maple Creek White Bear First Nation Weyburn Carlyle Estevan