201 11456 Jasper Ave. NW Edmonton, AB T5K 0M1 Toll Free: 1-800-421-7323 Phone: 780-421-7323 Fax: 780-421-7324 Email: [email protected] www.famlit.ca Read, Laugh, Rhyme, Learn, Write, Play Annual Report Designed by: Board of Directors 2009 Dr. Eric Newell, Honorary Chair David Hiebert, Chair Maie Kellerman, Vice Chair Our Vision: Randy Boissonnault, Past Chair Sheryl Coonan, Treasurer A healthy, literate society Mitchell Flaman where all are able to Dwayne Lysak* contribute and succeed. Sharon McMullan-Baron Dr. Heather Raymond Our Mission: Esmond Sanders Judy Tetreau The Centre for Family Literacy builds, develops and *Retired in May 2009 improves literacy with families and communities. 1 Moving Forward – A Message from Our Leaders First of all, on behalf of the Board, we We thank all who have contributed this It is a privilege for me to join such a • Thanks to ATB Financial, Phyllis A. Arnold would like to extend a warm welcome to past year – volunteering, partnering, successful team at this time, in particular Learning Fund, Jim Hutton and An Jonna Grad, our new Executive Director, funding and giving of your personal time, as we eagerly look forward to hosting over Evening of Wine and Words fundraising who took up her position in June 2009. talent and treasure. Your help makes the 500 international delegates who will be in event a new C.O.W. (Classroom on Jonna comes to us with over 13 years Centre what it is! Edmonton for the National Family Literacy Wheels) bus has replaced the one put experience in the not-for-profit sector, Conference in 2010. Many thanks to out to pasture this year. primarily in social services and education. David Hiebert Kimberley Onclin, Associate Executive • Our new Dollars and $ense program got Her background and experience reflect a Board Chair Director and Maureen Sanders, past under way to rave reviews from the first strong belief in building on the strengths Executive Director for their outstanding session’s participants. of individuals, families and communities, leadership in organizing a world-class which fits well with the Centre’s values program. The conference will highlight the Many thanks to everyone for your support and mission. pivotal importance of family literacy and and commitment to the mission of family how far it has come from inception. literacy during this time of transition. I look The entire staff and the management forward with anticipation to 2010. team of Kimberley Onclin, Kim Chung and My first few months have been Donna Lemieux are to be commended on rewarding as the Centre continued to Jonna Grad their hard work during this transition and move forward on a number of fronts: Executive Director their continued focus on the mission and work of the Centre. • We piloted two Workplace Family Literacy Projects, one in Taber and one As Alberta continues to face economic in Brooks. challenges, the Centre strives to remain • Evaluations from the first 36-week centered on achieving the goal of building, Learning Together program indicated developing and improving literacy within marked improvements for both parents’ families and communities. This often and children’s literacy skills. means developing innovative approaches as well as working diligently with our partners; something we have been doing throughout our history. 2 3 Learning Together “I knew how important literacy was to at other programs that I was not allowed improving one’s future, it had certainly to speak my native Filipino in my own improved mine, but I did not know how to home,” says Paul Calapre. “At Learning pass on the love of reading to my son … Together, they explained more about This program has given me the tools I need the school system, and that having my to be a good parent and make sure that children embrace two cultures and speak literacy is a priority…,” one parent wrote. two languages is a positive thing.” “Literacy is a life skill and Centres like yours help the rest of us remember to never stop “Meanwhile, in another room, the learning.” children learn through play, with a focus on literacy,” says Janice Schneider, Cathy Antoniuk enrolled in the Learning Learning Together coordinator. “We Together program to help her daughter believe that by empowering children to overcome the shyness that had, up to this make good choices, they will be successful point, dominated her young life. “We learners into the future.” came away with much more,” she says. “We created a network of lasting Every two weeks, the children and their friendships and the instructors provided parents join together in literacy and so many good learning tools based on learning activities so the adults can practice participants’ needs.” their new skills with facilitators nearby. Following the recommendation of “Many of our parents from last year are longitudinal research conducted on the now enrolled in other adult education original 12-week program, the Centre now classes,” says Ashima. “It seems we have offers Learning Together for 36 weeks. opened the door to lifelong learning.” The research also confirmed the powerful effect of parents’ literacy levels on their children’s reading ability before starting school. “The additional weeks allow us to be more intentional about increasing the parents’ literacy skills,” says Ashima Sumaru, adult facilitator. Twice a week 15 adults and their pre- school children attend half-day sessions. The adults learn many different skills, including how to incorporate literacy into their child’s everyday life. “I had been told 4 5 What’s your bottom line? Do you: Evaluations on the first eight-week classes • understand this headline; or did you go were positive. One participant indicated he to the ‘bottom line’ of this page? had achieved his goal “to learn more about • know how to pay bills using the internet, good and bad credit and figure out how to or get cash using an ATM? budget better.” The only complaints from • have a handle on the ROI and participants: class times are too short and management fees of your retirement eight weeks is not long enough. investments? • understand every line on your pay stub The Centre for Family Literacy is and utility bill? collaborating with the City of Edmonton and others in order to share concerns, In our fast paced world, where ‘cattle resources and expertise in the area of chutes’ lined with restless clients leave financial literacy. Dollars and $ense is bank tellers little time to explain details, funded through a Government of Alberta and calling a utility company sends you on Foundational Learning grant. a wild chase to press first this number and then that symbol, the Centre for Family Literacy has a program to answer these questions and more. Dollars and $ense is an eight-week program delivered at four levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced and English language learners. “The goal,” says Natasha Butt, instructor with the program, “is to help people understand the world of finance so they can manage their own money, take advantage of opportunities and be aware of possible scams.” From simple math skills and money safety to learning the jargon used in Canada, financial literacy makes a difference in the lives of individuals and their families. 6 7 Program Statistics Adult and Family Programs Learning Together Adult Participants 6,367 Parents improve their skills and help their In partnership with community organizations, preschool children become successful Child Participants 7,167 our programs support language and literacy learners. development within a family context. The Centre for Family Literacy Adult Tutor Program Books for Babies Trained volunteers work with adults with provides a wide range of adult Encourages parents to share books with low literacy skills. and family literacy programs their infants. in Edmonton, as well as Financial Literacy Courses training, resources, information Rhymes that Bind Adults learn the basics in math, money, Promotes oral language development in budgeting, banking services, credit and debt. and awareness across Alberta infants and toddlers. and Canada. Books Offer Our Kids Success (B.O.O.K.S.) Training and Services Small group workshops designed for parents of preschool children. The Centre for Family Literacy, a leader in the family literacy field in Canada, shares its Literacy Classroom on Wheels (C.O.W. Bus) knowledge around the province and across A traveling library for parents and preschool the country through its resources, manuals, children in high-needs areas of the city. workshops and professional trainings. Storysacks The Centre provides training opportunities Parents and other community members for family literacy practitioners and others create props that enhance selected books. working with families through: Help Your Child to Read and Write • Family Literacy Training Institute Parents of elementary school-aged • Family Literacy Regional Network children learn to build their children’s • Food for Thought confidence in reading and writing. • Online Foundations in Family Literacy Alberta Prairie Classroom on Wheels In 2009, staff responded to thousands of (C.O.W. Bus) inquiries about family literacy from local, Builds awareness of family literacy in rural provincial and national programs and and urban Alberta communities. organizations. 8 9 “For most of us, the absolute best part of the evening was listening to Jim (Cuddy) and Greg (Keelor) perform,” says Bob Bowhay. “It’s such an intimate setting, you feel like they’re in your living room – what a treat.” Wine and Words Jim Cuddy, of Blue Rodeo fame, writes song lyrics, as does his partner in crime, Greg Keelor. And they were both on hand to share the importance of literacy at the second annual Evening of Wine and Words at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in May 2009. This was the second appearance at the event for Jim, and he once again stole the show.