Literacy Nova Scotia held its Annual General Meeting on June 17th via zoom. Two new members, Jayne Holmes and Donald Brooks, have joined the board. We’re excited to be implementing our new three year strategic plan. It’s amazing all that we were able to accomplish over the last year with the support of our funders and partners. The annual report highlights this work.

We are entering the second year of our contract with the Department of Labour and Advanced Education, Skills and Learning Branch, Adult Education. We will continue to support the NSSAL funded Community Learning Organizations through grants such as the PD Fund, IT Fund, and NSSAL Community Grants. The deadline for the new NSSAL Community Grant applications is Sept 17th. The LNS Resource Hub should be the go-to for all your LAE and LNS resources including those for the Practitioner Training Program and the Wednesday Webinars. The Practitioner Training Program modules will be offered again starting in October. The webinar series will continue this fall starting on October 20th for 8 Wednesdays. We’re certainly hoping that we’ll be able to celebrate Adult Learners’ Week in person in 2022. In the meantime, we have printed the learner stories and will be distributing these books in the fall.

Our new projects under the Department of Labour and Advanced Education, Skills and Learning Branch, Workplace Initiatives are both underway. We are looking for a curriculum writer/consultant for the Long Term Care project. This will involve developing new content and incorporating existing content into an eight week training program for entry level positions, a 35-hour training program for mentors and the accompanying facilitator manuals.

I have been participating in a stakeholder consultation on the Labour Market Transfer Agreement (LMTA). The LMTA Annual Report of 2019/20 is an integrated summary and analysis of the programs and services funded by the Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) and the Workforce Development Agreement (WDA). Both agreements are characterized by similar mandates and work in tandem to address Nova Scotia’s current and projected long-term labour market issues.

I participated in learning webinars offered by the Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia. If you’ve missed these, you can catch the recordings for them at https://www.csc-ns.ca/black-history-learning-journey/ and https://www.csc-ns.ca/decolonization-learning-journey/.

Staff availability will be dependent on vacation schedules and work obligations over the summer months. We’ll see you in September!

Webinar Wednesdays: October 20 - December 8, 2021
Labour and Advanced Education and Literacy Nova Scotia are pleased to offer eight 90-minute webinars allowing for presentation, interactive activities and discussion. These sessions are funded by Labour and Advanced Education and support the NSSAL system. Webinar descriptions are on the LNS website. Questions? Contact Marie David.

Literacy Nova Scotia provides scholarship and bursary awards each year for adult learners who are upgrading their education.

To qualify for the LNS Scholarship Award, you must be a Nova Scotian who:

• left the public school system before completing grade 12
• has received the GED or High School Diploma through an approved adult learning program
• has been accepted or is returning to university part-time or full-time OR a community college program OR a certified technical, trade or private trade school program in the fall of the year the scholarship is available. The program must be at least eight (8) months long

To qualify for the LNS Bursary Award, you must be a Nova Scotian who:

• left the public school system before completing grade 12 and has not yet completed grade 12
• will be attending an adult learning program in the fall of the year the bursary is available

Those applying for the scholarship or bursary have to also send in a Teachers Recommendation.

Application deadline for LNS Scholarship and LNS Bursary: Monday, November 29, 2021 @ noon  Read more

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Cumberland Adult Network for Upgrading in Amherst offers free classes for adult learners in person and online in GED Prep, Focused Skill Development and more. For more information, email office.canu@gmail.com

July 8, 2021, 2:00 - 3:00pm AT
Learn strategies to achieve positive outcomes in leadership continuity, organizational sustainability, and the well-being of everyone involved in transitions. This webinar is offered by Charity Village. Register

July 15, 2021, 2:00 - 3:00pm AT
In this webinar from Charity Village, learn about the key trends, insights, and strategies you need to know to stay ahead, raise funds and engage your donors moving forward into 2022. Register

July 20, 2021, 2:30 - 3:30pm AT
This webinar from Alphaplus explores how collaborative activities using interactive whiteboards, online documents and user groups can enhance learning activities and engagement in online environments. Register

July 29, 2021, 2:00pm AT
Learn how to use resiliency traits to strengthen relationships and address conflict in the workplace, and create a healthy and safe working environment. This webinar is offered by Charity Village. Register

August 17, 2021, 2:30pm AT
Explore how to curate online resource collections that extend learning and enhance critical thinking skills in asynchronous remote learning environments. This webinar is offered by Alphaplus. Register

August 19, 2021, 2:00 - 3:00pm AT
What is the long-term impact of COVID-19 on health, social relations, and work life? This webinar from Charity Village offers tips on how to use your pandemic learnings to evaluate change and develop strategies to find a new path forward. Register

September 8, 2021, 2:00 - 3:00pm AT
The innovation and design helix will provide participants with the pathways to apply design thinking to rapidly shifting contexts. Learn how the design helix can be used for leveraging capacity within your organization in this webinar from Tamarack Institute.  Register

September 14, 2021, 2:30pm AT
Do Learning Management Systems (LMS) work in the literacy and basic skills field? Do they enhance blended learning outcomes for learners? This webinar is offered by Alphaplus. Register

September 23, 2021, 2:00 - 3:00pm AT
Learn about the fundamentals and strategies of donor stewardship, with a focus on strategies to efficiently use staff time. This interactive webinar from Charity Village is best suited for staff and volunteers of nonprofits who are new to fundraising. Register

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LNS Resource Hub is the place for literacy practitioners who teach, tutor or mentor adult learners in Nova Scotia to share and co-develop teaching resources and discuss best practices. This resource is fully funded by Labour and Advanced Education to support the NSSAL system. Recently uploaded resources:

• Health Literacy Workbooks from ABC Life Literacy Canada
• The Great Bear Sea Environmental Science Curriculum (grades 11 and 12)
• An Aboriginal Essential Skills Journey - Planting the Seeds of Growth
• Our Words, Our Ways: Teaching First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Learners

If you don't already have an account on the LNS Resource Hub, email Elaine Frampton to request an account registration code.

This downloadable workbook includes math word problems on calculating interest, etc., information on registered savings plans, and ideas on how to save money. Read more

Non-profit organizations, municipalities, schools and First Nations communities are eligible to apply for 2021-22 Wellness Funds to support new and innovative programs. Proposal submission deadline is October 15th, 2021 at 5:00pm. Read more

If you were unable to attend any of the webinars in the 15-part series from the Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia, you can find all the recordings here: Link to Recordings
CSCNS has compiled resources mentioned in each session recommended by the hosting team and numerous Elders and Knowledge Sharers. You're invited to dig deeper into any of the topics covered to continue your learning: Additional Resources

A board chair and executive director (ED) can be a great combination. It is a pairing that we tend not to think much about when wondering how to improve a non-profit’s governance practices. Read more

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ABC Life Literacy Canada - June 2021
As I Was Saying - June 2021
CALP Connections - Summer 2021
Decoda Literacy Solutions - June 2021
Future Skills Centre - May 2021
Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick - May & June 2021
Tamarack Institute - June 2021
Village Vibes - June 2021
Volunteer Canada News - June 2021
World Education / U.S. - July 2021