Welcome back to a new year of learning! It’s time to renew your membership to keep up to date. Your membership runs from September 1st to August 31st. Individual membership is $10 and organizational is $75.

NSSAL Community Grant applications are due on September 17th. Expenses incurred after June 30th are eligible for this granting period pending on application approval. Guidelines and application forms are available on the website.

We’re excited to kick off this year’s webinar series on October 20th with Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe’s Resiliency 2.0. Information on the eight webinars can be found on the LNS website.

The deadline for scholarship and bursary applications is November 29th. We’re holding an online fundraiser A New Beginning-Scholarship/Bursary Fundraiser starting September 1st until November 29th to provide funding for these financial supports for learners.

The upcoming federal election is a time to have our concerns heard. Our organizations are ones which have an impact and do important work in society. Over the past year, some organizations have accessed emergency funds and helped to remove barriers for those disproportionately affected by the pandemic. You will find a template in this enews provided by the Community Foundation of Canada to their member organizations as part of their #drivenbycommunity campaign. They’ve highlighted five key non-partisan measures that present an opportunity to advance recovery efforts that are truly inclusive, driven by community, and long term.

1. The Government of Canada fully implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice, and honour the newly enshrined UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
2. Implement and scale-up existing anti-racism efforts and funding commitments to Black communities will ensure they have agency in defining their own future.
3. Investment in social infrastructure to ensure no one is left behind.
4. Unlock social finance to enable social purpose organizations to tackle some of the biggest social, economic, cultural and environmental challenges we face.
5. Reform and relax the existing rules on qualified donees now to unlock new resources to advance a recovery that is driven by community.

Another important resource specific to literacy is a discussion paper produced by Frontier College for their upcoming webinar on October 6th.

The LNS board meeting will be held on Sept 24th and 25th and we’re looking forward to meeting in person once again! Our focused efforts for the upcoming year will be aligned with our strategic plan. We will continue with our usual LAE funded projects: offering the NS Practitioner Training Certification, Professional Development Webinar Series, Adult Learners Week, NSSAL Community grants, PD & IT Funds, Resource Hub, and the Back to Work projects: Empowerment for Employment: Long Term Care and Essential Skills for NS Fisheries.

We are looking forward to closely working with our partners to ensure a successful year supporting the literacy community in NS.

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.

LNS membership fees were due on August 31, 2021. If you haven’t already renewed, please renew your membership or become an LNS member to retain access to our programs and services. These include supports to learners, practitioners, and organizations, printed resources and subscribed informational emails. Your support helps Nova Scotians access quality literacy and essential skills programs. It also ensures paid and volunteer practitioners have the skills they need, supports adult learners’ participation and promotes the value of literacy and essential skills to all Nova Scotians. Thank you for your support!

Congratulations to our 2021 NSPGI Learner Award Winners
Jordan Ogden, NSCC Burridge - 2021 Nova Learning Achievement Award
Christina DiVittorio, NSCC Marconi - 2021 NSPGI Learner Achievement Award
Read their bios


LNS Scholarships and Bursaries for Adult Learners
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

Register now for Practitioner Training modules scheduled for October 2021:
• Integrating IT into Your Teaching: October 11 - November 5
• What's Your Message? Relating to the Adult Learner: October 11 - November 5
• Teaching Math: Basic Principles: October 11 - November 5
Check out the Practitioner Training webpage for details on the program, modules, tuition schedule, and how to register for modules. Questions? Contact Marie David or call 1-800-255-5203. These modules are funded by Labour and Advanced Education to support the NSSAL system.
Registration Form for NSSAL Participants
Registration Form for Non-NSSAL Participants (Tuition Payers) 

NSSAL Community Grant Applications are due on Sept 17, 2021 at 4:30pm

NSSAL IT Fund: There are funds available for community-based learning organizations to purchase equipment and resources necessary for the delivery of NSSAL’s Adult Learning Program. Read more information on criteria and application process. The NSSAL IT Fund is funded by Labour and Advanced Education to support the NSSAL system.

Is there a PD opportunity that would benefit your learning organization?
Apply to the NSSAL PD Fund. Online learning opportunities are eligible. A new learning narrative template has been added. The NSSAL PD Fund is funded by Labour and Advanced Education to support the NSSAL system.

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November 3, 2021 at 7:00pm AT
Our annual fundraiser for literacy will be held via Zoom. You will hear powerful, personal accounts from adult learners whose lives have been changed for the better because of the work of Literacy Nova Scotia and its partners. Read more

September 8, 2021
Each year, International Literacy Day is celebrated on September 8th to raise awareness about the importance of literacy and adult learning around the world. The theme for 2021 is Literacy for a human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide. Read more

September 9, 2021 at 2:00pm AT
This webinar will provide participants with an overview of the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential – what it is, how to get started, eligibility requirements, filling out the application, cost, and more. Register

Workshop 1: Applying Innovation and Design for What’s Next | September 23, 2021 at 2:00 - 5:30pm AT
Workshop 2: Applying Innovation and Design for What’s Next | October 21, 2021 at 2:00 - 5:30pm AT
This webinar series from the Tamarack Institute will explore innovation and design tools, products, supports and systems we need as we reflect on the impact the pandemic has had on us and our organizations. Register

September 13, 20 & 27, 2021
This three-part virtual workshop is designed specifically to build the capacity of Collective Impact backbone staff and leaders. Participants will leave with a solid understanding of how to translate the theory of Collective Impact into practice and have access to tools and resources to create and lead successful Collective Impact efforts. Register

September 23, 2021
Skills for Success Day (formerly Essential Skills Day) is an annual initiative taking place each September to acknowledge the skills needed to succeed in learning, work and life: reading, writing, numeracy, digital, problem solving, communication, collaboration, adaptability, creativity and innovation.

September 29, 2021 at 2:00 - 3:00pm AT
What are the dynamic and shifting challenges that organizations and Canada’s charitable sector will face in a post-pandemic world? This webinar includes a discussion of the unique roots and history of the sector and how it has shaped the current state of the sector. Register

October 5, 2021 at 2:00 - 3:00pm AT
This webinar includes a panel discussion about how the literacy sector has navigated times of crisis, lessons learned and the different ways they’ve found to support their learners. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience. After the webinar, all registrants and attendees will be given a link to the webinar recording and a copy of the slide deck.
Guest panelists:
Karen Blair, Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County (Nova Scotia)
Louise Lalonde, Centre Moi j'apprends (Ontario)
Margaret Sutherland, Decoda Literacy Solutions (British Columbia)
Register

October 6, 2021 at 2:00 - 3:30pm AT
COVID-19 and lockdowns have had an impact both on the Canadian economy and on individuals’ economic status. As Canadian workers look to re-enter the COVID recovery workforce or transition to new, post-pandemic careers, literacy skills will play an important role. The National Forum is a free virtual event moderated by Frontier College President & CEO, Stephen Faul. Read more   Discussion paper

October 6 - 7, 2021
In this live, online national conversation, Tamarack’s Learning Community will gather to discuss how to rebuild social connection after the COVID pandemic. Registrants will join others in conversation through one of four Masterclass streams. In each stream, you will dive deep into the topic through six modules that will be divided up over two days. 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. If you don't already have an account on the LNS Resource Hub, email Elaine Frampton to request an account registration code.

Support tools and promotional/social media materials for Skills for Success Day, September 23 are available free for download. Resources

This workbook from ABC Life Literacy Canada helps literacy practitioners engage adult learners in civic literacy leading up to the federal election on September 20th, 2021. Resource
The Guide to Voting online course is available at the ABC Skills Hub, and contains online versions of all activities in the workbook.

The upcoming election is a crucial time for community foundations and nonprofits to work towards a just COVID-19 recovery. This Driven by Community Election resource from the Community Foundations of Canada can be used to support your orgamizations' outreach activities. Resource  Candidates letter template

Frontier College and Elections Canada have provided digital resources to groups that face barriers to voting, are learning how to register to vote or are discovering how to work in the election. Resources.

Learners can now access the Banking Basics and Spending Plans Money Matters workshops in an online course on the ABC Skills Hub.

The REaDY Program (Rural Employment and Development for Youth) is designed for youth 15 to 30 years to develop employment skills. Read more

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PGFL was created in 2002 to recognize Peter Gzowski’s contribution to the adult literacy cause in Canada by supporting his fundraising program, the PGI for Literacy. The Foundation manages an endowment that provides funding to support the national co-ordination activities of the PGIs, which were founded in 1986. Held annually across Canada, over 40,000 people have taken part in PGI events since 1986, and more than $15 million has been raised for literacy programs. Volunteers are needed to serve on the PGFL national Board of Directors – people who care about the literacy challenges facing our country. The term of office begins in November 2021. To apply, please submit a covering letter and resume to Brigid Hayes, PGFL Chair at brigid.hayes@rogers.com   Director Position Posting   Website

Tamarack Institute is seeking a proven entrepreneur and savvy business leader with a bold and inspiring vision to be their next Co-CEO. They will be a skillful relationship builder who inspires confidence, embodies a commitment to racial equity and justice, and drives change through critical and timely collaborations. As an exceptional leader who has led large organizational transformation and growth, the individual will be people-centred with an optimal blend of strategy, operations management, financial acumen, and innovation. The Co-CEO position will commence in January 2022. Contact tamarack.ceo@gmail.com   Job Description

ABC Life Literacy Canada - August 2021
As I Was Saying - August 2021
CALP Connections - Summer 2021
Communities Ending Poverty Newsletter
Frontier College - August 2021
Literacy Council of New Brunswick - August 2021
Volunteer Canada News - August 2021
World Education / U.S. - August 2021