The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick (LCNB) is calling for nominations for the 2019 Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Literacy Awards. The awards recognize outstanding achievements of individuals or groups in the field of literacy, essential skills and lifelong learning. Awards will be presented to worthy recipients in the following categories: Early Childhood Literacy; Community Literacy Programs; Individual Outstanding Contributions to Literacy; Business/Corporate Literacy Initiatives; and Workplace Essential Skills.

“The 2019 Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Literacy Awards recognize those who work tirelessly to help ensure a better quality of life for all New Brunswickers, through the advancement of literacy, essential skills and lifelong learning.”

The deadline for nominations is Monday, October 1^st.

Nomination forms can be found here.

Version française ici.

Or you can find a downloadable version of both forms here.

The Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Literacy Awards began as The Lieutenant Governor’s Literacy Awards in 1998, and continued since 2003 through the generosity of the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick (LCNB). During her tenure as Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Trenholme Counsell focused on early childhood development, particularly early childhood literacy, in recognition of her life as a mother, family physician and New Brunswick’s first Minister of State for the Family, and later Minister of State for Family and Community Services. From 1997 to 2003 Her Honour delighted young children, parents and teachers by her Lieutenant Governor’s Story Hours, and by her children’s gallery at Old Government House. With the IODE and Les Dames d’Acadie, she succeeded in making Born to Read/Goût de lire a province-wide programme.

Established in 1998 by Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, former New Brunswick lieutenant-governor, senator, and past president of the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick (LCNB), these awards recognize outstanding achievements in the fields of literacy and essential skills. They are supported by funds generated by the Literacy Coalition’s annual Peter Gzowski (PGI) Literacy Dinner and Auction.

On May 7^th, 2019 over 200 literacy supporters gathered at the Delta Hotel in Fredericton for the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick’s annual Peter Gzowski Invitational. This year the event raised $57,000 for literacy in New Brunswick.

This year’s recipients of the Champions of Literacy Award were Diane and Bernard Lord.  Diane believes literacy is a cornerstone of early childhood development. She offered her time and support to the Born to Read and Le goût de lire initiatives as well as Family Day.

Bernard is the Chief Executive Officer of Medavie and became one of Canada’s youngest Premiers in 1999. He also oversees Medavie’s holistic approach which includes the Medavie Blue Cross sponsorship of Moncton’s Legs for Literacy Expo and Race. Bernard played an instrumental role in establishing Born to Read and Le got de lire.

The Marian Zaichkowski award was introduced this year to honour the memory of Marian and all the work she did for the coalition. Craig Manufacturing was the first recipient of the award. They were chosen due to their outstanding dedication to literacy over the past 65 years. One of their contributions was organizing a community library in Hartland. 

The Peter Gzowski Award went to Janet Parlee. The PGI award recognizes Janet Parlee’s unwavering support for literacy and the PGI. Particularly, her support for the live and silent auctions. 

The President’s Award was given to Office Interiors for their outstanding contributions to child and youth literacy.

As always, a special part of the evening was honouring hard-working adult learners with Adult Learner Awards. Kianne Nicholas-Perley, Samuel Côté-Larouche, Crystal Drew, and Gloria Clark were celebrated for showing exceptional performance and progress in their literacy programs.

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.

To view a photo gallery of this year’s dinner, follow this link:
http://www.nbliteracy.ca/pgi-2019-2/

“Returning to Learning Changes Lives”

Click here to read all of the 2019 Adult Learner essays in our eBook!

Adult Literacy Week is an occasion to acknowledge the triumphs that many New Brunswickers have and celebrate the importance of life-long learning in our lives.

 In conjunction with this week, the Literacy Coalition held their annual Adult Learners’ Writing Contest, with this year’s theme being “Returning to Learning Changes Lives”.  Congratulations to our essay contest winners and a sincere thank you to all who participated in the contest. Each essay contest winner will receive a $100 prize and a framed certificate at the Literacy Coalition PGI gala Literacy Dinner and Auction on May 7^th at the Delta Hotel in Fredericton.

2019 ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

Kianne Nicholas-Perley – Tobique Adult Learning Centre, Western Valley Adult Learning Association

Samuel Côté-Larouche – Classe d’alphabétisation du centre diocésain d’Edmundston

Crystal Drew – Community Adult Learning Program, Saint John Learn Exchange

Gloria Clark – Kingsclear Training Centre, Central Valley Adult Learning Association

We received submissions from over 30 contestants whose inspiring stories are featured here on our website.  Click here to read them all in our eBook!

Thanks to all for sharing your stories about how returning to learning has changed your life!

The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick’s Literacy Asset Map is an initiative to develop a user-friendly, province wide, French and English Community Literacy Asset map and Navigational Tool for Family and Early Childhood Literacy. This tool will provide a comprehensive, easily accessible contact list of programs, services, and supports focusing on the wide variety of early childhood literacy resources that are available through New Brunswick. Integral to the site, will be links to a wide variety of exemplary literacy and education resources and information for parents, educators, various service providers, and the general public. The project will culminate in a public awareness campaign to launch the tool.

 

Parents and caregivers with children aged between 0 and 5 living in New Brunswick were surveyed between January and February 2019 in order to find out how parents and families access information on early childhood development and parenting. 

To view the results click here