CALP Connections: March 2025
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunitues, Symposium Update, Call for Outstanding Contribution Award Nominations, and more...
A Message from Tanya Mercredi, Treasurer
Hello/Tansi!
I initially joined the CLN board to give back to an organization that benefited an entire system of hardworking, like-minded people, but I never expected how much I’d gain in return. Here are a few of my key takeaways:
Making a Real Impact – It’s one thing to support a cause; it’s another to help shape its future. Being part of big decisions and seeing real results happen is incredibly rewarding.
Personal & Professional Growth – I’ve gained leadership skills, tackled challenges, and learned more about strategy, teamwork, and problem-solving than I ever imagined. These lessons have benefited me in both my career and personal life.
Building Meaningful Connections – The people I’ve met—passionate, driven, and inspiring—have become friends, mentors, and collaborators. The relationships you build through board service are invaluable.
If you’ve ever thought about joining the CLN Board, I encourage you to take the leap. You have something valuable to offer, and the experience just might change you.
Are you interested? - Reach out at board@calp.ca ! Any one of the Board would be happy to talk with you.
Outstanding Contribution Award - Do you know someone in the CALP system who is an outstanding contributor and deserves this award?
The winner will be honoured at the 2025 Literacy & Learning Symposium. Nominations are open until March 14, 2025, and nomination packages are available on the CALP Portal or by clicking the button below.
Literacy & Learning Symposium 2025 Update
Dates: Tuesday, April 29 to Thursday, May 1
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton in Edmonton
Our Symposium 2025 Theme is: “Making Waves”
Get ready to make a splash!
Our theme for the 2025 Symposium is "Making Waves," and we couldn't be more excited to share it with you. This year, we're all about creating a lasting impact, inspiring fresh ideas, and breaking new ground. We're thrilled to unveil our dynamic logo that captures the energy and innovation of what’s to come.
ANNOUNCING TWO OF THE THREE CALPx Talks PRESENTERS
Our Symposium Planning Committee is excited to announce that we have selected two of our three CALPx Talks presenters for 2025!
About the Session:
In the spirit of TEDx Talks, on our main stage we have curated our own independently organized event called, “CALPx Talks”. This session will feature three, 15-minute speakers on thought-provoking topics as follows:
CALPx Talks Presenter
About Rebecca Bultsma
Rebecca Bultsma is an international keynote speaker and AI ethics researcher specializing in AI literacy and governance. She empowers educators and organizations through training, policy development, and strategic frameworks for ethical, transparent, and accountable AI adoption.
Session Topic: Generative AI in Adult Learning
CALPx Talks Presenter
About Lisa Bélanger
Dr. Lisa Bélanger is on a mission to revolutionize how leaders harness cutting-edge science to unlock their full potential.
With a Ph.D. in Behavioural Medicine, an Executive MBA, and certifications as an Exercise Physiologist and High-Performance Specialist, she brings a powerhouse blend of expertise to the table. Lisa is the founder and CEO of ConsciousWorks, a consulting firm that leverages science to help leaders develop the skills, habits, and work design for practical and sustainable behaviour change, team engagement, and shifts in workplace culture.
Session Topic: Mental Health
Register Now for the 2025 Literacy & Learning Symposium!
Registration is in full swing! Join us in Edmonton for an exciting 3-day event, where Community Adult Learning Program (CALP) staff, volunteers, and stakeholders from across Alberta and beyond will come together for professional development, networking, and to connect with thought leaders and valuable resources in our field.
See how we’re bringing the Community Adult Learning Program’s system together to dive deep into new ideas and gain new skills to strengthen the programs that change adult Albertan’s lives every day.
We’re expecting up to 300 attendees. See you there!
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact Pat Halewich, Symposium Lead, at pdevents@calp.ca
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
NEW! LFL Sleuths: Investigating Adult Foundational Learning
Have you been puzzled by the terms 'foundational skills' and 'foundational learning?' Do you wonder what 'foundational' means? How do Community Adult Learning Programs focus on serving adult foundational learners?
Join us as we pilot a new series investigating adult foundational learning, where we sleuth out the answers to these questions.
This training will support participants to:
· detect foundational skills in a CALP setting
· identify adults who benefit from foundational skills development.
· uncover how to include foundational skills in CALP learning opportunities
This series is offered over three sessions from March to May, beginning March 19.
Registration opens soon!
Teaching Digital Skills Day - April 8, 2025
Be part of re-thinking and transforming how we teach digital skills. Build skills that can be transferred from one device to another, one software platform to another and build confidence in navigating new online environments at the same time.
Focusing on practical everyday digital tasks, presenters will model and explain how to teach digital skills using strategies that:
- take pressure off of you to be the expert
- empower learners to navigate digital spaces with less stress
- build skills for the everyday digital demands in learners' lives
New to CALP?
If you have recently started working in a CALP role, be sure to register for required training.
Required Training
Introduction to Adult Foundational Learning (Required Training) ONLINE
May 21 – Jun. 18 (9:30 - 10:45 am)
For Coordinators, Instructors and Tutors
Planning for Learning Series
This series explores the “art and science of helping adults learn,” based on Malcolm Knowles’ theory of andragogy and his assumptions of adult learners. Discover how to apply and make use of adult learning theory within the work you do everyday with adult learners. Register once to join one or all sessions in this monthly series. Register now!
1. Orientation to Learning with Corrie Rhyasen Erdman
(Monday, Jan. 27 1-2:30 p.m.)
2. Motivation to Learn with Allison McKee (Thursday, Feb. 27 1-2:30 p.m.)
3. Self-Concept with Heidi Grogan (Monday, Mar. 31 1-2:30 p.m.)
*NEW Trauma Informed Practice in CALP
Build an understanding of trauma and how it can affect us in our learning spaces. Understanding trauma can help make your CALP a supportive, safe, and welcoming environment for learning - Mar. 13, 20, & Apr. 3
What's New in Adult Literacy Series
Explore what’s new and effective best practices based on more recent studies for working with adult literacy learners. This last session of the year focuses on: What is social justice? How does it connect to adult literacy learners? - Mar. 20
For Everyone
Staff Picks: Plain Language Checklists (For Documents and Online Platforms)
What first impression do people get from your online platforms or promotional materials? How can you make sure your message is clear and understandable to your intended audience? Learn about plain language and make use of simple checklists to improve your messaging! – Mar. 10
Staff Picks: Gathering to Learn: Unlocking the barriers and opening doors to Adult Foundational Learning
Uncover a trove of tried and true strategies CALPs use to find, attract, engage and retain adult foundational learners in this field guide. – Apr. 2
Psychological First Aid (Stettler)
This in-person Red Cross certificate course will support CALP-funded staff, volunteers and board members to develop a personal understanding of the effects of stress, loss, trauma and grief on others, with emphasis on self-care and personal protection - May 15-16
Communities of Practice
Join your peers for informal discussions and connections facilitated by CLN Staff. Grab a coffee, bring a question, share a success or challenge, and settle in for five minutes or all sixty.
Wellness Lunch & Learn Series: A Tender Approach to Loss & Grief – Apr. 1
Central Connections Café - Apr. 16
South Connections Café - Apr. 3
Provincial Connections Café – Join CLN's RSS team to share, connect and network with CALP staff from across the province – Mar. 19, May 20
Personalized Coaching
Would you like guidance in a particular area of your work? Don’t know who to ask? Book a coaching session with CLN staff in any of these areas:
- Literacy Programming and Instruction with Rebecca Still
- CALP Database with Cheryl Lovstrom
- Goal Setting with Learners with Cheryl Lovstrom
- Communications Skills in small talk, 'big talk' (presentations) and group talk (facilitation) with Tanis Harms
The training calendar is being updated regularly, so check the Training & Events calendar on the CALP Portal often!
Call for Outstanding Contribution Award Nominations - Due Soon!
The CLN Board of Directors will be honouring the Outstanding Contribution to Adult Learning Award recipient at the Symposium on April 29, 2025. This change in timing means you will need to start thinking about who you want to nominate now, as the deadline to submit nominations is March 14, 2025. You will want to look at the achievements of an individual, or organization, over the past year between March 2024 – March 2025.
We recognize the timing is different than you have been used to for many years; however, the Board feels it is special to be honored amongst your peers when we can all celebrate together, and an event like the Symposium is the perfect opportunity.
The nomination package is available and can be accessed on the Portal.
The CLN Board of Directors is looking forward to seeing all the great work being done in CALPs around the province.
Please return completed form and accompanying documents board@calp.ca
Literacy in Action
ABC Life Literacy Canada will open submissions for the Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award on April 1, 2025. The award honours innovation in the development, implementation and delivery of adult literacy or adult-integrated family literacy programs delivered by a community organization in Canada. The adult-focused literacy program makes a positive contribution to the lives of the participants as well as the community and could serve as a model for other organizations to adopt.
Is your program offering an innovative adult literacy program? If so, check out the website at https://abclifeliteracy.ca/lia/
This Month's Spotlight
March 8, 2025 marks International Women's Day.
The first International Women's Day was held on March 19, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, with over a million women and men attending public events in support. In 1975, the United Nations designated the year as International Women's Year and officially established March 8 as International Women's Day.
Today, International Women's Day is a global occasion for unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action, celebrated in many countries around the world.
Here are some ways you can get involved:
- Share stories of women making a difference in your community or workplace. Learn about inspiring Canadian women and gender equality in Canada:
- Get to know the Women of Impact in Canada online gallery featuring profiles of courageous women who have made an impact in politics, the arts and sciences, and countless other fields
- Explore the Women in Canadian History: A Timeline showcasing the achievements of Canadian women in various fields such as politics, sciences, and the arts
- Consult the Gender Equality Timeline for an overview of gender equality milestones in Canada
- Watch Heritage Minutes videos on notable Canadian women
Quote of the Day
When you give joy to other people, you get more joy in return. You should give a good thought to the happiness that you can give out.
- Eleanor Roosevelt