CALP Connections: November 2025
Literacy & Learning Symposium 2026, Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities, PD Pathways Project and more...
A Message from Dave Albrecht,
CLN Board Chair
CLN Board Chair
Hello everyone,
For those who don’t know me, I’m the Executive Director of the Two Hills Adult Learning Council and the new Chair of CLN’s Board of Directors. I’d like to begin by acknowledging our past Chair, Monica Sczyrba-Davis. I had the pleasure of working with Monica over the past year, and it will certainly be a challenge to fill her shoes!
I also want to extend a warm welcome to our returning Board members: Tanya Klappe (Vice-Chair), Tanya Mercredi (Treasurer), Leslie Carbone (Secretary), and Stephanie Brown (Director). In addition, we’re welcoming two new Directors: Krista Anderson and Nicole Levesque.
I look forward to working with all of you — this is going to be an exciting year for CLN. I can feel it in my bones! We have an amazing team ready to make things happen.
As with every Board, we are always looking to build our team and, in turn, strengthen our Community Learning Network. With that in mind, I’d like to share a short story.
A Lesson inBoard-Building…from a Charcuterie Board
The other day, while out shopping, I came across a beautiful bamboo charcuterie board set with a clear plastic cover. The caption on the box read: “Build a Board!” — complete with mouthwatering examples. Naturally, I snapped a picture and texted it to Lisa Dickner (our Executive Director) with the message, “We’ve been doing our board building all wrong!”
We both had a good laugh — being the policy nerds we are — and, of course, the foodie in me couldn’t resist buying it.
But later, as I admired my new find, I realized there might be more truth to their “board-building” strategy than I first thought.
If you think about it, that bamboo board has a lot in common with a strong organization. Bamboo is both strong and flexible — durable enough to build scaffolding and yet pliable enough to be used in fabrics. Those are the same qualities every great organization needs: the strength to endure and the flexibility to adapt. The same is true for good governance — policies must be firm enough to ensure sustainability but flexible enough to allow growth and inclusion.
Then there’s that clear plastic dome cover. At first glance, it looks fragile, even vulnerable. But its domed shape actually gives it strength and resilience. The transparency also struck me — much like well-structured policy, it protects what’s inside while remaining open and visible to members.
Building the Right Mix
Now that we have a solid foundation, let’s talk about building the actual board.
When recruiting board members, it’s tempting to look for people we already know — those who share similar views and experiences. It makes for easy consensus and minimal conflict. But I’d challenge that approach, because too much sameness can lead to complacency, and complacency can stall an organization’s growth.
Let’s go back to that charcuterie board. When you build one, do you stick to the same ingredients every time? Of course not! You need variety — savoury, salty, and sweet — to appeal to different tastes and spark conversation.
That said, not every combination works. You wouldn’t pair a strong blue cheese with sweet candied meats — their bold and sugary flavours clash. But pair that same blue cheese with honey, nuts, or pears, and you have a combination that delights. And while blue cheese isn’t everyone’s favourite, it does satisfy the tastes of some — and that’s important. A truly good board offers something for everyone, not just the majority.
Likewise, when building a board, balance matters. If your organization’s purpose is to promote adult learning, you probably wouldn’t recruit someone who does not value this mandate. You want people who bring new flavours — fresh perspectives, diverse skills, and complementary passions — but who still align with your organization’s values and mission.
A great board has both substance to provide strength and endurance, and flavour to nourish the spirit and inspire creativity.
The Final Word
So, if you’ve made it this far through my ramblings, I’ll leave you with this thought:
I’m incredibly proud of the current CLN Board — it’s a strong, passionate, and dedicated group of individuals who bring heart, wisdom, and a shared commitment to community learning. I’m truly looking forward to working alongside them in the year ahead.
At the same time, we recognize that our work is never finished. There’s always room to grow, learn, and welcome new voices to the table. By continuing to build on our diversity — in experience, perspective, and background — we strengthen not only our Board but the entire network we serve. This is essential for balance, growth, and flavour.
- Dave Albrecht
Chair, CLN Board of Directors
Literacy & Learning Symposium
2026 Update
2026 Update
Dates: Wednesday, April 29 to Thursday, April 30
Location: Wyndham Edmonton Hotel and Conference Centre
in Edmonton, AB
Please mark your calendars!
*Registration opens February 2026
THEME
Our Symposium 2026 Theme is: “Illuminate” — making something visible or bright by shining light on it; to help to clarify or explain.
BOOK YOUR ROOM NOW!
Location: Our new conference venue - the Wyndham Edmonton Hotel and Conference Centre is now available for booking!
Visit the CALP Portal Symposium page to find out more.
SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM
In October, we were delighted to receive Call for Presenter submissions and we are now well into building our Symposium Program for 2026!
For all information related to presenting at the Literacy & Learning Symposium 2026, be sure to check out the Symposium Presenter’s Page on the CALP Portal.
MAIN STAGE PRESENTERS
Looking for Main Stage Presenters!
The Symposium Planning Committee is in search of main stage presenters.
If you have suggestions of possible main stage presenters, or topics you would like to see at Symposium 2026, please contact:
Tanis Harms, PD & Events Specialist (Symposium Event Lead) at pdevents@calp.ca
Watch for more information about how to register, and other exciting Literacy & Learning Symposium 2026 details in December’s newsletter!
Symposium Questions?
Please contact:
Tanis Harms
PD & Events Specialist
Community Learning Network
pdevents@calp.ca
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Required Training
Have you and your staff completed the training required for your CALP grant?
Introduction to Adult Foundational Learning
All staff involved in the oversight and delivery of literacy and foundational learning programming must complete this training.
Register now for January (Mornings)
Register now for January (Afternoons)
CALP Essentials for Family Literacy Programs
All staff responsible for the oversight and direct delivery of family literacy programs, including contracted facilitators, instructors and volunteers must complete this training. Registration closes on November 11.
Register for November
Training Opportunities
Newcomers and their Needs: Understanding Immigration, Policy Changes, and What it Means for CALPs Nov 17
In small and rural communities, especially those without formal settlement agencies, CALPs often play a crucial wayfinding role for immigrants and refugees. In this online session Lisa de Gara from Action for Healthy Communities will discuss key information about federal immigration and policy changes impacting newcomers (especially in rural communities), and where CALPs can seek support for learners in their programs.
Staff Picks: CALP PD Success Pathways Dec 2
Ready to take charge of your professional growth? These new CALP Portal tools will help you build a personalized professional development plan based on your own unique skills. Discover how to access your skills profile, receive tailored PD recommendations to build on your strengths and begin tracking your progress.
Teaching Digital Skills Dec 9
Learn practical, easy-to-implement strategies for teaching basic digital skills that are both instructor and learner-friendly. These approaches are designed to help learners build confidence and competence in everyday digital tasks, with a strong emphasis on skill transfer to new technologies and applications. Participants will be equipped to guide learning in one-on-one coaching, small group, or classroom settings.
Digital Tools & Test-Taking Strategies for CAEC – Facilitator Toolkit Jan 20
Join Odette Lloyd, NorQuest CALP Lead, to explore a new toolkit for facilitators for preparing youth and adults with the digital skills and confidence they need to be successful writing online CAEC exams.
Coaching
Our one-on-one coaching sessions offer you the unique opportunity to connect with CLN & CALP staff who have extensive expertise in their field. Whether you have specific questions or want to explore new areas of growth, our personalized coaching is designed to bring you practical and actionable learning specific to the work you do every day. Coaching topics include:
- Volunteer Management *NEW
- Building Relationships, Trust and Inclusion with Elder Lucille
- Literacy Programming
- Goal-Setting with Learners
- Communication Skills (presentations, facilitation or intentional small talk)
- CALP Database
Book a Coaching Session
Self-Study
Learn at your own pace, on your own time, with one of the many e-learnings and featured resources developed for CALP staff and for foundational learning programs.
Communities of Practice
What’s New in Adult Literacy Dec 3
Join Literacy Specialist, Rebecca Still, in these informal discussions to explore what is new in adult literacy based on current research. December’s theme is “Stories, Mistakes & Trust”. Come to explore the connections between brain research, science and our own knowledge for how stories, mistakes and trust are key for authentic learning and engagement with adult learners.
Wellness Lunch & Learn Save the Date! Dec 10
Make well-being your priority this year. Join us on your lunch break for a conversation about prioritizing your needs as we explore wellness. Based on concepts from Psychological First Aid and using Hobfoll’s five elements (Safety, Calm, Connectedness, Efficacy and Hope) we will further discuss how to better care for ourselves and others.
Check the Training and Events calendar often as new events are added regularly!
CALP PD Success Pathways Project
Ever find yourself staring at a sea of professional development options, wondering where to even begin?
You're not alone—and that's exactly why CLN is launching the CALP PD Success Pathways project. This new online tool is designed to help CALP staff and volunteers easily discover PD and learning opportunities that build on what you already do well.
Just take a quick survey, and you’ll get a personalized professional development plan that highlights your strengths and recommends tailored training, self-paced e-Learning, and useful resources to support your growth.
A small group of CALP staff from across the province are taking part in a pilot in November so we can make it ready to launch in December!
Join Staff Picks in December to learn more about how you can access your own personalized CALP PD Success Pathway.
Blog Backtrack:
Missed a post? We've got your back.
Missed a post? We've got your back.
Let’s keep talking about it…
In October, CLN launched the Strategic Conversations zine — a collection of thought-provoking articles dedicated to those first steps of learning, where relationships, trust, and understanding begin.
The zine explores what it really means to get to know learners — beyond forms and checklists — through stories, insights, and fresh ideas from CALP-funded staff across the province. Expect bold takes on topics like psychological safety, brave spaces, healthy boundaries, and uncomfortable conversations.
Like any good conversation, this zine isn’t linear — you can:
- Jump in anywhere
- Begin whenever inspiration strikes
- Let it take unexpected turns
- Revisit it whenever you need a spark
Literacy in Action
October 13, 2025, was International Plain Language Day. On that same day, Accessibility Standards Canada published the Plain Language standard. This is the first National Standard of Canada on plain language and marks a milestone that literacy organizations across the country have long waited for. This exciting news means there are now standards to follow when communicating in plain language.
Plain language is important for inclusion and accessibility. When communication is in plain language the intended audience can:
- Find what they need
- Understand what they find
- Use that information
Organizations can adopt the whole Standard or parts of it. Watch for more information on how you can use the Standard in your communications.
Here are links to a summary of the Standard and the Plain Language Standard:
Summary of CAN-ASC 3.1:2025 – Plain Language standard
CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 – Plain Language standard
This Month's Spotlight
Financial Literacy Month 2025: Let’s Talk Money!
This November marks the 15th anniversary of Financial Literacy Month (FLM) in Canada! Since 2011, FLM has helped Canadians build financial knowledge and skills to strengthen their overall financial well-being. The initiative supports the National Financial Literacy Strategy 2021–2026 and brings together partners across sectors to promote financial education and awareness.
This year’s campaign theme, “Talk Money,” is a call to action to spark open, judgment-free conversations about money. By talking about finances — whether budgeting, saving, or planning for the future — we can share insights, learn from one another, and build confidence to make informed financial decisions.
Whether you’re a student learning to manage your budget, a parent balancing household expenses, or an organization supporting your community, FLM is all about starting conversations that lead to financial confidence.
Explore tools and resources to help Canadians build financial confidence
Quote of the Day
Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.
- Robert Louis Stevenson