CALP Connections: October 2025

“It is also with heartfelt gratitude that we recognize Monica Sczyrba-Davis, our [outgoing] Chair. Monica has served on the CLN Board since September 2023. Her passion for lifelong learning, her commitment to personal and professional growth—for herself, for CLN, and for her own organization—has been an incredible gift to us all.”

- Incoming CLN Chair, Dave Albrecht

Location: Our new conference venue, the Wyndham Edmonton Hotel and Conference Centre on Gateway Boulevard in Edmonton, is now taking bookings! Visit the CALP Portal Symposium page to find out more: https://calp.ca/events/literacy-learning-symposium-2026    

Oki (Oh-gee) Hello!

I am a Day School Survivor! I attended Brocket Day School when I was five years young, I left when I was eleven years young, I was a very shy and quiet little girl. 

My time at the Day School was extremely horrifying; my school day would start with a yard stick hit on my head and fingers because I had dirty fingernails. I felt the pain, although I don’t remember crying, the hit on my head, I never understood why? I was a happy little girl; I got slapped repeatedly for laughing. I was sent to the principal’s office for laughing out loud, there we would get a long thick leather whip on our hands.

This year I began to see a Chinese Acupuncturist, as she was working on me, I began to laugh uncontrollably, deep belly laughing that brought tears of laughter. The Acupuncturist said I was very special, I said why? She replied, I have seen many people, who cry, get angry, yell, scream and shout out their release.  You are the only one who has ever laughed and laughed, she laughed with me.  The first thing I thought was I was never allowed to laugh at school and home, my parents raised me the way they were raised at the Sacred Heart Residential School. Of course I had an epiphany this day, I am grateful for all my laughs today. Looking back, coming home was scary, because breakfast at home was a small bowl of porridge I never finished.  The lunch at school was always old green wieners and stale bread or the old awful smelling green yolk boiled egg I never ate, when lunch was edible, the bully across from me always reached over and took my food. The end of the day I would be so lethargic, once I got off the bus to begin my quarter mile walk home, I would walk into the field, lay down and fall asleep. Waking up to my mom picking me up to bring me home, I would tell her, "I’m so hungry Mom." I was six years young at this time; in hindsight I am so strong to endure! No one ever made complaints about the school, the one priest and one nun. No one ever talked about it either.

One day I woke up feeling defeated, drained, unaware of who I was and what I was doing with my life, wondering why me and my community were so fearful, angry, jealous, sad and stuck in life.  I then began my healing journey which allowed me to see we are oppressed. This began at the Residential school where our ancestors had no power as little children to stop the abuse. We became oppressed people.

I have been healing from the effects of decades of trauma, I have accepted, forgiven and continue to do the work it takes to become peaceful and joyful today. It is very gratifying to bring back my Blackfoot Language I lost inside of me; I can now speak the language and teach my children/grandchildren. I can balance the colonial ways and Blackfoot Traditions with all Canadians today.

This personal history I am sharing is a proof we can all heal from our traumas. I am honoured to be a part of the CLN and look forward to supporting all staff who are ready to learn, do more, or to sit with me to start something beautiful. I am your olive branch, please reach out to me.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge my new position with CLN as the Indigenous Liaison, with primary support to the South and Central regions. I am looking forward to having my first provincial sharing circle, dates to be announced very soon. I will be reaching out to you very soon if I haven’t already, please know you can call or email me at Lucille.calp@gmail.com 

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Don’t miss out on two national webinars!

Come celebrate with Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, top award recipient of the 2025 Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award (LIA). They will be formally recognized during a virtual ceremony. The webinar will include a roundtable discussion sharing their insights and lessons they learned. They will be joined by two other programs who received honorable mentions, KnowledgeFlow Cybersafety Foundation from Stouffville, ON and The Literacy Circle Society from Victoria, BC

Date: October 9, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM MST

Register Here

United for Literacy is hosting their 2025 National Forum on Literacy and Future-Ready Skills. This is an opportunity to virtually listen to a dynamic panel discussion exploring literacy programs, education pathways, and skill-building opportunities for adults across Canada. The agenda includes a formal question and answer session, a short break, and interactive breakout discussions. 

Date: October 23, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:15PM MST

Learn More and Register Here

Rebecca Still
Literacy Specialist
literacy@calp.ca