CALP Connections: September 2025

And just like that, it is September!

Once again, we see change all around us; I firmly believe there is opportunity in choosing to view change as happening for us and not to us.

Over the past year as Chair of the CLN Board, there have been numerous peaks and valleys, opportunities and challenges to navigate through. The consistent touchstone through it all is the solidarity of the people we surround ourselves with.

I have stepped into many uncertain spaces outside of my comfort zone, and appreciate that the only thing on the other side of not knowing is more of ourselves. More of who we can become when we choose to be brave long enough to take on what is presented to us. I see this time and again with our students!

My respect for each member of the CLN Board and CLN team has grown exponentially along with the appreciation I have for the depth of service so many CALP programs continue to provide to their communities. Our work is important, meaningful beyond our knowing and has the power to impact generations after ours. One of my greatest lessons from my time with this work is that results come from persistence. Choosing to show up and continue doing the sometimes gritty work, holding space for ourselves, our peers and our students. The path sometimes becomes little more than traces of bent grass in a field and yet it rises to meet us when we focus on kindness, acceptance and sheltering that flickering flame we see in our students as they also show up for themselves, their families and their peers.

I am continually humbled by the joy on the other side of the frustration in genuinely learning new things, and being able to provide those experiences for community members is a privilege. I look forward to another season of expanding my circle of comfort and have infinite gratitude to all my peers and mentors in the CALP world for their continued belief in the value of growth in skills and knowledge in all our circles.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, is a time to remember the children who never returned home, honour Survivors and their families, and reaffirm our collective responsibility to reconciliation.

This day was established in direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #80, which called for a statutory holiday to ensure public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools. Recognizing this day remains a vital part of the reconciliation process.

We invite the CALP community to come together in commemoration by listening to Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and reflecting on how we, as adult learning providers, can foster greater understanding, respect, and healing within our communities.

Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Time: 10:00 – 11:45 a.m.

Register Now!

A reminder email with the meeting link will be sent to all registered participants 1–2 days prior to the event.

On this day, we encourage you to wear your orange shirt as a symbol of remembrance and a commitment to reconciliation.

SAVE THE DATE!

Community Learning Network (CLN) is very pleased to announce that we will be hosting the Literacy & Learning Symposium 2026:

Wednesday, April 29th to Thursday, April 30th at the Wyndham Edmonton Hotel and Conference Centre in Edmonton, AB.

Please mark your training calendars!

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR!

What’s changed?

Timing: This year, the Symposium will kick off with a Professional Community gathering on Wednesday evening, followed with a full day full of learning, connecting and sharing with others in the CALP system on Thursday!

Location: Come and explore our new conference venue – the Wyndham Edmonton Hotel and Conference Centre on Gateway Boulevard in Edmonton! Use our group rate to book your room now! Visit the CALP Portal Symposium page to find out more: https://calp.ca/events/literacy-learning-symposium-2026 

What hasn’t changed?

Support: As always, this professional development event is designed to support Alberta’s Community Adult Learning Program (CALP) staff, volunteers, and system stakeholders by providing relevant learning, connecting and contributing opportunities to equip our community to serve adult Albertan’s as they pursue their literacy and foundational learning goals. 

Symposium Questions? Please contact:

Tanis Harms
PD & Events Specialist
Community Learning Network
pdevents@calp.ca    

SYMPOSIUM PRESENTERS

For all information relating to presenting at the Literacy & Learning Symposium 2026, be sure to check out the Symposium Presenter’s Page on the CALP Portal here:
https://calp.ca/events/literacy-learning-symposium-2026-registration-now-open/symposium-presenters   

CALL FOR PRESENTERS

The Symposium 2026 Call for Presenters is now open!

Are you or do you know an expert in our field who would like to contribute to the future of the CALP system?

The Literacy & Learning Symposium Planning Committee is now accepting proposals for breakout sessions, and we encourage presenters to submit presentation proposals.

Participation as a presenter will help attendees increase their knowledge and skills, provide for an exchange of ideas and solutions, and help attendees address the needs facing adult literacy and foundational learners in Alberta. In doing so, CLN, along with those selected presenters, will create a community of learning.

Our Symposium 2026 Theme is: “Illuminate”

We are seeking presentations with a focus on making something visible or bright by shining light on it; to help to clarify or explain.

Presenters will be asked to answer three questions to identify the session's learning objectives:

• What is the purpose of this session?
• What will the participants learn in this session?
• What strategies, resources or tools will the participants take away from this session?

Submission Deadline: Thursday, October 17, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.

Click here for more information or to fill out the submission form: 
https://calp.ca/events/literacy-learning-symposium-2026-registration-now-open/symposium-presenters 

Please help circulate the Symposium Call for Presenters within your networks!

1. Brick by Brick: Building a Great Symposium Proposal Submission

Are you interested in presenting a session at Symposium but don’t know where to start? Or perhaps you would like suggestions to improve on what you’re already doing? Come and learn the foundational bricks needed to build a strong submission including: understanding the submission form sections, choosing applicable threads, writing a clear description and learning objectives, and integrating the 2026 theme - in order to have your proposal submission stand out!

Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Register: For more information and to register, click here: https://calp.ca/events/brick-by-brick-building-a-great-symposium-proposal-submission-2025-09-16.htm 

2. Symposium Presenters: Present with Confidence, Engage with Purpose

This session is designed specifically for Symposium presenters to provide tips and tricks for how to build confidence when presenting, along with interactive ideas and recommendations for building a session that is engaging and relevant for CALP Staff’s professional development, learning and application to their everyday roles.

Date: Friday, February 27, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Register: Registration details coming soon.

The Community Learning Network is seeking an Indigenous Liaison to join our team. This is a part-time, temporary position, starting immediately. The position may be filled by more than one person, each contributing to specific elements of the posting. If this opportunity interests you, please contact Lisa Dickner, Executive Director, (780) 485-4926, Ext. 1, for more information.

This position is supported by funding from the Government of Alberta to build capacity within the Community Adult Learning Program to engage with and support Indigenous learners, communities, and First Nations Colleges. Reporting to the Executive Director, Community Learning Network (CLN), this position works closely and collaboratively with CLN Staff, Government of Alberta CALP Grant staff, CALP-funded staff and boards, and other Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners.

Click here for a detailed position description.

The contract for this position has a flexible number of hours per week (i.e. 5 to 25). This position will be managed remotely through the Community Learning Network office in Edmonton, so candidates must also have the ability to work from home or have access to a suitable work environment with high-speed internet in their home community to host and participate in online training and meetings. Regular travel within Alberta is an optional part of the position. In the event of travel, a valid Class 5 license and reliable transportation would be mandatory. (Expenses for travel, communication and supplies will be reimbursed, based on the provisions to be included in a formal offer of employment.)

The Community Learning Network is committed to Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. All qualified applicants are welcome, regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or basis of disability.

Resume/CV, cover letter, number of hours per week and wage expectations should be submitted to ed@calp.ca  This position will remain open until a suitable candidate or candidates are found.

Nametags are a great way to showcase the organization you are a part of, your name, and your role (if desired). They can be purchased on the Portal and shipped directly to your CALP.

Click here to learn more!

🌟 Introducing Our New Initiative!

AWES is happy to share our new initiative designed to make our resources accessible to wider audiences. We envision this as a centralized online space where users can access a variety of educational resources, with the goal of developing it into an online centre of excellence over time.

Our E-Learning hub features:

🎯 High-Quality Educational Materials

• Interactive activities that engage learners and enhance understanding
• Valuable resources that the educators could use for their professional development or for use in the classroom
• Comprehensive workbooks and printed materials for hands-on learning

📚 Easy Access, Flexible Options

• Online access that's straightforward and user-friendly
• Mix of free and paid options, so you can choose what best fits your needs and budget

⭐ Proven Results

All resources originally developed and tested through successful AWES projects

🚀 Growing Every Day!

We're continuously adding new resources to the hub. Join us as we build this centre of excellence together!

🔗 Ready to Get Started?

Visit Now: https://learning.awes.ca/collections 

Have Questions?
Contact our Business Development and Project Lead, Leila Samahnejad at leila@awes.ca 

Each year on September 30, we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as Survivors, their families, and communities. Public commemoration of this history is a vital step in the reconciliation process.

This day coincides with Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots initiative that raises awareness of the intergenerational impacts of residential schools and reinforces the message that Every Child Matters. The orange shirt has become a powerful symbol of the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children. On this day, all are encouraged to wear orange in solidarity and remembrance.

The creation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation responds directly to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which ran from 2008 to 2015. The TRC gathered stories from Survivors, documented the history of the 140 federally run residential schools, and issued 94 Calls to Action. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation now serves as the permanent home for these records, ensuring continued education and awareness.

Be part of an immersive experience to UN-learn the myths of colonial history in Canada. Join the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s daily Lunch and Learn webinars from September 22-26, 2025. (English with French and ASL interpretation)

Sept 22: Surviving the Residential School System
Sept 23: Uncovering the Truth: Ground Searches
Sept 24: The Ongoing Legacy of the Residential School System through Child Welfare
Sept 25: Reflecting on the TRC’s Calls to Action 10 Years Later
Sept 26: Confronting Residential School Denialism

This September 30, we invite you to take time to learn, reflect, and engage with the stories, voices, and cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people. Together, we can honour Survivors and commit to the ongoing journey of reconciliation.

For those affected, support is available:

• Former residential school students: 1-866-925-4419
• Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7): 1-855-242-3310 or online chat