CALP Connections: October 2020

Community Learning Network's 2020-21 Board of Directors

Thank you to everyone who joined us for CLN's 33rd Annual General Meeting virtually on September 29th.

We are pleased to share with you the CLN Board of Directors for the 2020-21 year.

The newest member of the CLN Board is Stephanie Brown from Hinton Adult Learning Society

Colleen Thiessen, Chair
Wetaskiwin Community Learning Program

Kate Glover, Vice Chair
Willow Creek Community Adult Learning Society

Jana Thomson, Treasurer
Rocky Learning Centre

Lois Polege, Secretary
Flagstaff Community Adult Learning

Doray Veno, Director
Hanna Learning Centre

Lil Radley, Director
Read On Adult Literacy Program (Lethbridge Public Library)

Stephanie Brown, Director
Hinton Adult Learning Society

Literacy and Learning Symposium 2020 (Virtual)

Thank you for attending a brand new Symposium experience!

Thanks to everyone who attended and presented at our first-ever virtual Literacy & Learning Symposium! We had 4 great days online -- full of informative sessions, inspirational speakers, and special moments to celebrate successes in the CALP system and all of it online -- who could have imagined?

Your presence helped to make this brand new Symposium experience a great success and your enthusiasm and positive spirit helped make our time together both productive and fun!

Here are some shots of the week in review!!

Premier Jason Kenney provided a video message to kick off the Awards Ceremony

Lisa Dickner, CLN Executive Director and Doray Veno, CLN Board Chair and Executive Director of Hanna Learning Centre our gracious hosts!

Mark Connolly from CBC Radio Edmonton AM, emcee of the Awards Ceremony

Central Regional Connections took a sock and magnifying lens photo with all the participants

Alexandra Samuel, Closing Keynote (Vancouver)

A look behind the scenes on how Pat Halewich, CLN Events Specialist and Symposium Event Lead, keeps an eye on things from command central!

A big thank you to the FMAV team who helped us convert to online, provided studio space, guidance and tech support!!

Literacy and Learning Symposium 2020 (virtual) Adult Learner Speakers

Hearing adult learners share their stories at the Symposium is always a highlight of the Symposium. Their stories remind us of why we do what we do, and show the true courage and resilience of adult learners across the province.

This year, once again, we were proud to feature 2 adult learner speakers at the Symposium. Hussain Fatebeh from Lethbridge Public Library Read On Program spoke at the Opening Ceremony, and shared his story of coming to Canada, learning English, and working towards his dreams in a new country.

Hussain Fatebah, Lethbridge Public Library Read On Program

Shirley Fahey from Brooks A.B.L.E. - Medicine Hat College spoke at the Awards Ceremony. She told us about many of the challenges she has faced throughout her life. She told us how the supports in her community connected her to CALP, and Shirley shared with us how learning to read is transforming her life.

Shirley Fahey, Brooks A.B.L.E. - Medicine Hat College

Literacy and Learning 2020 (Virtual) Awards Ceremony

The annual Literacy and Learning Awards Ceremony was held on Thursday, October 1st in conjunction with the 2020 Symposium (Virtual). This was an amazing time to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments in community-based literacy and learning in Alberta. 

The ceremony started with a message from The Honourable Jason Kenney, Premier of Alberta welcoming all to the Awards Ceremony. Then the Honourable Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Alberta Advanced Education presented the prestigious Council of the Federation Literacy Award to Portage College CALPs. Donald Moore accepted the award. 

Portage College CALPs offer learner-centred foundational learning programs that allow adult Albertans to develop the necessary skills for further learning, employment and/or increased quality of life. The programs serve the communities of Bonnyville, St. Paul, Elk Point, Frog Lake First Nation, Cold Lake First Nation, WhiteLake/Goodfish First Nation and Kehewin Cree Nation. 

The CLN Board of Directors also presented two "Outstanding Contribution to Community Adult Learning" Awards this year.

Taber & District Community Adult Learning Association was recognized for continually pursuing new and creative ways to meet the adult learning needs of community members, through a friendly and client-centered approach to all members of the community. Jane Brenner, Executive Director accepted the award. 

Carmen Murphy, CALP Coordinator at Portage College in Bonnyville was recognized for building a CALP program that is a grass-roots method to respond to the needs of foundational learners in the area. She runs the program as both the coordinator and the instructor. 

The Centre for Family Literacy presented the Ruth Hayden Family Literacy Practitioner Award to Adine Shuchuk, Executive Director at the Jasper Place Child & Family Resource Society for the compelling work she does in her community. 

Congratulations to all of the award winners and speakers, and thank you for all that you do in your communities. We look forward to celebrating with you all next year!

Symposium 2020 (Virtual) - Overall & Training Evaluation Forms

We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone involved in converting, presenting at and participating in our first ever virtual Symposium! We hope that all of you found value in learning and connecting in these new ways! 

Overall Evaluation

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the overall evaluation form on Chime Live. If you didn’t get a chance to complete it, we have kept the Chime Live site open until Thursday, October 15th for you to still do so. We'd like to invite any additional feedback you may have to inform our planning for 2021. Please login to Chime Live via your email and password and click on the “Feedback” tab on the left hand side.

Training Evaluation

If you did not have the time or opportunity to complete the training evaluation forms for the Track Sessions here are the Track Sessions evaluation links (by Track A, B, C and D depending on the session):

https://calp.ca/profile/symposium-2020-session-evaluations-track-a.htm
https://calp.ca/profile/symposium-2020-session-evaluations-track-b.htm
https://calp.ca/profile/symposium-2020-session-evaluations-track-c.htm
https://calp.ca/profile/symposium-2020-session-evaluations-track-d.htm

Please complete the evaluation forms by Thursday, October 15th.

Regional Connection Sessions

If you did not have the time or opportunity to complete the Regional Connection Session evaluation form here’s the evaluation link: https://calp.ca/profile/lls-2020-regional-connection-sessions.htm

And of course, you are always welcome to contact any CLN staff directly if you would like to provide more detailed thoughts on the Symposium, or suggestions for future events.

We look forward to seeing you again at next year’s Symposium!

CLN's 2019-20 Annual Report

The CLN Board and Staff are pleased to share our accomplishments of the past year, and our reflections on the year that was 2019-2020.

Please click on the image below or the link under the image to view our digital report in a full screen view. Just click "Escape" to exit.

    Click here to download a printable PDF version of our 2019-20 Annual Report.

Upcoming October 2020 Training Events and Connections Cafes

Register for the following upcoming training events and Connections Cafes in October in your region!! Click on the name of the training to get to the registration page directly. 

Training Events

October 16 – Engaging With Indigenous Learners (Yellowhead Tribal College)

October 14, 21 and 28 - Tech Talk (online) Please note this training is full and has a wait list but there is also a Tech Talk (online) November 17, 24 and December 1. 

October 20 – Ask Us Anything about Metis and Indigenous Worldview

October 20-21 - Psychological First Aid (Edmonton)

October 26 -27 – Engaging with Indigenous Learners (University Blue Quills)

October 27 – Low Tech Foundational Learning

Regional Connection Cafes 

Grab a coffee, bring a question, share a success or challenge, stay for five minutes or settle in for all ninety. These monthly Connections Cafes are an opportunity for you to connect with CALP staff in your region.

October 21 – Central Region

October 21 – East Region

October 22 – South Region

October 22 – North Region

October 22 – West Region

October 26 -  Metis Settlements Connections Café

For more trainings in upcoming months please go to the Training and Events Tab on the Portal. 

Strengthening Literacy Practices

If you are looking for a learning opportunity to build on your skills and knowledge in adult literacy, then take a look at the Strengthening Literacy Practices project. It is intended for CALP staff, facilitators and instructors who feel newer to adult literacy work and who work directly with adult literacy learners. This is an 8 month blended learning program with lots of support, including a supportive learning environment, mentoring and financial compensation. Deadline for applications is October 14.

For more information contact Corrie Rhyasen Erdman training@calp.ca or phone (780) 968-2868.