VICTORIA – British Columbia is calling for nominations for the Council of the Federation Literacy Award, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today. The award honours a person or group in each of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories whose accomplishments have shaped the landscape of literacy.
“The gift of literacy has the power to change people’s lives and transform the world,” said Campbell. “It’s important to stand up and applaud the hard work and dedication of those who pass on that gift, helping make British Columbia become the most literate jurisdiction in North America.”
This is the fourth year for the award, which was created by Canada’s premiers on the initiative of Premier Campbell. The nominations are open to a deserving person or group from all areas of literacy, including early childhood, family, Aboriginal, health, workplace and community literacy. The nomination deadline for the B.C. award is May 16.
“There are dozens of organizations and individuals across B.C. who work to strengthen this province through their literacy work,” said Education Minister Shirley Bond. “I encourage people to nominate individuals or groups in their communities that are making a difference in the field of literacy.”
To be eligible, nominees must have lived in the province for at least two years and be a current or former student, literacy volunteer, practitioner, teacher, administrator, researcher, business or organization.
Winners will be named at the Council of the Federation meeting in Quebec City on July 16-18, 2008. Premier Campbell will present a Council of the Federation medallion to the B.C. recipient at a ceremony in the fall.
“Good literacy skills lay the foundation for a bright future,” said Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell. “It’s important to honour the hard work individuals and groups do to help others achieve higher literacy levels.” The Council of the Federation was established in 2003 to acknowledge the leadership role provinces and territories play in Canada’s federation.
The Council of the Federation Literacy Award was created in 2004, with the first award presented in 2005. The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy was British Columbia’s first medallion winner and writer and publisher Joan Acosta won last year.
Since 2001, the Province has invested more than $136 million in new literacy funding in support of the government’s goal to make B.C. the most literate jurisdiction in North America. Funding for new literacy initiatives includes pre-literacy and early learning programs, such as $9.5 million to operate the kindergarten readiness program Ready, Set, Learn and $2.7 million for the ActNow Literacy Education Activity and Play (LEAP BC) program, which encourages literacy, physical activity and healthy eating in preschool-aged children. The government is also committed to having 400 StrongStart BC early learning centres operating by 2010.
More information can be found at www.readnowbc.ca/council_fed_literacy_award.html, along with the nomination form. Call 250 387-1052 with any questions not answered on the website.
HOW TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A LITERACY AWARD NOMINATION
In July 2004, Canada’s premiers decided to create a special annual award to recognize achievements in literacy across the country. The Council of the Federation (COF) Literacy Award acknowledges outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy. The award covers the entire spectrum of the field, including early childhood, family, Aboriginal, health, workplace and community literacy.
Thirteen COF Literacy Medallions are awarded annually, one for each province and territory. The COF Literacy Award for British Columbia is intended to recognize the exceptional achievement of an individual, group or project that has made a significant contribution to the field of literacy in the province.
The deadline for nominations for the 2008 COF Literacy Award in British Columbia is May 16, 2008.
In order to be eligible for the COF Literacy Award (BC), the nominee(s) must:
- Have resided in the province of British Columbia for at least two years.
- Consent to their nomination.
Eligible nominees may be:
- Literacy educators or researchers involved with any public, private or non-profit program, group or organization.
- Public, private or non-profit programs, groups or organizations involved with literacy delivery, research or advocacy.
- Literacy learners currently involved with a program.
- Volunteers currently engaged in literacy work.
- Businesses or corporations with a history or supporting literacy in the community or that operate a workplace literacy program.
Please note:
- Page 1 of the nomination form must be completed when nominating a literacy organization or individual and Page 2 must be completed when nominating a learner.
- Additional pages may be used to accommodate your information.
- Documentation may include the following and more: newspaper articles about the nominee; journal articles or other publications by the nominee; letters of support; photographs; examples of resource material developed; copies of awards; and portfolios of work.
For more information, please contact:
Council of the Federation Literacy Award – British Columbia at educ.literacy@gov.bc.ca
Nomination Submission Instructions
Please mail to:
Council of the Federation Literacy Award
BC Nominations c/o Literacy Branch Ministry of Education
P.O. Box 9161, Stn Prov Govt Victoria, B.C. V8W 9H1
Telephone: 250 387-7097
Courier nominations to:
Council of the Federation Literacy Award
BC Nominations c/o Literacy Branch Ministry of Education
3rd Floor, 620 Superior Street
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9H1
Please note: Employees of the government of British Columbia and individual members of the selection committee and their families are not eligible for the COF Literacy Award (BC).
