Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award

The Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award honours innovation in the creation and delivery (or in the development, implementation and delivery) of adult literacy or adult-integrated family literacy programs delivered by a community organization in Canada. The adult-focused literacy program makes a positive contribution to the lives of the participants as well as the community and could serve as a model for other organizations to adapt.

There is one (1) top award of $20,000 and up to two (2) honourable mention awards in the amount of $10,000 each. The awards as granted can be invested into the program and/or applied to operating funds.

2023 Top Award Winner: Receiving $20,000

Organization:

Program:

The Good Learning Anywhere (GLA) program offers digital literacy skills to inmates incarcerated in Federal Institutions in Ontario, with a pilot expansion in the Atlantic region. The program was developed in partnership with Correctional Services Canada (ON) and has 29 self-directed online courses on a wide range of topics and includes topics specific for Indigenous learners. GLA encourages self-directed learning, allowing learners to choose which courses they would like to take. With the support of their onsite instructors, the learners complete their courses independently with courses ranging from 10 to 25 hours. By providing learners with access to flexible literacy programs, GLA equips them with the necessary skills for the modern job market. In addition, the program helps the learners develop essential life skills, such as renewing government identification, navigating medical appointments, and filling out rental applications.

2023 Honourable Mention Winners: Receiving $10,000 each

Program:

Chrome, Books and Bytes

Organization:

Program:

Family Time Online

How To Apply:

The 2023 award is now closed. Thank you to everyone that applied.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Innovation Learning Labs

This year we’re hosting four Innovation Learning Labs, thanks to the support of Canada Life through the Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award. In each webinar we discuss one topic that is important and relevant to the literacy field in 2023.

Creating Adaptable Programs: Putting Learners’ Needs First
Watch the recording

Finding and Retaining Adult Learners
Watch the recording

Working creatively within imperfect systems
Thursday, September 14 at 1:00pm EDT
Watch the recording

Lessons from this year’s Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award winners 
Thursday, October 5 at 1:00pm EDT
Register now

About Our Sponsor:

Canada Life logoCanada Life has been a major supporter of ABC Life Literacy Canada since 1999. Through their involvement with ABC Life Literacy Canada and other national literacy programs across the country, they are helping promote literacy and lifelong learning – key needs in helping many Canadians realize their potential at work, at home and in the community.

As an Imagine Canada Caring Company, they’ve supported the principles of corporate citizenship and benchmarks for community investment established by Imagine Canada for more than three decades. In this time, they’ve contributed over $200 million in support of Canadian non-profit, charitable and community organizations.