Helping seniors with technology during the pandemic
Connectivity has never been more important than in this last year, when the pandemic separated people from their friends and families for an extended period of time.
07 June, 2021
Saskatchewan Indigenous communities get support with financial literacy
For over 30 years, Prince Albert Literacy Network has run free literacy programming for its small community of 40,000 in Saskatchewan, of which nearly 50 per cent are Indigenous.
31 May, 2021
How to talk about literacy to people outside the field
Whether you’re trying to market your program, advocate for more government funding, or develop partnerships with sponsors, communicating the importance of adult literacy is key.
17 May, 2021
Tips for preventing the summer slide
Students lose one month’s worth of school-year learning due to summer vacation. The best way to combat the summer slide is to ensure children spend time each day practising their literacy skills.
14 May, 2021
Family financial literacy more important than ever
With many families doing homeschooling and spending more time at home, the time to address the family’s financial literacy together has never come at a better time.
13 May, 2021
Workplace training brings hospitality staff closer together
Despite already having a fantastic close-knit staff, the Hungry Heart Cafe decided to implement workplace training workshops through the UP Skills for Work program, offered through Activate Learning.
06 May, 2021
How to manage financial stress for better mental health
Although a constant worry for many of us, financial stress may be worse than ever during the pandemic. Learn how to manage financial stress.
30 April, 2021
Top 3 money struggles hurting your mental health
Did you know that struggling with your finances can negatively impact your work performance, relationships and mental health?
30 April, 2021
Seniors learn to identify fake news in digital literacy workshop
A YMCA in Kitchener recently launched a pilot program designed to build digital literacy amongst older adults as a way to help them better understand fake news amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
23 April, 2021
Tech Talk Tuesdays: Spotlight on Social Media
Throughout the month of May, we’ll be hosting three webinars on social media for those that are interested in taking their know-how to the next level.
19 April, 2021
3 strategies to engage shy adult learners
Children aren’t the only ones who sometimes lack the confidence to engage in class. Many adult students are also hesitant to participate in front of peers.
14 April, 2021
Family learning activities for Spring break
During this Spring break, take the time as a family to continue learning outside of the classroom to ensure kids don’t miss out on even more schooling.
06 April, 2021
4 literacy assessment tools for adult learners
Assessments can show when a learner is ready to progress to the next level of learning and identify areas that may need extra attention or focus. Here are four assessment tools to consider.
29 March, 2021
3 small steps to start your advocacy efforts (and 3 big ones too)
As a non-profit organization, it’s your goal to raise awareness about the important work you do and bring about change to the community that you serve. One of the ways to do this is through advocacy.
23 March, 2021
Employment agency uses essential skills & employability training to help learners prepare for work
The Ability Employment Corporation provides career counselling and job placement services to persons with intellectual disabilities as well as those facing barriers to employment.
18 March, 2021
3 tips to improve your digital literacy skills
Enjoying everything the world has to offer involves going using technology. But if you don’t feel confident in doing so, it can be hard to participate.
05 March, 2021
How to create a strong password to stay safe online
March is Fraud Prevention Month, an annual awareness initiative started by the Competition Bureau to help Canadians recognize, reject and report fraud.
01 March, 2021
What you need to know about the 2021 tax season
Tax season is around the corner, which means it’s a great time to brush up on your financial literacy skills and learn more about the Canadian taxation system.
24 February, 2021
4 simple steps to implement an employee training and development program
Developing a successful employee training and development program can be time-consuming, costly and challenging without the right tools. However, the benefits are worth the investment.
15 February, 2021
3 tips for recruiting adult literacy volunteers
As a non-profit organization with a limited staffing budget, volunteers are one of your most valuable resources – and for good reason.
09 February, 2021
Tech Talk Tuesdays
We will once again be hosting Tech Talk Tuesdays to help literacy practitioners understand how to use various technology in their work with adult learners.
01 February, 2021
How to build soft skills for employees
Soft skills are the non-technical skills that help employees interact effectively with others. These can include skills such as time management, confidence and adaptability.
26 January, 2021
Families, libraries and literacy groups to celebrate Family Literacy Day virtually
Despite physical distancing rules still in place across the country, many groups are getting creative in order to take part in the annual Family Literacy Day virtually on January 27th.
21 January, 2021
Why you should have a childlike imagination – even when you’re not a child
As children, we’re encouraged to think and play creatively – and for a good reason. Being imaginative is vital to a child’s cognitive development...
19 January, 2021
10 family learning activities for Family Literacy Day
After a year of limited mobility, ABC Life Literacy Canada is encouraging families to use their imagination to explore and travel the world from the comfort of their home.
13 January, 2021
4 tips for writing effective grant applications
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the non-profit world, brushing up on your grant writing skills is never a bad idea. Here are four tips for writing effective funding applications.
11 January, 2021
5 ways to travel the world from your own backyard
Award-winning illustrator and author Barbara Reid, who is the Honorary Chair of Family Literacy Day, explains that travelling can be done anywhere. Here are Barbara’s top 5 activities...
06 January, 2021
University uses literacy resources to help international students adapt to life in Canada
At Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, about 17 per cent of its students are from abroad. For Deneice Falconer, it’s her job to support international students...
04 January, 2021
Webinar series on literacy programs
ABC Life Literacy Canada is pleased to announce its Fall/Winter Webinar Series outlining its various programs available to literacy practitioners and community organizations across the country.
02 January, 2021
5 New Year’s resolutions for literacy practitioners
The new year is around the corner, and most people would agree that they’re happy to put 2020 behind them. Here are 5 resolutions for literacy practitioners to commit to in 2021.
15 December, 2020
Top 10 literacy news posts of 2020
In case you missed any of the many great news posts written for the literacy community this year, we’ve recapped the top 10 most popular.
14 December, 2020
5 family literacy activities for the holiday season
Help prevent learning loss and ensure kids return sharper than ever by encouraging family literacy activities over the school break.
11 December, 2020
ABC Life Literacy ramps up for Family Literacy Day 2021
Planning for the 22nd annual Family Literacy Day is well underway, and families, schools, libraries, literacy groups and other community organizations are invited to take part in the initiative.
09 December, 2020
Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award Honourable Mention Winners
A look at the great work being done by the four honourable mention winners of the 2020 Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award.
02 December, 2020
How self-directed learning can benefit adult learners
Here’s what practitioners should know about self-directed learning so that they can start incorporating it into their literacy programs.
30 November, 2020
Adapting literacy programs for the blind community
BALANCE for Blind Adults provides customized training and support for persons who are blind or living with sight loss and recently ran two of our literacy programs.
25 November, 2020
5 financial literacy activities for the whole family
To help families improve their financial literacy skills throughout the year, ABC Life Literacy Canada offers five financial literacy activities for the family to do together.
17 November, 2020
How to evaluate your adult literacy program in 4 easy steps
In an industry that’s strapped for resources – both financial and human capital – it can be challenging to make program evaluation a priority.
16 November, 2020The three different ways that adults learn
To help you with your adult learner teaching strategies, we’ve outlined the three different ways that adults learn and teaching tips for each.
12 November, 2020
Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award top winner: REP Here in Canada
Earlier this year, REP Here in Canada was awarded top honours for this year’s Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award for their program, Here Magazine.
10 November, 2020
New program aims to strengthen the digital literacy skills of Canadians
ABC Internet Matters provides introductory digital literacy education for Canadian seniors who are not using the internet and adult learners who have a gap on the digital curve.
02 November, 2020
10 financial literacy tips to mark 10 years of Financial Literacy Month
In honour of the 10th anniversary of Financial Literacy Month, here are 10 financial literacy tips shared by adult learners that have participated in the Money Matters program.
22 October, 2020
New stress management course available for adult learners through ABC Skills Hub
Announcing the launch of an online learning portal that offers asynchronous, at-home delivery of its adult literacy programs: the ABC Skills Hub.
15 October, 2020
How to plan a successful literacy program for adult learners
To keep learners engaged, your literacy program needs to be set up in a way that helps learners acquire, retain and transfer new knowledge.
13 October, 2020
4 tips for teaching literacy to adults
Adults learn differently than children, which can make teaching quite difficult. To help keep your adult learners motivated, here are four helpful tips.
06 October, 2020
Women’s centre helps vulnerable seniors become tech-savvy
The North York Women’s Centre offers services such as employment readiness & violence prevention, but recently, they were keen to explore digital literacy.
02 October, 2020
ABC Life Literacy Canada with Skills/Compétences Canada celebrate 10 years of Essential Skills Day
Today marks the 10th year of Essential Skills Day, an annual initiative to raise awareness about the importance of essential skills training in strengthening Canada's workforce.
24 September, 2020
Free webinar series to better understand your finances
In celebration of Financial Literacy Month 2020, we've created a free webinar series about steps you can take to become a better money manager. Register now!
23 September, 2020
Youth learn financial literacy outside the classroom
The Student Leadership & Youth Empowerment Network is a Toronto-based non-profit that connects youth to different resources in their community.
09 September, 2020
Celebrating 30 years of literacy!
September 8, 2020 is our 30th birthday! Since our inception in 1990, we've worked tirelessly to support the literacy and learning community in Canada.
08 September, 2020
Where to find literacy worksheets for adults
In order to keep adult learners engaged throughout their learning, they need to be offered a variety of innovative programming and course material, including worksheets.
31 August, 2020REP Here in Canada wins top spot in the Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award
ABC Life Literacy Canada is pleased to announce the top and honourable mention winners of the 2020 Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award.
25 August, 2020
How to improve your essential skills
September is a time when not only children head back to school, but adults also look to begin healthier routines, start a home renovation or sign up for a new course.
24 August, 2020
New digital literacy resources aim to help older adults cope with physical distancing
Four new "lesson plans" written in clear language and formatted as step-by-step guides for at-home learning show adults how to use Skype, Zoom, Google Duo and FaceTime.
20 August, 2020
New essential skills resources available
ABC Life Literacy Canada has released the first two workbooks from its Activate Learning program, which aims to improve the number of training opportunities in Newfoundland & Labrador.
10 August, 2020
Community organization trials literacy programming with staff
Stella’s Circle in St John’s, NL is used to providing a wide variety of programming for its clients, including housing, clinical and employment services to people who have barriers to participation.
04 August, 2020
5 great teaching strategies for adults
Developing reading and writing skills can be difficult for anyone, particularly adults. Keeping learners motivated can be one of the most difficult aspects of running an adult literacy program.
22 July, 2020
Library adapts financial literacy program online
As we all adapt to the new normal amid COVID-19, literacy groups and other organizations across the country have begun offering remote programming.
13 July, 2020
Literacy groups learn to adapt to online program delivery
The past few months have thrown our lives upside down. Due to COVID-19, businesses and organizations have been forced to move online in order to keep afloat.
06 July, 2020
How to create an inclusive learning environment
As educators, there is an enormous opportunity to address racism in our classrooms and ensure that all of our learners feel that they are in a safe and inclusive learning environment.
23 June, 2020New workbook helps families learn about money together
We've just released a new workbook from our HSBC Family Literacy First program that focus on family financial literacy. The workbook is available in English, French and Simplified Chinese.
18 June, 2020
How to keep adult literacy learners engaged and motivated
Family responsibilities, jobs and household duties can limit the amount of time adults have to devote to education and hinder their ability to achieve their learning goals.
09 June, 2020
Non-profit uses online training to reach rural learners
Most literacy organizations and not-for-profits can agree that when it comes to resources, they are extremely limited – whether it be time, staff and volunteers, or money.
04 June, 2020
Study shows parents vital to helping improve children’s financial literacy skills
The survey found that teens who talked about finances with their parents, even just once a week, scored 33 points higher in financial literacy than those who did not.
14 May, 2020
The importance of health literacy during a pandemic
With so much information being shared on the internet and on social media, separating fact from fiction can be difficult.
13 May, 2020Introducing a webinar series on remote program delivery
ABC Life Literacy Canada is hosting a series of webinars throughout May and June to support literacy practitioners across the country to implement remote program delivery.
06 May, 2020
How financial literacy can improve mental health
As we head into Mental Health Week, held May 4–10, 2020 by the Canadian Mental Health Association, now the is perfect time to talk about how financial stress can affect our mental health.
04 May, 2020
Digital literacy helps us stay socially connected while physically distancing
About 84 per cent of jobs in Canada currently require computer and technical skills, and that number is only expected to increase in the coming years.
20 April, 2020
How financial literacy can help us through difficult times
With many people unemployed or working reduced hours due to COVID-19, being financially literate is more important than ever. Now is the perfect opportunity to increase your financial literacy skills.
17 April, 2020
How to support adult learners in a remote setting
Through remote learning, literacy practitioners can ensure their learners can continue developing their literacy skills. Here’s what you should keep in mind when building a distance learning program.
14 April, 2020
New financial literacy workbooks available for people with diverse abilities
Three new workbooks have been added to this financial literacy program designed for adults with various intellectual, verbal, physical and nonphysical capabilities.
03 April, 2020
Grimsby Public Library teaches adults to use new technology
When Ryan Waldron of the Grimsby Public Library received an email about a free digital literacy program, he thought it sounded like the perfect way to improve their existing digital literacy program.
17 March, 2020
Adult literacy funding opportunities for non-profit organizations
Navigating the world of fundraising can be a challenge, so we’ve pulled together a list of adult literacy grants and funding opportunities for literacy organizations in Canada.
11 March, 2020
How to protect yourself online
Improving your financial literacy skills is the best way to protect yourself from online financial fraud. Here are some things you can do to protect yourself from being scammed.
04 March, 2020
New literacy and essential skills program targets Newfoundland and Labrador
Activate Learning is a new program focused exclusively on supporting and empowering the population of Newfoundland and Labrador.
25 February, 2020
Three ways to attract more learners to your adult literacy program
While there are numerous literacy organizations intent on improving adult literacy rates, getting program awareness out can often be challenging.
19 February, 2020
How filing your taxes can help you access government benefits
Tax season is just around the corner, which means it’s a great time to brush up on your financial literacy skills.
12 February, 2020
Literacy Abbotsford teams up with local library to deliver digital literacy program to seniors
When Sharon Crowley read about a new digital literacy program from ABC Life Literacy Canada, it caught her eye.
06 February, 2020
Families, libraries and literacy organizations among groups set to celebrate Family Literacy Day 2020
Family Literacy Day is taking place on January 27th and hundreds of groups across the country are preparing to celebrate the annual initiative.
22 January, 2020
Take 20 minutes to keep family literacy skills sharp
Putting aside just 20 minutes a day to do a fun learning activity – whether it’s reading a book, playing a game, following a recipe or singing a song – can have impact on parent and child.
15 January, 2020
Bring this valuable digital literacy program to your community
A new program aims to partner young people with strong online and tech skills with adult learners who want to improve their digital knowledge.
12 January, 2020
How to reduce screen time for the whole family
Reducing your electronic screen time and spending more time together learning as a family, can have many positive effects including developing better communications and social skills for children.
06 January, 2020
20 family literacy activities to keep you busy in 2020
In celebration of the 21st annual celebration, ABC Life Literacy Canada is offering 20 tips for families to do during 2020 to make sure everyone keeps their literacy skills sharp.
02 January, 2020
New financial literacy program available for people with diverse abilities
Like many students, Jenna Martinuzzi wasn't taught how to spend wisely or budget her money in school, so she took part in a financial literacy program designed for students with various abilities.
12 December, 2019
Employment program works financial literacy into the mix
A community literacy organization has added a new twist to its youth employment program. The Taber Youth Employment Program has incorporated financial literacy training into its instruction.
26 November, 2019
Montreal families celebrate Financial Literacy Month
Twenty-five children and their parents gathered at Dawson Boys & Girls Club to celebrate Financial Literacy Month at an event co-hosted with ABC Life Literacy and facilitated by HSBC volunteers.
21 November, 2019
Toronto shelter helps marginalized women develop digital literacy skills
Street Haven Toronto at the CrossRoads offers pathways for at-risk women. They are one of many organizations hosting workshops to help adults improve their digital literacy skills.
14 November, 2019
Digital literacy program flips the script with teens teaching adults
A new community program is hoping to make the most of this by pairing tech-savvy youth with adults hoping to improve their digital skills.
12 November, 2019
Digital literacy program now available in French
Youth Teaching Adults, a successful digital literacy program presented by ABC Life Literacy Canada and Youth Empowering Parents, has just been released in French.
24 October, 2019
Take charge of your finances with Money Matters
Financial Literacy Month encourages Canadians to take control of their financial well-being by making a budget, having a savings plan, and understanding their financial rights and responsibilities.
24 October, 2019
Adults and children should practice financial literacy together
When it comes to financial literacy, the statistics are startling. According to The Financial Planning Standards Council, four in 10 Canadians report that money is a daily concern.
23 October, 2019
The case for teaching financial literacy in the workplace
While youth are improving their financial literacy skills at school, an important group of people who could benefit from financial literacy education have been forgotten: adults in the workplace.
05 October, 2019
ABC Life Literacy Canada adds three new workshops to its UP Skills for Work program
In honour of the 10th annual Essential Skills Day, ABC Life Literacy Canada (ABC) has added three additional workshops to its UP Skills for Work employability skills program.
05 September, 2019
Family Services of Greater Vancouver is top winner of the Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award
ABC Life Literacy is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award, which recognizes organizations innovative adult literacy and essential skills programs.
25 August, 2019
ABC Life Literacy Canada introduces new Money Matters workbooks for people with diverse abilities
Money Matters for People with Diverse Abilities was designed for those with various intellectual, verbal, physical and nonphysical capabilities.
21 August, 2019
Learner story: Saliha Muslum
My name is Saliha. I am from Syria and I have been in Canada for three years, I used to live in Turkey before coming to Canada. The reason for coming to Canada was because of the war happening in Syri
16 July, 2019
Printing company sees success with workplace training program
Canada’s largest printer of hardcover books is one of the latest companies jumping at the opportunity to upgrade their employees’ skills.
10 July, 2019
New family financial literacy resources encourage families to openly discuss money
ABC Life Literacy is pleased to announce that its HSBC Family Literacy First program has been renewed with a new focus on family financial literacy.
03 June, 2019
Youths teach digital literacy to adult learners
While some Canadians thrive on new and technology, others find it confusing and daunting. How do we connect tech-savvy individuals with those who could benefit the most from their knowledge?
28 March, 2019
UP Skills for Work a key tool for employability
Ambreen Sarai, Economic Reintegration Specialist for the City of Toronto is a big supporter of employability skills programming. Sarai is running UP Skills for Work for her clients.
25 March, 2019
