Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This week is NWT Literacy Week. Earlier this week we celebrated some special northern contributions to literacy.
Mardy Voudrach of Tuktoyaktuk was awarded the 2008 Council of the Federation Literacy Award for the Northwest Territories. Ms. Voudrach was honoured for her success in learning and improving her education while dealing with a disability.
Hilary Gemmell of Fort Smith won the Ministerial Literacy Award for Educators for her service to the North through her work at Aurora College and abroad. She has worked very hard for adult literacy in the Northwest Territories. Even in retirement she continues to volunteer, teaching learners with disabilities.
The Hay River Literacy Society also was honoured with the Ministerial Literacy Award for Organizations. This group of volunteers hosts education events for all ages and sponsors literacy programs in Hay River. They help make educational support available to all learners.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment’s new Northwest Territories Literacy Strategy will soon be in place. During this time of rapid economic expansion education is of paramount importance, because many northern residents lack the basic skills to fill the jobs that are being created or to meet the entrance requirements for job specific training programs. Effective learning initiatives are crucial for the evolution of an equitable northern society where all residents are able to access new opportunities and benefit from the prosperity of our region.
In the 21st century the black and white concept of people either being literate or illiterate is somewhat outdated. In today’s society literacy is a continuum of skill development, which includes reading a variety of printed materials, writing, numeracy, use of technology, oral communications, critical thinking and problem solving.
The NWT Literacy Strategy addresses the needs of northern residents of all ages in the various roles they play at home, in the workplace and also in the community.
The strategy sets out four major goals that will contribute toward NWT literacy development over the next ten years:
increasing literacy levels of Northwest Territories residents of all ages;
supporting literacy in the official languages of the Northwest Territories;
promoting literacy partnerships;
building community capacity to meet local literacy needs.
Included in the Literacy Strategy are objectives and actions that address the learning needs of young children and families, out of school youth, working age adults and seniors.
Now that the Literacy Strategy has been completed, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is proceeding with implementation. An accountability framework is being developed so that we will be able to measure progress on the Literacy Strategy goals, objectives and actions. A multi-stakeholder Literacy Strategy advisory committee has been established to guide implementation of the Literacy Strategy. As well, a Literacy Strategy communications plan will be developed.
The new NWT Literacy Strategy is a key component in achieving the vision of strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits of a prosperous Northwest Territories that this Legislative Assembly laid out in Northerners Working Together. Northern residents without adequate education skills experience challenges participating in the labour market, earning sufficient income, managing their own health and contributing to community development.
Through the new Literacy Strategy the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will address these learning challenges and work towards the fulfillment of our overall Government of the Northwest Territories vision of healthy, self-reliant people and also prosperous communities.
In addition to NWT Literacy Week, October is also the home of Canadian Library Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness of the role that libraries play in our lives. A library can be a haven for learners of all ages and literacy levels. Libraries can be a way to experience other worlds, cultures and opinions.
Our community libraries play a sometimes quiet but always important role in supporting literacy. In the Northwest Territories we are proud to offer excellent library services. The Government of the Northwest Territories supports Canadian Library Month by purchasing promotional materials for all of our public libraries. We would like to encourage everyone to recognize the role that public libraries play in their communities. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
