Canada Post Community Literacy Awards Seeking Entries

Nominations for the Canada Post Community Literacy Awards are now open. These awards highlight the achievements of Canadians making a special effort or important contribution to improving Canada's literacy landscape. The Awards recognize adult learners and educators in either Individual Achievement or Educator categories.

The necessity of solid literacy skills reveal their true importance when you think about how many times a day we need to understand written language. Although literacy is often taken for granted, among Canadian adults aged 16 to 65, approximately nine million, or 42%, obtained a score below the level considered as a minimum for coping with the demands of modern life and work.(i) "There remains an enormous amount of work to be done to ensure all Canadians have adequate literacy skills," says Robert Waite, senior vice-president of Corporate Social Responsibility at Canada Post. "But every year we are encouraged by the incredible success stories we're told through the Award nominations. These Awards truly honour the front-line heroes-students and mentors-of Canada's literacy community."

Canadians are encouraged to submit nominations by visiting Canada Post's Literacy Awards web site at www.canadapost.ca/literacyawards to download a nomination form and view full program details.

Nominations must be received in Ottawa by May 31, 2009. The names of the finalists will be announced in late July and the winners will be notified in August. Winners will be recognized at ceremonies in their communities and awarded a prize of $300 (Individual) or $500 (Educator).