Background
The Prince Albert Literacy Network (PALN) was established in 1989. Nine teachers in organizational and community-based programs met and established goals based on the philosophy that by working together, services for learners could be improved. They aimed at raising awareness of the general public and government concerning the need to provide adequate learning opportunities for adults. The PALN was incorporated in 1999.
The PALN members come from diverse backgrounds such as justice, education, health, and community services.
Goals:
- To promote the importance of literacy and its impact on a healthy community within Prince Albert
- To increase awareness and understanding about literacy within Prince Albert
- To increase knowledge and capacity by supporting literacy training, programs, and development within the community
- To provide opportunities for learners and community agencies to share information with others involved in literacy within the community
Objectives:
- Sharing information about adult and family literacy issues and activities
- Opening lines of communication between and among various agencies
- Providing ways to encourage learners
- Generating public awareness for adult and family literacy
- Providing in-service and training opportunities
Over the past few years we have:
- The Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award
- Prince Albert Literacy Network celebrated its 20th Anniversary!
- Provided over 5000 books to families with children
- Provided family literacy facilitator training for Come Read With Me, Literacy and Parenting Skills(LAPS), Nurturing With Rhymes, Rhymes Songs and Storytelling, Alphabet Soup, Storysacks, and Family Learning Olympics.
- Provided ongoing support and networking opportunities for family literacy facilitators
- Encouraged learners to further develop their skills through facilitator trainings and formal education
- Organized a community forum on Family Literacy (2001)
- Held a successful Storysack Launch (2002) to celebrate community involvement
- Offered a Storysack and resource lending library
- Held annual "For the Love of Reading" events featuring Dave Glaze (2006), Mary Harelkin Bishop (2005), Andrea Beck (2004), Brenda Clark (2003), and Jo Ellen Bogart (2002). All the authors and illustrators donated their time. These free family events which were held to help families develop a lifelong love of reading, were part of World Literacy of Canada's Kama Coast to Coast Reading Festival Program. Also sponsored by John M. Cuelenaere Public Library, Sasktel, a donation by the Barnett family in memory of Duwayne Barnett and the Prince Albert Literacy Network.
