Two New Brunswick teachers have been honoured with a Council of the Federation Literacy Award.
Presented in each province and territory, the award celebrates exceptional achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy.
The award was created in 2004, and it celebrates adult learners who undertake literacy training, as well as the valuable contributions made by Canadians in the field of literacy, including family, Indigenous, health, workplace, and community literacy.
The recipients of the 2023 Council of the Federation Literacy Award are:
Society of Brooks Community Adult Learning Council — Alberta
Greater Victoria Alliance for Literacy — British Columbia
Hamdi Warsame — Manitoba
ABC Life Literacy — Newfoundland and Labrador
Colette Frees — New Brunswick
Joanne McIsaac — New Brunswick
Aurora College Literacy Outreach Centre — Northwest Territories
Shelley Gray — Nova Scotia
Jeena Kadlutsiak — Nunavut
Louise Lalonde — Ontario
Dean Ramos — Prince Edward Island
Djénébou Drabo — Québec
Prince Albert Literacy Network — Saskatchewan
Susan McCallum — Yukon
Madame Colette is an exceptional teacher from the Restigouche region known for her passion, commitment, and dedication to her learners. She always succeeds in innovating according to the learning needs of all. A tireless teacher, constantly seeking to help multiple clients from different backgrounds, she knows how to create a climate of trust that fosters success. Whether it is with Adult Community Learning classes, at the Correctional Centre, at the Restigouche Hospital Center or in Workplace Essential Skills training, she knows how to reach everyone and help them improve their level of skills and literacy. The versatility of Ms. Frees makes her the ideal person for any new initiatives. An asset and a source of pride that the region cannot do without.
Joanne McIsaac has been the face of adult literacy in the Woodstock area, having been teaching at the Community Adult Learning Program for Western Valley Adult Learning Regional Committee for 21 years. Her impact is deep; she has directly influenced over 240 learners in their endeavors. In Joanne, you see a warm and soft-spoken woman with a big heart. She always roots for the underdog and goes above and beyond by connecting learners to post-secondary education and helping them further along the way, after her mandate has ended with them. She can be found on many noon hours, evenings and weekends, providing tutoring for learners in secondary and post-secondary subjects. Joanne’s embodiment of what it means to be an educator makes her truly deserving of this award.
Each Award recipient receives a certificate, signed by the Premier of their province or territory, as well as a Council of the Federation Literacy Award medallion.
