The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour:

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today in this Honourable House to invite nominations for the Council of the Federation Literacy Award. Created by Canada’s Premiers, this award recognizes outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy by individuals and organizations.

Last year, the Premier presented the Council of the Federation Literacy Award to Suna Dau Yath. Born in Sudan, she started her education learning Arabic by oil lamp. Now she has learned English, completed her Adult Basic Education courses, volunteers at her local community centre and children’s school, and plans to pursue post-secondary education.

For 2019, nominations for the Council of the Federation Literacy Award are being accepted in the category of Adult Literacy Learner, recognizing individuals who have faced difficulties in life because they could not read or write well, and have taken steps to improve their reading and writing skills.

Any individual or organization can submit a nomination. Nomination forms are available on our website. Nominees must be a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, 18 years of age or older, and have participated in an adult literacy, workplace literacy or Adult Basic Education program for at least six months. The deadline to nominate an individual is May 31.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage anyone who has an outstanding recipient in mind to please nominate them for this prestigious award.

Thank you.