Concordia Professor Sonia Di Maulo recognized for innovative work with the Yamaska Literacy Council

Sonia Di Maulo, Faculty Award Engaged Scholar

Sonia Di Maulo, part-time professor in the Education Department at Concordia University, won the Faculty Award for the Engaged Scholar Awards, for her role in coaching graduate students throughout a yearlong performance consulting initiative in partnership with the Yamaska Literacy Council (YLC).

Sonia brought academics and practitioners together with the shared goal of re-designing a training program to support volunteer tutors who work with adult literacy students. In addition, Sonia volunteered with the Yamaska Literacy Council to supervise student intern, Alice Isac, who designed and implemented YLC’s new tutor-training program that was launched this year.

“Sonia brings the real world into the classroom, preparing students for the challenges they’ll face on the job.” – Alice Isac

Alice Isac, Intern; Sonia Di Maulo, Faculty Award; Wendy Seys, YLC Executive Director

“Sonia Di Maulo is an engaged scholar, inside and outside of the academy. She grounds her student’s experience in real-world projects, stimulating learning through praxis”, says Wendy Seys, YLC Executive Director.

If you would like to know more about YLC’s Tutor Training Program, contact 450-263-7503 or info@yamaskaliteracy.ca. The next tutor workshop is schedule for April 28. Reserve your place, if you’d like to become a volunteer tutor.

 

Tutor Training Workshop

 Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

505, rue du Sud, Suite 203, Cowansville

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Would you like to help an adult improve their literacy skills?

Do you have some time to volunteer?

Help adults (16 years +) improve their skills: reading, writing, or basic math

YLC provides free training, materials and support.

Bring a lunch – Snacks & drinks provided

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Registration required

For more information or to register: (450) 263-7503 or 1 (866) 337-7503

info@yamaskaliteracy.ca

 

Sweet…books!

February 14^th is International Book Giving Day. The Yamaska Literacy Council celebrated this day with staff and students at Farnham Elementary School. Volunteers read stories to the children, cookies were shared, books were donated. Good times!

 

Each student received a brand new book, donated by First Book Canada. THANK YOU!

Thanks  to YLC Development Agent,  Lynn Osborne,  for organizing this sweet activity!

YLC Development Agent for Bedford and Farnham area

Coffee with Character

Virgin Hill Coffee Roasters  is a family-owned business in the Town of Brome Lake.  Not only do they make great coffee…they care about the community!

Says Tara Moar, owner of Virgin Hill Coffee Roasters:

This blend was created specially for Louise Penny, as we at Virgin Hill Coffee are HUGE fans.  We served it this summer at the pre-launch for Glass Houses in Knowlton Quebec. We are so excited to be able to offer it to all Penny fans!

The extra special thing about the Gamache blend is that for every bag sold, Virgin Hill donates 1$ to the Yamaska Literacy Council. PLUS!….Award-winning author and amazing person Louise Penny matched these donations to support YLC programs.

THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US AT YLC!

Left to right: Wendy Seys (YLC), Louise Penny (Author), Tara Moar (Virgin Hill), Lucy Hoblyn (Brome Lake Books)

Family Literacy Day – January 27, 2018

Read a story, play a game, bake a cake, sing a song…There are many fun ways that families can build literacy skills together!

Maggie and Bodhi sharing a favourite book

Children begin developing language skills from the moment they are born and the main source for those early learning experiences is their parents. Research has found that hearing a variety of words consistently helps prepare young children for reading later in life and builds their vocabulary. What’s more, children’s levels of literacy often reflect those of their parents. This means that keeping your own literacy skills sharp by continued ongoing learning in adulthood is an important part of getting your child off to the right start so they too can be lifelong learners.

Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative held annually on January 27 to raise awareness about the importance of engaging in reading and other literacy-related activities as a family. There are FREE bilingual learning activities that families can do together…great activities for the winter days ahead! Recipes, scavenger hunts, puzzles, games and more. Visit: www.familyliteracyday.ca

In communities across Brome-Missisquoi, there many events and activities to celebrate Family Literacy Day;

• Mansonville: January 26^th at Mansonville Elementary, book exchange and activities.
• Knowlton: Saturday, January 27^th, 10-12@Pettes Library. Click for details FLD at Pettes Library
• Waterloo: Friday Feb 2^nd; Activities at Waterloo Elementary, including: visit from an author, bookmaking, media literacy workshop for students.
• Bedford (Jan 22-26); Events at Butler Elementary include: storytelling; dress up as your favourite book character; t-shirt making; “alpha” snack. Also a workshop for parents is announced “Keeping your child safe on the Internet”. Contact Lynn for registration at 450-248-7977.

For more information about Family Literacy Day, and/or to learn about literacy services in Brome-Missisquoi, contact the Yamaska Literacy Council at 866-337-7503 or 450-263-7503 or info@yamaskaliteracy.ca

 

Roadways Fall 2017

YLC members and friends, here is the latest issue of Roadways. Enjoy!

 

Award-winning Canadian musicians perform for literacy!

Award-winning Canadian musicians and entertainers, Russell deCarle (of Prairie Oyster) & Steve Briggs, will perform a benefit concert to support literacy in our community.  Russell deCarle is a founding member, lead vocalist, bassist, and contributing songwriter to the multi-platinum, Juno award winning, country roots group Prairie Oyster.  As a solo artist Russell has opened for Merle Haggard on his cross-Canada tour, traveled coast-to-coast with Bluebird North Songwriters’ Tour, and was a featured guest on Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Café Christmas Tour, 2008. Steve Briggs has performed, arranged and recorded with a wealth of artists including Sylvia Tyson, Russell deCarle, Murray McLauchlan and Carroll Baker among many others. Check out Russell deCarle and Steve Briggs in action.

In 1986, award-winning Canadian broadcaster and journalist Peter Gzowski began raising funds for literacy through an annual golf tournament, the Peter Gzowski Invitational (PGI) – a single event that evolved into the national PGIs for Literacy. His goal was to raise much-needed resources for the thousands of adult learners in literacy programs, while having fun in the process.   Read more about PGIs for literacy! 

Reserve your tickets by calling YLC @ 450-263-7503

#PGIQuebec