holiday

I am heading westward for a little family fun -- camping on Newcastle Island and cafe-ing in Vancouver. And lots of other stuff too. I may not blog here for a bit so I am going to leave you one more zefrank video. I hope it feels like a little internet holiday. See you soon.

P.S. One person who thinks you're great is me.

conference in calgary on october 16

Health and Literacy:
Constructing Curriculum for Health-Care Providers.
A Learning Institute, October 16-18, 2008, Calgary.
Registration here.

Early bird registration deadline: August 31.

The Centre for Literacy, Bow Valley College, and the Health and Learning Knowledge Centre (CCL) are cosponsoring this three-day institute in Calgary from October 16-18, 2008.

What do we currently teach health-care providers about the connections between literacy and health? Do we agree on what should be taught to whom at what point in their professional training? What should physicianslearn about health literacy? What about primary care nurses? Public health nurses? Pharmacists? Radio-technicians? Aides? Social workers? Others? How should foreign-born providers be trained?

This Institute welcomes health-care providers from every branch of health-care service; curriculum developers in health-care and adult basic education and literacy; ESL providers, administrators, policy makers, and anyone with interest or expertise. We will share international promising practices and models, consider challenges, and propose new directions for grounded curriculum in health literacy.

Bow Valley College has provided subsidies for up to ten individuals from community-based organizations or for students registered in a post-secondary health-care program.

rockin‘ the to do list

I just smashed through a big chunk of the list after a month of despair and procrastination. Why the despair? I was not sure if I could ever stop procrastinating. I was worried that I had developed an addiction to procrastination. Here is more on procrastination and addiction from zefrank:

Procrastination: not for the faint of heart.

just make something

I feel at a loss for words. Does that ever happen to you? I guess it happens to zefrank sometimes and here is what he has to say about it:

Whew. That helps me. I hope it helps you too.

two conferences on october 6 in toronto

Learn, Grow, Connect: Practicing community legal education in a diverse Ontario.
October 6 and 7, 2008 at the 89 Chestnut Conference Centre, Toronto..
www.cleonet.ca/conference.

Join us for two full days of panel discussions and small group sessions presented by experts, innovators, and experienced practitioners.

Connect with people from across Ontario who develop and deliver information to help their clients and communities understand their legal rights.

* Gain practical skills and knowledge, such as plain language tips and guidelines, best practices in adapting and translating information into other languages, and models for field-testing and evaluation.
* Learn from other participants and from experts on topics ranging from doing legal information needs assessments to running effective legal education workshops to using popular theatre, Facebook, YouTube, and community media to get your message across.
* Discuss how best practices from other sectors can help build a "practice of community legal education" and how your community legal education work can be supported in the future.

For more information on the program and to register and book your hotel room, visit the conference web site.

The Ontario Literacy Coalition Conference -- Spotlight on Learning: Literacy Takes Centre Stage..
October 6 and 7, 2008 at the Delta Chelsea Hotel, Toronto..

This event brings two learning models together in one program. The Training Event offers workshops and panel discussions for a wide range of audiences with an interest in literacy and life long learning. The Adult Literacy Learner’s Leadership Forum, running concurrently, gives student leaders an opportunity to learn, share and plan for coordinated future partnerships.

The Training Event and Leadership Programs offers a wide range of workshops categorized in the areas of Learner Leadership Forum, Technology (Computer Labs), Labour Market Initiatives, Applied Learning, Research and Policy, Family Literacy as well as Professionalism/Marketing.

Our goal for the event is to shine a spotlight on learning in its many forms. In showcasing the foundational importance of literacy as a cross-cutting integrated component of learning and living, that spotlight is also cast on the bright future of the literacy field in Ontario.

Online Registration is available now.

the kids are alright

This media release was forwarded to us from the office of Charlie Angus, the Member of Parliament for Timmins - James Bay.

ATTAWAPISKAT SCHOOL BATTLE NOMINATED FOR INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S PEACE PRIZE.

Thirteen-year-old Shannen Koostachin has been nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize for her fight to get a school built in her impoverished Cree community of Attawapiskat. Earlier this spring, Koostachin gained national attention when she challenged Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl over his refusal to honour a federal commitment to build a school in Attawapiskat.

NDP MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) says Koostachin has inspired young people across Canada to fight the second-class treatment of on reserve children.

"Children shouldn’t have to mount an international campaign just to get a school built," said Angus. "Shannen has emerged as a voice for the so-called ‘forgotten children’ of Attawapiskat. She has reached out to students across Canada to help in the fight."

Cindy Blackstock of the First Nation’s Child and Family Caring Society nominated Koostachin for the award that is overseen by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.

"The Children’s Peace Prize is given to children who have made a significant contribution to advancing children’s rights," said Angus. "The government of Canada seems to have forgotten that the right to a proper education is a fundamental human right. But Shannen isn’t content to be treated as a second-class citizen. She has emerged as an inspiring young leader who is waging a fight that has international significance."

Last month, Shannen and three other Attawapiskat students put the government of Canada on notice that they intend to challenge Canada at the upcoming review of Canada’s obligations under the UN Rights of the Child Convention.

"Minister Strahl told me he had other priorities than building a school. Maybe he thinks we will just lose hope and give up. But I was always taught by my parents to stand up and speak for what I believe in. I told him the children won’t give up. We will keep moving forward, walking proud in our moccasins until we are given justice."

The nomination package for Shannen Koostachin includes numerous supporting letters from education associations, First Nation organizations and individual teachers in both the separate and public boards of Ontario.

sew inspirational

More on quilts.

sewing circle

This was forwarded from The Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Living Healing Quilt Project: Promoting Healing One Stitch at a Time

If you or someone you know has been directly affected by Indian Residential Schools, then we encourage you to contribute to the Living Healing Quilt Project. The Living Healing Quilt Project is a unique way to get involved and promote a better understanding about the experiences endured by children who attended Indian Residential Schools.

Call for Quilt Blocks – How You Can Get Involved
Create your own 13” x13” square quilt block. Choose your own colour, design and material. Paint on canvas or stiff paper, or use a photo - your image can be transferred onto fabric.

Dedicate your square to a child or adult affected by Indian Residential Schools. Individual squares will represent what you wish to express about the history or your personal experience of Indian Residential Schools.

Include:
1. A brief story about your square
2. Your name, address and email
3. Your phone number (If you wish to be contacted about the progress of the quilt)

Deadline for Submissions is August 31, 2008

Please mail to:
Alice Olsen Williams
Curve Lake First Nation, ON
K0L 1R0
Tel: (705) 657-3319.
Email: alwilliams@trentu.ca

Once completed, the Living Healing Quilt Project will travel across the country with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The Living Healing Quilt Project will honour the strength, courage, and commitment of Indian Residential School Survivors and bring awareness to Canadians about Indian Residential Schools, as we move forward together on a path of healing.

how rich do you think i am?

Happy August everybody.
Happy long weekend Canadian readers. Make sure you really take Monday off all you wage slaves.

Not sure if this will cheer you up or the opposite but it made me think about a lot of stuff. Click on the banner below to find out how rich you are compared to everyone else.

I am the 262,713,044 richest person in the world and in the top 4.37% richest people in the world. Which is very good for me but, considering the salary that puts me there, not so good for a lot of other people.

Have a great weekend. Count your blessings and enjoy them. You deserve them. As we count ours, you are at the top of the list.