Government of Canada Provides Support for Family Literacy Project

The Government of Canada has provided Kingston Literacy with $75,000 in funding for a family literacy project.

Through the "Family Literacy Development for the Eastern Region" project, Kingston Literacy will carry out research and planning to establish a Family Literacy Resource Centre. The Centre will encourage and support the development and delivery of family literacy programming in the Kingston area. This project will also encourage the use of the Ontario Literacy Coalition's Family Literacy Kit by all the Early Years Centres, Karly Literacy Specialists, Adult Literacy and Family Literacy programs in the region, and provide ongoing support for new family literacy initiatives based on the models found in the kit.

Literacy skills are linked to work skills, health and self-esteem. Higher literacy skills among Canadians enable them to participate more fully in our economy and our society. For instance, literacy skills help determine the kinds of jobs we find, enable parents to read to their children and help us understand technical jargon, allowing us to use tools and equipment safely.

The National Literacy Secretariat works in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, business, labour and the volunteer community. The goal of these partnerships is to increase public awareness of literacy, help people share information, improve access to literacy programs, develop learning materials and advance research on literacy.

This project supports the Government of Canada's Innovation Strategy and more specifically Knowledge Matters, a policy paper that addresses the national challenge of ensuring that Canadians possess the skills and knowledge required to fully participate in the knowledge-based economy.

To Find out more about the Government of Canada's Innovation Strategy and literacy programs, please visit:
http://www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca

Honouring those who continue to serve The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation

Since serving in uniform, many of Canada's Veterans have continued to provide outstanding service to their country, their communities, and their fellow Veterans. To formally recognize those contributions, the Governor General authorized the creation of the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation.

The Commendation is awarded annually to those exceptional Veterans who have contributed in an exemplary manner to the care and well-being of Veterans; and/or to the remembrance of the contributions, sacrifices and achievements of Veterans.

The Commendation is intended primarily for Veterans, but in rare circumstances may be awarded to non-Veterans. The Commendation may also be awarded posthumously.

Nominations will be reviewed annually by the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation Selection Committee, and successful candidates will be notified. The number of Commendations awarded each year is limited and not everyone nominated is selected.

For more information, or to acquire a nomination form, please visit: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca

New Youth Shelter for Kingston

On June 26,2003, Home Base Housing celebrated the opening of Passage House, an eight-bed emergency and transitional shelter for homeless youth aged 16 to 24 experiencing abuse and domestic violence. The Government of Canada contributed $220,000 to the project. Peter Milliken, M.P. attended the event and spoke to to members of the community assembled for the opening ceremony.