Ministerial Literacy Awards

The Ministerial Literacy Awards are given to people and organizations that are literacy leaders in the NWT. It is important to recognize the valuable contributions that people and organizations make to literacy in the NWT. These awards are given out by the Government of NWT, Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

There are two categories for the award:

1. Organizations
2. Literacy Practitioners
   
   

Organization Award – Rotary Club of Yellowknife

For the past eight years, the Rotary Club of Yellowknife, in partnership with Weledeh Catholic School, has run the Kids Ahead reading program. The Rotary Club provides a mentor to every student in Grade 1. The mentor and student meet each week during the school year to read books or play literacy games in the school library. All Weledeh Grade 1 students receive a mentor, even if English is not the student's first language. Rotarian Reading Buddies have read books with Grade 1 students in NWT Aboriginal languages, French, English and Braille.

Literacy Practitioner Award – Suzanne Robinson

Minister of Education, Culture and
Employment, Charles Dent, presents
Suzanne her award at the awards ceremony.

Suzanne Robinson is an Adult Literacy and Basic Education (ALBE) instructor with Aurora College in Inuvik. Suzanne has shared her enthusiasm for books and learning with her students and the community as a whole. In addition to being an exemplary ALBE instructor, she has devoted countless volunteer hours to promoting family and community literacy. Suzanne organizes weekly Family Literacy Nights, which encourage parents to read with their children. She started the Inuvik Literacy Committee which promotes literacy in Inuvik. She also has been a board member with the NWT Literacy Council for several years.