Diane Hardy – LOLA recipient, Designer/Director category
Diane Hardy began her career as an educator in 1993 in Bow Valley College’s ESL and work experience programs. Over the years, colleagues and learners increasingly recognized her skills and contributions throughout the many teaching, tutoring, coordination, research and grant-seeking roles she took on. Now the coordinator of half a dozen ESL programs, Diane continues to identify and address foundational learning needs.
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Diane Hardy with the Deputy Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Dr . Bob Fessenden
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Her pivotal work to establish the Bridge Program, a post high school ESL literacy program, resulted in it receiving the 2007 Mayor’s Excellence Award in the category of Literacy Support and Enhancement.
Diane’s vision keeps growing. “In the past year, Diane has assumed a leadership role in the area of curriculum development, professional development and online development for the ESL Department at Bow Valley College,” Charles Pankratz, Dean of Academic Foundations at the College writes, “She is already taking an innovative and collaborative approach, having put together a strong team that works inter-departmentally to develop resources that are well beyond the present resources.”
He concludes, “Diane Hardy is a highly committed educator who is willing to put incredible effort into serving the educational needs she sees and has an impressive track record in innovation. It must also be said that Diane is a wonderful, friendly, good-hearted person who is highly valued and respected by those who have the pleasure of working with her.”
Congratulations Diane!
Euphema Blake – LOLA recipient, Adult Learner category
Euphema’s road to learning was extremely challenging. Her mother died when she was only eight years old and as the eldest of five children, Euphema shouldered many of the responsibilities of raising her younger siblings. “There were so many of us and we never had a chance to learn,” she says.
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| Euphema Blake with the Deputy Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Dr. Bob Fessenden |
Euphema emigrated from Jamaica in the early seventies and raised a family here. She tried learning on her own but found it very hard. When her kids were grown, she came to realize how limiting her reading and writing skills were. “I had to keep asking my kids about everything,” she explains. “I know they got tired of doing all the reading and writing for me.” Euphema also wanted to sing from a songbook and read her Bible with more ease. So she decided to do something about it.
In 2003 Euphema joined the Reading Advantage program at the Calgary Public Library. Now she reads widely and has advanced three grade levels in reading comprehension. Her volunteer tutor Verla Boyle writes, “Never have I taught anyone who has the determined attitude towards learning that Euphema has.” Euphema’s determination and desire to keep learning are boundless and a source of pride and inspiration for those around her. One of her children writes, “My mom has really improved her reading. I’m very proud of her.”
Congratulations Euphema!
Peter Cutting – LOLA recipient, Instructor/Facilitator category
Peter Cutting is the best kind of volunteer adult literacy tutor. He’s reliable, engaging, funny, skilled and a passionate advocate for foundational learners. For more than two decades and over many hundreds of hours, Peter has worked one-on-one and in group settings to help learners achieve life skills through improved literacy learning.
Beyond his tutoring role, Peter has served on the boards of the Alberta Association for Adult Literacy (now Literacy Alberta) and the Calgary Public Library, and has lent his time to fundraising efforts on behalf of adult literacy. Peter has also demonstrated commitment to his own learning.
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| Peter Cutting with the Deputy Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Dr. Bob Fessenden |
In the last several years he participated in professional development as a tutor, attending many workshops and conferences on his own time.
Currently coaching learners at the Calgary Public Library, Peter shares his enthusiasm through a creative and innovative style of literacy coaching that stems from his commitment to a learner-centred approach to tutoring. Ana Mullen, whom Peter has tutored for five years, sums it up: “Peter is a funny and caring guy. He also makes sure that I understand and pushes me to challenge myself. He makes learning so much fun. He is a great teacher to me!”
Congratulations Peter!
