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Friday, February 28, 2014

Doctors Are Now Prescribing Books to Treat Depression

Doctors Are Now Prescribing Books to Treat Depression

Reading to feel less isolated may be more than just a poetic thought

By Rose Eveleth

smithsonianmag.com
December 27, 2013

 

William Nicholson once said, "We read to know that we are not alone." And that sentiment, of reading to connect with the world and to feel less isolated, may be more than just a poetic thought. Doctors are now prescribing books to patients with depression, hoping that reading will help them find connections.

 

 If your primary care physician diagnoses you with “mild to moderate” depression, one of her options is now to scribble a title on a prescription pad. You take the torn-off sheet not to the pharmacy but to your local library, where it can be exchanged for a copy of “Overcoming Depression,” “Mind Over Mood,” or “The Feeling Good Handbook.” And depression is only one of over a dozen conditions treated. Other titles endorsed by the NHS include “Break Free from OCD,” “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway,” “Getting Better Bit(e) by Bit(e),” and “How to Stop Worrying.”


This kind of so called "bibliotherapy" isn't a totally new idea. The word was coined in 1916 by a clergyman named Samuel Crothers, but he certainly wasn't referring to self-help books. In 1966, The American Library Association began talking about bibliotherapy. Today, they define the word this way:

 

“The use of books selected on the basis of content in a planned reading program designed to facilitate the recovery of patients suffering from mental illness or emotional disturbance. Ideally, the process occurs in three phases: personal identification of the reader with a particular character in the recommended work, resulting in psychological catharsis, which leads to rational insight concerning the relevance of the solution suggested in the text to the reader's own experience. Assistance of a trained psychotherapist is advised.”


In many cases, bibliotherapy is used with children during tough times. Many might remember books for kids about how to handle the death of a pet or a grandparent. But this program in the U.K. goes above and beyond, hoping that self-help books can aid adults in need as well

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/doctors-are-now-prescribing-books-to-treat-depression-180948211/#ixzz2uf93Jjx2

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Alberta Culture Days

Dear Past Alberta Culture Days Event Planners:

 

Now entering its 7th year, Alberta Culture Days is becoming our province’s largest celebration of our heritage, arts and cultural diversity. This year, you can continue playing a lead role in putting culture centre stage during the last weekend of September!

 

The Government of Alberta is providing funding to organizations to put on events September 2628, 2014.

 

Up to five applicants will be selected to be Feature Celebration Sites and will be eligible to receive a maximum of $20,000 for three days of programming. Additional Host Celebration Sites will be selected and are eligible to receive up to $5,000 for two days of programming. New for 2014, $500 is available for 10 organizations wishing to host a one-day event.  

 

Visit the ‘Get Involved’ section at AlbertaCultureDays.ca for full details. The application deadline is Monday, April 28, 2014.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Alberta Culture Days Planning Team

RBC After School Project deadline for applications is Friday, March 14, 2014.

RBC After School Project                                                                                                                                                      
The RBC After School Project funds community-based organizations that offer structured, supervised after-school programs for at-risk or under-served communities. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 14, 2014.

Celebrate Freedom to Read Week: February 23-March 1, 2014
Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Library of Congress now accepting International Applications for 2014 Literacy Awards

Library of Congress now accepting International Applications for 2014 Literacy Awards

Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Library of Congress Literacy Awards. The awards seek to reward organizations doing exemplary, innovative and easily replicable work to alleviate the problems of low literacy both in the United States and worldwide, and to encourage new groups, organizations and individuals to become involved. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2014.

  • The International Prize ($50,000) will be awarded to an organization or national entity that has made a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels. This award may be given to any organization that is based in a country outside the United States.

The application rules and a downloadable application form may be accessed atwww.read.gov/literacyawardsApplications must be received no later than midnight on March 31, 2014.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs, publications and exhibitions. The Library’s Center for the Book, established by Congress in 1977 to “stimulate public interest in books and reading,” is a public-private partnership. It sponsors educational programs that reach readers of all ages through its affiliated state centers, collaborations with nonprofit reading promotion partners and through the Young Readers Center and the Poetry and Literature Center at the Library of Congress. For more information, visit read.gov.

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Press contact: Guy Lamolinara (202) 707-9217; glam@loc.gov
Public contact: Center for the Book (202) 707-5221; cfbook@loc.gov

$2.5 million allocation to Libraries


New N.L. early literacy program part of a 3-year, $2.5 million allocation to Libraries  
(Government of NL News Release - January 27, 2014) The Early Literacy Foundations (ELF) program is a 12-session program designed to give parents and caregivers the tools to promote and enhance early literacy development in children. The program is being piloted at 14 sites throughout the province with a second pilot phase being planned for spring 2014. THis program is part of a broader early literacy partnership between the provincial government and libraries, with close to $2.5 million allocated over three years for program development, implementation, evaluation, staffing, program resources and enhancement to library sites.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Ontario Government invests $2 million to support technology at public libraries

2M Investment

Ontario Government invests $2 million to support technology at public libraries

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport's investment in the Southern Ontario Library Service in collaboration with the Ontario Library Service – North will provide all Ontarians with access to electronic resources through the public library system. As public libraries usage by Ontarians increases, this is an important investment. SOLS will work with Ontario Library Service – North and Ontario public libraries to explore options for electronic resources that meet learning and research needs of Ontario’s public library users. It is anticipated that electronic information resources will be available at public libraries later this year. Information will be posted as details become available.

 http://www.library.on.ca/ministryprojects/eresources/index.htm



Saturday, February 22, 2014

Adult Learners Week is from March 29 to April 6,2014: Participation, inclusion, equity....


Adult Learners’ Week (ALW) is from March 29 - April 6.

The focus of ALW this year is on participation, inclusion, equity and quality.

UNESCO recommends that countries strive to “ensure equitable, quality education and lifelong learning for all by 2030” as a possible overarching goal on the path to achieving just, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable societies.

http://en.copian.ca/annualevents/ialwc

Social Smarts: Privacy, the Internet, and You (Graphic Novel Discussion Guide)

Graphic Novel Discussion Guide

Social Smarts: Privacy, the Internet, and You

You can use Social Smarts in your classroom to generate discussion about real-life situations to help young people learn to navigate online privacy risks. This graphic novel explores how a brother and sister start at a new school and learn about privacy risks related to social networking, mobile devices, texting and online gaming.

Learning goals / Big Ideas

Students will demonstrate the ability to:

  • Explain why strategies like locking down privacy settings and using different passwords for different online sites can help mitigate risks to online privacy
  • Understand how posting many little details can paint a big picture of who you are
  • Explain why it can be impossible to delete a picture or comment once it has been posted online
  • Suggest strategies to better protect privacy and navigate privacy issues in the online world
  • Learn to be aware of the potential privacy risks of new digital communications technologies, such as those used for online gaming 

Activity

Divide the class into 4 small groups, A, B, C and D, and have them read the graphic novel. When they have finished reading, give each group a piece of paper and a pencil. Have them put themselves in Dave and Amy’s shoes – they are starting a new school and want to make sure that the kids at the school have the right picture of who they are.

Group A: Discuss what steps you can take to make sure that you have control of your online information. Why is it important to lock privacy settings and set strong passwords?

Group B: Discuss how you can make sure that the information you post doesn’t give the wrong impression of who you are in real life. What sort of information is best left offline?

Group C: Discuss how you can learn about privacy risks of new technologies, such as online gaming devices, before you use them.

Group D: Discuss the importance of taking steps to protect your privacy on mobile devices.

How much information could someone learn about you if you left your mobile phone on the bus and it wasn’t protected?

Class Discussion

Talking cellular phoneWhen everyone is finished, have a speaker from each group go over the points they came up with. Allow class discussion and guide the discussion by asking the following questions:

For Group A:

  • Who can access your personal information if you don’t lock your privacy settings tight?
  • Why is it important to use different passwords for different online sites?
  • Is it always possible to delete a picture or post, permanently, after you’ve put it online?

For Group B:

  • How can little details add up to something big?
  • Discuss how someone can figure out where you live from the information you are posting online.
  • Can posting where you are going to be at certain times turn into a safety issue?

For Group C:

  • Does every new kind of technology pose a privacy risk?
  • What are some good ways to figure out if or how a new technology can pose risks to your online privacy?

For Group D:

  • If you lost your mobile device, today, and it had no password, what information would you be most worried about?
  • Are there any reasons why you wouldn’t put a password on your mobile device?

The 10 Tips

If you have time left in the class, look at the 10 Tips to Protect Your Privacy Online that are listed on the back of the graphic novel. Each tip can generate a separate conversation. Discuss each tip and talk about why each is important.

For more information on the topics mentioned in these tips, and on privacy in general, visit our web site for youth, parents and educators at: www.youthprivacy.ca



Call for Participation in Police Record Checks Study

Call for Participation in Police Record Checks Study

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, a national organization that was constituted in 1964 to promote respect for and observance of fundamental human rights and civil liberties, is currently conducting a study on how police background checks are being used in the voluntary and private sectors.  The study is being funded in part by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Volunteer organizations across the country are being contacted to set up interviews and learn more about the topic. No specific knowledge or expertise in this area is necessary. They are mostly interested in getting a basic survey of whether or not organizations are using police background checks and if so, how this information is used.  All surveys are anonymous by default, both with respect to your name and to the name of the organization in which you work.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the lead researcher, Abby Deshman at adeshman@ccla.org.  If you would be willing to lend the study about an hour of your time, please e-mail Mahtot Gabresselassie at outreach@ccla.org.


http://ccla.org


Did you know cumdach, or book shrine?

When is a Book not a Book? The Medieval Book Shrine.

Posted on February 21, 2014 by medievalfragments

By Julie Somers

While browsing images of medieval treasure bindings, I noticed that one example I was looking at was not actually a book at all.  In fact, it was an ornamented wooden case made to closely resemble a book. Produced in Germany, it was created to hold various sacred objects, including leaves from actual books, in this case the Gospels, along with other corporeal relics.

This type of reliquary is often known as a cumdach, or book shrine.  An elaborate ornamented box or case used to hold relics or, more often, manuscript fragments that were considered sacred in some manner. Usually quite small, they served as a portable vessel meant for the preservation of a sacred text that represented a direct connection or association to a saint

It is evident from these examples that these cases were meant to directly resemble a book, symbolizing the important manuscripts found inside. Even today, we place important mementos or documents such as love letters or birth announcements within the pages of a family Bible or book of poetry, or even personal items within a faux dictionary safe placed on a bookshelf. This tradition of encasing our precious items has endured.

http://medievalfragments.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/when-is-a-book-not-a-book-the-medieval-book-shrine/

Friday, February 21, 2014

MacArthur Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society.

MacArthur is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. Through the support it provides, the Foundation fosters the development of knowledge, nurtures individual creativity, strengthens institutions, helps improve public policy, and provides information to the public, primarily through support for public interest media.

International Programs focus on international issues, including human rights and international justice, peace and security, conservation and sustainable development, girls' secondary education in developing countries, migration, and population and reproductive health. MacArthur grantees work in about 50 countries; the Foundation has offices in India, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia.


Media, Culture, and Special Initiatives support public interest media, including public radio, documentary programming, and work to explore the use of digital technologies to reach and engage the public.  Grants are also made to arts and cultural institutions in the Chicago area and for special initiatives.

The MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted $625,000 fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.

Canadian Accessible Library System

Welcome to the Canadian Accessible Library System, a service provided by the BC Libraries Cooperative, and developed with support from The Provincial and Territorial Public Library Council – Conseil provincial et territorial des bibliotheques. Please use this page to search for accessible titles from the repository.

The National Network of Equitable Library Services

Join the process to integrate alternate formats for those with print disabilities into library services in Canada. With the establishment of CALS (Canadian Accessible Library System), public libraries are seeking new library card holders and extending services to existing card holders eligible for alternate format materials.

Through CALS, NNELS partners are set to simplify and extend access for print disabled Canadians. If you are:

  • print disabled Canadian: Find out when your library will be live on the network. You do not need to be a current library card holder to join.
  • local library: let us know how soon you would like to integrate the NNELS service
  • publisher interested in sharing material in alternate format: we welcome working with you.
  • user group or institution with experience and practices to exchangejoin our forums to teach and to learn about library services for the print disabled.

For more information or to get involved, contact us today at nnels@libraries.coop.



National Network for Equitable Library Services (NNELS)

INCREASED LIBRARY SERVICES AVAILABLE IN SASKATCHEWAN FOR PATRONS WITH PRINT DISABILITIES

Citizens with print disabilities will now have increased access to free digital library resources through the National Network for Equitable Library Services (NNELS) project, thanks to an $100,000 investment by the Government of Saskatchewan in the 2013-14 Budget.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to providing equitable access to programs and services for all citizens across the province,” Education Minister Don Morgan said.  “This project has expanded digital talking book collections in every library across the province, enabling all citizens with print disabilities to pursue their passion for reading and engage in life-long learning.”

The Saskatchewan Provincial Library and Literacy Office has partnered with B.C. Libraries Co-operative to develop the Canadian Accessible Library Services (CALS) repository as part of NNELS with other provincial partners including British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba.


http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=35e86f1a-41bc-45a9-84ce-8aee6c726277


Thursday, February 20, 2014

National Commemorative Marker Project

February 20, 2014
 
National Commemorative Marker Project 
 
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN), in partnership with the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and in association with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Métis National Council, has been mandated to support communities to undertake commemoration activities related to their experiences with residential schools. As such, we are working with a group of Indigenous artists from across Canada to design and fabricate commemorative markers for each residential school recognized under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA).

We encourage organizations who have not already received commemoration funding to immediately contact us to apply for a marker and a one time $6500 grant to fund a commemoration event in your community. In order to receive the grant, you will need to hold a commemorative event before March 31, 2014. There is also a marker project website that includes details on previous Commemoration Fund activities, details on each residential school, and a place for you to create and manage your community’s own virtual commemoration page.
 
CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR 
COMMEMORATIVE EVENT
Although you can organize whatever type of 
commemorative event that works for your community 
(a feast, an outing, or a community dialogue), we 
suggest that you use it to:
• inform your community of the marker project and to 
let them know a marker is coming;
• discuss where it will be placed/housed, and when it 
will be installed and unveiled; and
• discuss how you will use your online 
commemoration page.
The grant is to support Survivors, their families, and 
community members to participate in commemoration. 
Part of that involves thinking about how Survivors want 
their experiences remembered both in the community 
and among the larger public. 

ABOUT THE MARKER
The marker will be a small monument that is also a 
container where you can put stories, photographs, and 
anything else that is meaningful to you and reflects 
your experiences of residential school. The marker will 
belong to your community and you can choose to 
install it permanently in your community or to install it 
on the site of the residential school it corresponds to. If 
you intend to place it on the former school site, the AFN 
can assist you by providing a legal agreement template 
(easement) with which you can approach the current 
property owner.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) improves access to services for individuals, families and communities

AIRS STANDARDS

First published in 1973 and now in its 7th edition (7.0 officially being released on April 2nd, 2013), the AIRS Standards underpin and bind together every aspect of I&R and define the direction of all the products and services provided by AIRS.

The Standards are the foundation of I&R service delivery and the prime benchmark of quality I&R.

There are 29 Standards, covering every facet of an I&R operation.  

The AIRS Standards and Quality Indicators for Professional Information and Referral are available for free to everyone passionate about quality I&R.


Here is a Summary of Changes featured in the 7th edition.


February 27th is Shivrathri

Shivrathri Significance
 
Maha Shivratri, the night of the worship of Lord Shiva, occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. It falls on a moonless February night, when Hindus offer special prayer to the Lord of destruction. Shivratri (Sanskrit 'ratri' = night) is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. The festival is observed for one day and one night only.
Importance of Performing Bel Patra Archana on MahaShivratri day
Bael patra (Bilva leaves) represent the three important nadies (nerves), namely, Ida, Pingla and Sushumana. Joining of these three nadies cleanses the brahma nadi of all the sins and opens the passage for the vital force, the Kundalini to reach the Ajna Chakra. The Ajna chakra is positioned at the eyebrow region and has two white petals, said to represent the psychic channels, Ida and Pingala, which meet here with the central Sushumna nadi before rising to the crown chakra, Sahasrara. The vital air helps it to be seated with Shiva in the Sahasrara (the thousand petal plexus). This is known as marriage of Shiva with Parvati. The divine blessing that accrues from it is the realization of the Self by gaining omniscience which marks the end of circle of life and death.


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Deadline for ACORN Grow A Farmer Apprenticeship Program

Deadline for ACORN Grow A Farmer Apprenticeship Program

Name: 
Lucia Stephen
Email address: 
Event location: 
ACORN’s Grow A Farmer Program #11 - 5300 Morris St. Halifax, NS, B3J-1B9
#11 - 5300 Morris St.
B3J-1B9 Halifax, , Nova Scotia
See map: Google Maps
English
Event date: 
Mon, 2014-03-03 17:00

Committed to a career in organic agriculture? Interested in what 'farm-school' would be like? Apply now to the Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network's (ACORN) Grow A Farmer Apprenticeship Program and spend a full season working with an amazing team of organic growers! Application forms are available here – don't miss out on this great opportunity!

 

Deadline for the six-month (May-November, 2014), full term program: March 3rd, 2014

Deadline for the four-month (May-August, 2014), summer term program: April 2nd, 2014

 

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact Lucia Stephen at lucia@acornorganic.org. You can also call the ACORN office by calling our toll-free number at 1-866-322-2676

- See more at: http://foodsecurecanada.org/resources-news/events-calendar/deadline-acorn-grow-farmer-apprenticeship-program#sthash.fGDut2fV.dpuf

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund for Rural Ontario Children

Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund for Rural Ontario Children


A grant of up to $500 per year is available to Ontario rural public libraries, and to urban public libraries that serve a rural clientele. The grant can be used for a variety of purposes in aid of children’s literacy initiatives, including, but not restricted to, • Book Purchases, • Literacy Programs (story hours, guest readers, etc.) • Equipment Purchases (furniture, bookshelves, computer software, etc.)  • Renovations to Children’s Areas in the Library, and • Seed Money to Obtain Matching Grants.


Sarah Rosalind Badgley

Sarah never learned to read, but she adored books. In July 2001, at the age of three, she was killed in an auto accident. Her parents, Susan and Kerry Badgley of Kemptville, Ontario, initiated the fund through the RLA.

 

Rural Libraries

As community focal points, rural libraries perform a variety of functions. In addition to offering access to a wide range of reading material, they provide Internet access, make available audio-visual materials, provide local historical and genealogical services, offer children’s programs, and provide services to tourists. In doing all of this, rural libraries serve as community gathering spots that allows residents to meet and exchange ideas. In short, despite shrinking resources, rural libraries perform vital social functions. One goal of the Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund for Rural Ontario Children is to enhance awareness of the valuable public service that rural libraries perform.


If you wish to donate to the Sarah Badgley fund to help us continue supporting rural library services, please contact us at rla@rurallearning.ca.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

2014 Economic Action Plan, entitled The Road to Balance, Creating Jobs and Opportunities

The Federal Government released its 2014 Economic Action Plan, entitled The Road to Balance, Creating Jobs and Opportunities. In planning to balance the budget in 2015, the federal government offered few new or large items. Skills and training was a top agenda item, however, and the following highlights may be of interest to those in the education and training field.    

The Canada Job Grant
  • The Grant, originally announced in Budget 2013, will provide up to $15,000 per person for training costs, including tuition and training materials, which includes up to $10,000 in federal contributions. Employers will be required to contribute on average one-third of the total costs of training.
  • The Grant will be for short-duration training provided by an eligible third-party trainer, such as community colleges, career colleges, trade union centres and private trainers. Training can be provided in a classroom, on site at a workplace or online.
  • There are provisions for small businesses to allow for flexibility including the potential for in-kind contributions, such as the potential to include wages as part of the employer contribution. 
  • The budget highlighted the government’s commitment to work closely with provinces and territories toward the implementation of the Canada Job Grant and the renewal of the Labour Market Agreements. In jurisdictions where Agreements are not secured, the budget noted that the Government of Canada will deliver the Canada Job Grant starting April 1, 2014 directly through Service Canada, engaging employer networks through the Regional Development Agencies.
Essential Skills Ontario recognizes there are many unknown aspects of the Grant that need to be clarified. We continue to follow the negotiations between the Federal Government and the Provinces closely and hope for a positive outcome that will ultimately assist vulnerable adults to access the training opportunities they need. 

Other Training Items:
  • The federal government plans to expand the Canada Student Loans Program with the creation of the Canada Apprentice Loan. Under the program, apprentices enrolled in a Red Seal trade apprenticeship can apply for up to $4,000 in interest-free loans “per period” of training.
  • $75 million over three years to expand the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers program, which will help unemployed older Canadians in smaller communities find jobs.
  • $40 million for the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program for entrepreneurs creating new businesses.
  • $40 million over two years for up to 3,000 internship positions in “high-demand fields.”
  • $15 million over three years to connect persons with developmental disabilities with jobs.
  • $11.4 million over four years to expand vocational training programs for Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Infrastructure
  • Invests $305 million over five years to extend and enhance broadband internet service for Canadians in rural and Northern communities. 
  • An additional $5 million per year for the New Horizons for Seniors Program to support additional community projects that benefit seniors. This funding can support municipalities, not-for-profits, social enterprises and other community partners to address the needs of seniors.

Charities
Measures aiming to reduce administrative costs and burdens for charities while encouraging increased giving, including:
  • Electronic filing of registration information and annual financial returns.
  • Greater clarity and flexibility for trustees of estates to maximize charitable donations from those estate

Essential Skills Ontario will continue to keep our stakeholders informed on these items as more details emerge. 

Thank you,
Essential Skills Ontario

Monday, February 10, 2014

Eco Energy Program will be accepting proposals from Feb 7 - Mar 7 for the 2014/15 year.

The Eco Energy Program will be accepting proposals from Feb 7 - Mar 7 for the 2014/15 year.  Please forward to any FNs for FN organizations you think may be interested.

 

Detailed Program Guidelines and information on 'How To Apply' is available on the AANDC  webpage at http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100034258/1100100034259

Monday, February 3, 2014

Funding Bulletin: Essential Skills Ontario is soliciting proposals from qualified suppliers for the creation of curriculum and delivery of training

Essential Skills Ontario is soliciting proposals from qualified suppliers for the creation of curriculum and delivery of training to provide individuals with skills needed for entry-level employment in the food processing industry.

Essential Skills Ontario is looking to identify organizations interested in designing and delivering training as part of the Elevate Canada: Raising the Grade for Food Processing Initiative in cooperation with the Food Processing Human Resource Council (FPHRC). Using an integrated approach to essential skills and occupational training, this project seeks to test the effectiveness of this model. For more information about Elevate Canada please visit http://elevate.essentialskillsontario.ca/ 

Proposals that demonstrate the ability to provide training in accordance with program requirements at a competitive cost will be considered.  

To view the entire Request for Proposal, please click here. 

Deadline for proposals is Tuesday, February 18th at 5:00PM ET. Proposals should be submitted to urszula@essentialskillsontario.ca, addressed to “Essential Skills Hiring Committee” with the subject “Vocational and Essential Skills Training”. Please ensure that the name of your organization appears in the file name.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Funding: Canadian Internet Registration Authority Community Investment Program (CIP)

OTTAWA, Jan. 28, 2014 /CNW/ - Innovative ideas and programs that make the Internet better for all Canadians could receive up to $100,000 in funding from the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (www.CIRA.ca), the organization that manages the .CA domain.

CIRA's Community Investment Program (CIP) will provide funding to community groups, not-for-profits, and academic institutions for projects they can demonstrate will enhance the Internet for the benefit of all Canadians. In the coming year, CIRA will be investing up to $1,000,000 back into the community of which qualifying funding amounts may range in size from $20,000 to as much as $100,000. The CIP is open to a wide range of ideas, but proposals must articulate how they will benefit the Internet in Canada.

"CIRA's top priorities include managing the .CA domain; ensuring Canada's Internet infrastructure is safe, secure, and stable; and supporting other Internet-related activities in Canada," said Byron Holland, CEO of CIRA. "We have always championed initiatives that help Canadians take full advantage of the Internet as one of the greatest drivers of positive social and economic change the world has seen in recent memory. With the CIP, we will take this many steps further by making strategic investments that will help other stakeholder groups make the Internet better for all Canadians."

Starting on February 3 and until February 28, the CIP application period will open to quality proposals in need of funding. All funding decisions will be made by a committee comprised of CIRA board members and community stakeholders.

Additional inforrmation will be available on February 3 on CIRA's website at cira.ca.


Saturday, February 1, 2014

Funding Bulletin: RBC and Bell

Bell Let's Talk Community Fund
Through the Community Fund, Bell provides grants of $5,000 to $50,000 to organizations, hospitals and agencies focused on improving access to mental health care and making a positive impact in their communities.  The application deadline is March 31, 2014.
 
RBC After School Project 

ThRBC After School Project funds community-based organizations that offer structured, supervised after-school programs for at-risk or under-served communities. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 14, 2014