Our Mission
At the Literacy Centre of Expertise, our mission is to serve as a collaborative hub and trusted resource, empowering EAL (English as an Additional Language) literacy service providers across Calgary, Alberta, and beyond. We foster partnerships and share research-based best practices to support students and instructors, creating a consistent, client-centered approach to literacy that enhances learning outcomes and drives positive change in our communities. Our aim is to spotlight the exceptional work of EAL literacy service providers, recognizing the dedication, innovation, and compassion of their staff and frontline instructors while celebrating the positive impact they make every day.
Activities
1. Providing EAL Literacy Resources
- Develop and share innovative resources tailored for English as an Additional Language (EAL) literacy instruction.
- Provide diverse resources, including Indigenous Readers, to support culturally inclusive learning.
- Offer 40 phonics stories and workbooks to build foundational literacy skills.
- Introduce an interactive handwriting tool for engaging and effective handwriting practice.
- Supply PBLA-compliant modules that cover all literacy levels, ensuring alignment with recognized assessment standards.
2. Spotlighting Best Practices for EAL Literacy
- Information Hub for Instructors: Act as a central resource for educators, providing access to tools, best practices, and support for teaching English as an Additional Language (EAL) literacy to adult learners.
- Collaboration with Experts: Partner with literacy specialists and educators to create and disseminate informative content through social media platforms, enhancing community engagement and awareness of EAL literacy initiatives.
- Annual Conference: Host the “For the Love of Literacy Conference“ each year, bringing together esteemed presenters and literacy advocates from across Canada to share insights, strategies, and innovations in adult literacy education.
3. Facilitating Professional Development, Training, and Presentations
- Customized Training and Workshops: Organize training sessions and workshops tailored to the specific needs and requests of educators and organizations, ensuring relevance and applicability.
- Ongoing Support for Adult Literacy Programs: Provide continuous support and expert advice to service providers on structuring and enhancing adult literacy programs, helping to improve program effectiveness and learner outcomes.
- Monthly “Let’s Talk About” Sessions: We invite literacy instructors from across Canada to join our online “Let’s Talk About” sessions, hosted in partnership with ATESL Advocacy. Each session features expert presentations on pertinent topics in adult literacy, providing valuable insights for educators. These gatherings also encourage open dialogue, allowing attendees to share their experiences and ask questions, thereby fostering collaboration and strengthening our community.
Our Team
If you would like to book a PD session, request support, or if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us!
Jana Ciobanu, LINC Senior Manager
Jana Ciobanu is the Senior Manager of LINC at TIES, where she has held various positions since 2008. In her current role, she oversees the activities of the Literacy Centre of Expertise, manages the entire Language Department, LINC and ESL, and oversees the Care for Newcomer Children Program as well.
Jana has been instrumental in establishing the Literacy Centre of Expertise, where she is responsible for strategic planning and comprehensive reporting to the funder. Her commitment to the Centre's growth is evident in her efforts to support both instructors and students enhancing the overall educational experience.
Contact: janaciobanu@immigrant-education.ca
Donna Clarke, Literacy Centre of Expertise Lead
Donna Clarke leads the Literacy Centre of Expertise at TIES with a steadfast commitment to supporting literacy learners. With over 15 years of experience working with adults learning to read and write for the first time, Donna understands the unique challenges literacy learners face and passionately advocates for more research and specialized training to better meet their needs.
Donna is proud to be part of a team dedicated to creating high-quality, ready-to-use classroom materials that address the needs of learners with limited or interrupted formal education. In recognition of its impactful contributions to literacy, the Literacy Centre of Expertise received the Council of the Federation Literacy Award from Canada’s Premiers in 2021. In 2024, they were also honored as the Carolyn Dieleman Award recipients by ATESL. Their initiatives include hosting Canada’s first dedicated literacy conference for EAL and LINC instructors and providing a collaborative space for literacy instructors through monthly "Let’s Talk About" sessions. Donna’s dedication to this work was further recognized with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, underscoring the impact of her efforts and the team’s collective achievements.
For Donna, literacy is more than a skill—it’s a bridge to community, confidence, and opportunity. Her work at The Literacy Centre of Expertise is fueled by a tenacity to create lasting change and inspire others to join in building a supportive, nationwide community for literacy instructors and learners.
Contact: donnaclarke@immigrant-education.ca
Jeremy Wilson, Literacy Centre of Expertise Curriculum/Project Developer
Jeremy Wilson is the Curriculum & Project Developer at the Literacy Centre of Expertise at TIES, where he focuses on developing literacy resources and providing instruction tailored to the needs of literacy learners. With experience as a Curriculum Developer, Instructional Designer, and LINC Literacy Instructor, Jeremy is dedicated to continually evolving his teaching and design practices. His work emphasizes creating level-appropriate and multi-modal resources for literacy learners that are shared across Canada and beyond. Together with the team at the Literacy Centre of Expertise, Jeremy has had the opportunity to present the Centre's initiatives at various conferences across Canada, co-host the annual TIES Love of Literacy Conference, and lead monthly "Let's Talk About" sessions.
In his teaching, Jeremy prioritizes explicit instruction and carefully manages cognitive load to address the unique challenges faced by literacy learners. His experiences working with diverse groups at different language levels have enriched his understanding of effective instructional strategies for adult newcomers to Canada. He finds continual inspiration in the resilience and dedication of his learners as they develop their literacy and language skills.
As part of the Literacy Centre of Expertise team, Jeremy is honored to be a co-recipient of the 2024 ATESL Carolyn Dieleman Award and the 2021 Council of the Federation Literacy Award given by Canada's Premiers, reflecting the TIES Literacy Centre of Expertise's commitment to advancing literacy education in Alberta.
Contact: jeremywilson@immigrant-education.ca
John Vasquez, LCE curriculum Developer - LINC Instructor
John Vasquez joined the Literacy Center of Expertise at TIES in January 2023, bringing with him over two decades of rich experience in the education sector. Originally from Colombia and a resident of Canada for the past seven years, John serves as a Curriculum Developer and LINC instructor. His extensive background spans elementary, secondary, and university-level teaching, as well as school administration. In the past five years, he has focused on Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), with a particular emphasis on creating relevant, engaging and accessible material to support literacy students. As the newest member of our creative team, John’s knowledge and commitment to literacy education make him a valuable asset to TIES.
Contact: johnvasquez@immigrant-education.ca
Special Thanks
We would like to extend our thanks and recognition to the following organizations, who have been instrumental in the development of the Literacy Centre of Expertise:
ECSD LINC is a non-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada that has provided LINC classes since 1992. They started the Foundations LINC Program at the Sacred Heart school in 2014, with the goal of offering separate classes for adult ESL literacy students in Edmonton. The advantage of having a literacy only program is that students can receive individualized attention, get targeted learning opportunities from specialized teachers, and participate in classes with a significantly lower class size. In addition to Sacred Heart, they offer literacy classes at One World One Centre and St. Francis of Assisi. The latter supports a women’s only Foundations program. They have also developed curricula and a series of in-house introductory workshops for new teachers. The curricula (Benchmark Profiles & Reference Lists) are hosted through the website LINC Literacy @ ECSD, which can be accessed by other LINC literacy providers.
“A community where all can belong and grow,” Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) is the leading deliverer of settlement services in Atlantic Canada. They are the primary contact in Nova Scotia on refugee, settlement and immigration issues for 2,000+ organizations, employers, government departments and individuals annually.
Helping immigrants build a future in Nova Scotia, they are a “one-stop shop” offering services in Settlement, Employment, Business, Community Integration, Employer Support, Online and Pre-Arrival and Language Services, including a large, robust literacy program.
