Council of the Federation Literacy Award

Each year, an independent selection committee reviews the nominations and selects the award recipient. Recipients will be presented with an inscribed medallion, a certificate and a $300 cheque.

Nominees considered for this year's award will be:

• An organization that has made significant contributions in Saskatchewan toward encouraging families to recognize literacy, in its many forms, to build individual confidence and lifelong success.

Who may submit a nomination for this award?

Anyone over 18 years of age may submit a completed nomination package (including all supporting information) for the Council of the Federation Literacy Award.

Send a completed nomination package by May 29, 2026, to the 2026 COFLA Selection Committee at:

Provincial Library & Literacy Office
Ministry of Education
409A Park Street, REGINA SK S4N 5B2

or

Email: sask.literacy@gov.sk.ca.

Fill out a nomination form

• 2025 – Southwest Literacy Committee (SWLC) – The SWLC was established in 2005, in Swift Current, as a collaboration between four community partners who had a shared mission – to provide local families with infants with access to age-appropriate books, nursery rhymes, child development information and information around the importance of play.
• 2024 – Nêhiyawak Language Experience, Sturgeon Lake, SK – Was founded in 2004 by Belinda Daniels and offers language experience and education to many individuals through family orientated workshops, lectures and community projects, including the Sturgeon Lake Multifaceted Language Revitalization Project.
• 2023 – Prince Albert Literacy Network, a non-profit community-based organization that provides a variety of literacy programming to enhance children’s and adults’ language and literacy skills.
• 2022 – KidsFirst North, Air Ronge, SK – For improving literacy for families in northern Saskatchewan by creating a Family Literacy Hub. The organization demonstrated leadership in providing culturally appropriate early literacy activities and programming to empower families to support their child’s literacy development.
• 2021 – Family Resource Centre Swift Current Inc., who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, adapted to provide innovative support of families, including providing computers to families, offering programming outdoors or with reduced class sizes, and dropping off kits with books, craft supplies, puzzles and food items.
• 2020 – Renae Lech, a family literacy volunteer with the Great Plains College EAL program, who positively impacted the lives of many newcomers and their families in the Town of Gravelbourg.
• 2019 – LaVera Schiele, a Family Literacy Volunteer who has contributed to building and strengthening family literacy in the City of Prince Albert.
• 2018 – Judy Craig, a Family Literacy Leader who contributed to moving family and early literacy services forward during her 35-year career at the Regina Public Library.
• 2017 – Marilyn Stearns, Saskatchewan Literacy Network (SLN), a passionate family literacy leader who has contributed to building and strengthening family literacy development in Saskatchewan.
• 2016 – Saskatchewan Literacy Network (SLN), a strong advocate for a broader vision of literacy that encompasses social justice, human rights and expression of freedom.
• 2015 – READ Saskatoon, Inc., a community-based organization that has been providing adult and family literacy programming for over 35 years.
• 2014 – Edith Klassen, a volunteer literacy tutor who helps newcomers to the Lanigan area learn English.
• 2013 – Phyllis Jones, a volunteer literacy tutor committed to helping adult learners achieve their goals.
• 2012 – Gordon Li, a literacy learner dedicated to helping others achieve their literacy goals.
• 2011 – Dr. Wei He, a literacy learner in Regina.
• 2010 – Kim Newlove, a K-12 educator and literacy leader from Saskatoon.
• 2009 – Dr. Margaret Lipp, former Literacy Commissioner and accomplished educator, administrator and literacy advocate from Regina.
• 2008 – Irene Jacques, a First Nations Elder and literacy leader from Standing Buffalo First Nation, noted for promoting and establishing Indigenous literacy initiatives provincially and federally.
• 2007 – Colleen Christopherson-Coté, a community literacy leader from Coronach.
• 2006 – Carey Rigby-Wilcox, community literacy volunteer and children's author from Saskatoon.
• 2005 – Lynda Richards, literacy learner and entrepreneur from Swift Current.

Additional information about the awards can be found on The Council of the Federation Literacy Award website.