Commission names advisory board members

The Saskatchewan Literacy Commission now has an advisory board in place to help develop a literacy strategy for the province.

The commission was created in September 2005 as part of the SaskSmart-Literacy for Life Initiative that will work to provide everyone in Saskatchewan with basic literacy and essential skills in English, math, science and technology.

The strategy to be developed by the commission will focus on six key literacy knowledge centres-Aboriginal, workplace-based, family, adult, early learning and second languages.
The advisory board will be chaired by Saskatchewan Literacy Commissioner Dr. Margaret Lipp, the former assistant deputy minister of Saskatchewan Learning.

Also on the board are Gladys Christiansen, director of education for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band; Okanese First Nation Chief Marie-Ann Day Walker-Pelletier; and Brian Opikokew, director of programs for Flying Dust First Nation.

Other board members include Deirdre Crichton, regional director of the Parkland Regional Library; Dr. Ann Curry, assistant director of the University of Regina's Saskatchewan instructional development and research unit; Bula Ghosh, vice-president of Cypress Hills Regional College; Keith Hanson, president of Sun Ridge Group and director of the Saskatchewan Home Builders' Association; Holly Hetherington, business co-chair of the Saskatchewan Labour Force Development Board and co-chair of the Youth, Education & Training Committee of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce; Regina-based language instructor and consultant Wieslawa (Vicki) Ignerowicz; Fay Stupnikoff of the Prince Albert Parkland Regional Health Authority; and Regina Chamber of Commerce president Michael Zaplitny.