Tax Returns
Filing a tax return is the only way to apply for most benefits.
Child tax credits, senior’ benefits, low income – GST.
Need help filling out your tax forms?
Contact Pat to make an appointment to get help.
780-623-2477
Adult Literacy
Various methods and supports are provided to adults with the opportunity to improve foundational skills: reading, writing, document use, numeracy, computer use, thinking and oral communication. The skills gained allows learners to fully participate in society, have better success at gaining and retaining employment, and to pursue further education.
English Second Language—Conversational French—Conversational Ukrainian—Conversational Spanish—Preparation for Written Driver’s Test—Basic Computer Literacy
Community Literacy Program
Various programs and strategies are used to help increase literacy rates in our community. Some examples are:
- Increase book ownership by providing new and used books to be distributed to get books into the hands of kids, youth, and adults.
- Host events such as Love Reading Day, Family Literacy Day, World Book Day and Literacy Day where literacy is highlighted.
- Staff and our volunteers volunteer to read at book fairs at schools and day cares.
- Summer Reading Buddy Program – volunteers are paired with children and promoting reading.
Capacity Building
People from ALL backgrounds are provided with supports to navigate the complex network of community and government services. As will all divisions, the intent is to help individuals learn the skills required so they can become self-sufficient and complete tasks themselves. A holistic approach is used to help the learner determine their pathway and to access services needed to make positive changes in the learner’s life. Examples:
- Access to the internet, computers, phone, fax, scanner, etc. When necessary, volunteers, or staff provide support.
- Access at flexible times to use computers to complete online training for employment.
- Support to newcomers, including settlement services and English language development.
- Working with learners that are vulnerable and are facing multifaceted barriers.
- Assist those that need with form completion (Employment Insurance, obtaining identification documents, AISH or Social Assistance application, preparation of Income Tax, etc)
Leadership and Innovation
In order to meet the needs of the learners there has to be assessment, planning, funding, advertising and promotion, delivery, evaluation, and reporting to Board Members and funders. This division is where individuals become involved in an area that they have a passion for and work on finding partners and funders.
There are no funds to staff multiple positions, so this is where volunteers are recruited and empowered to make projects and events happen. Partnerships are developed between funders and learners. By involving people, it increases their personal wellness through connectedness and a place to belong.
Senior Digital Support Services
We are working on support services for seniors who would like to get more use out of their smartphones or tables. One-on-one sessions to assist in customized learning.
Getting people connected and comfortable in the digital world.
Food Literacy Services
Food literacy is a multifaceted division with some boarder areas including:
- Knowing where your food is coming from. Education on growing and producing your own food, or at the least knowing how food is being produced.
- Environmental literacy (the impact agriculture and food production have on the environment) – Everyone needs to eat, yet many in our community have inadequate or insecure access to food because of personal circumstances, scarce financial resources, and rising food and other household costs. Sadly, 58% of the food produces by farmers never goes to “feeding” people but ends up “filling” landfills.
- Food security
- Using “food” as a tool for learning. Numeracy, reading and writing are ways that can be incorporated through food literacy – measurement, temperature, following recipes, reading labels, writing grocery lists are ways to increase literacy.
The Stone Soup Food Centre has been a project to collect “rescued” food from grocery stores, restaurants, and individuals. This food is then distributed it to people. The program is operated weekdays from 1:00-4:00pm weekdays by volunteers.
Stone Soup Food Centre Website
Other programs include the Barrel Garden Project, Food Preservation Workshops, Food Preparation Safety Courses, and the Seed Exchange Program.
