We are extending an invitation to our partners in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Hastings, Northumberland and Peterborough to join us for a full day Literacy Service Plan (LSP).
This is a great opportunity to learn together and connect with each other. We will end the day feeling energized and inspired. We will have made some new connections and we will have new ideas to explore. There is no cost and lunch is provided. We are just so excited to be able to spend a day with our partners.
Date: Thursday February 20, 2025 from 9:30 to 4:00 at Baxter Creek Golf Club 1702 Cedar Valley Rd, Fraserville, ON.
See below for the agenda.
To pre-register, contact Carrie Wakeford:
Agenda
Keynote Speaker: Rowan Jette-Knox
Rowan Jetté Knox (he/him) is a transgender man, award-winning writer and human rights advocate from Toronto, Canada. A sought-after international speaker, he shares his powerful story of resilience, acceptance, and unconditional love in the hopes of normalizing the existence of transgender people, as well as those living with mental illness and trauma. After facing many challenges in his teen years, Rowan graduated high school with honours at 38 years old.
Prior to transition, Rowan was a 2019 Chatelaine Woman of the Year, a 2020 Woman of
Influence, and a 2021 recipient of the Order of Ottawa. His work has been featured by several national and international media outlets, including CBC, BBC, The Today Show, CTV’s The Social, The Good Stuff with Mary Berg, O Magazine, and Upworthy.
Rowan is the author of the two bestselling memoirs LOVE LIVES HERE and ONE SUNNY AFTERNOON. He lives in Toronto with his family and a coffee maker that never quits.
Each attendee will receive a signed copy of Love Lives Here
Apprenticeship Panel
There is so much talk about the need to attract and support people into the trades. LBS can play a significant role in preparing people with the skills they need to get started. We can also support people currently in the trades, which increases retention. Through this panel you will learn about the needs of employers, the services available to apprentices and employers, and the learning supports available through LBS.
Representatives include Melanie Remonde (Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development), Matt Schulman (Executive Director Peel-Halton-Dufferin Adult Learning Network), Mike Whitefield (former General Contractor with 40 years experience in the trades), Rebecca Schillemat (Executive Officer Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association), Jan Gourley (Project Manager with Literacy Link South Central – Step Up and Succeed project – supporting small employers in finding and keeping apprentices), and Jennifer Lamantia (Chief Executive Officer with the Workforce Development Board).
Building Effective Partnerships for Community Success with Suzie Johnson-Smith
With over 30 years of dedicated Health and Human Services experience, Suzie Johnson-Smith has proudly led hundreds of organizations across North America in improving services, while building highly effective teams. Her educational background is in Social Work, adult learning principles, leadership and change management and she is an international Bridges out of Poverty trainer and a certified life, leadership and organizational coach. She is passionate about lifelong learning and making a meaningful impact.
Suzie will lead us through a discussion of our current relationships, followed by additional strategies for strengthening our communities through effective partnerships.
If you have questions or would like to pre-register, contact Carrie Wakeford:
