What's Literacy?

Literacy Quebec
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Welcome to What's Literacy? by Literacy Quebec, a community-based podcast for English-speaking, lifelong literacy learners in Quebec. Our host, Dan Laxer, explores topics around community building, lifelong curiosity, and the multiple types of literacy. It's incredible what we can learn from each other!

  1. Episode 90 - World Read Aloud Day with Children's Author Sara O'Leary, Featuring Member Spotlight on Darlene Brown from TLE

    FEB 5

    Episode 90 - World Read Aloud Day with Children's Author Sara O'Leary, Featuring Member Spotlight on Darlene Brown from TLE

    In this episode, we're celebrating World Read Aloud Day! Held on the first Wednesday of every February, this day highlights the power of reading aloud in building community and promoting literacy. To honour this day, Dan chats with children's author Sara O'Leary about her work and the benefits that reading aloud has. Sara's children's books include A Kid is a Kid is a Kid, This is Sadie, When You Were Small, and The Little Books of the Little Brontës. Her new book, A Friend is a Friend is a Friend, comes out in April of this year. Sara O'Leary's website: ⁠https://saraoleary.ca/⁠ We're also featuring our Member, Executive Director Darlene Brown from The Learning Exchange (TLE) in Laval, who shares all the wonderful literacy-based programs her organization offers for adults and families. The Learning Exchange (TLE) website: ⁠https://tleliteracy.com/ Have questions or need help? Contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literacy Quebec's Literacy Helpline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or call 1-888-521-8181.  Jump onto⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.literacyquebec.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for events and to find what literacy services our members can offer you or someone you know.  What's Literacy? is a podcast for English-speaking listeners and learners interested in everything and anything to do with literacy in Quebec and beyond. Follow our host, Dan Laxer, as he explores community building, lifelong learning, and the multiple types of literacy through his interviews with a range of special guests.  Subscribe, share our podcast, and write to us at info@literacyquebec.org, call us at 514-508-6805. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LiteracyQuebec  Special thanks: Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theme Music ‘No Math’ by Cú: Jaan Eerik Priks & Brian Francis Devaney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    36 min
  2. Episode 89 - Mental Health and Literacy with Tracy Woodward, Featuring Member Spotlight on Julia Asselstine from Literacy Unlimited

    JAN 14

    Episode 89 - Mental Health and Literacy with Tracy Woodward, Featuring Member Spotlight on Julia Asselstine from Literacy Unlimited

    In this episode, Dan speaks with Tracy Woodward, Social Integration Skills Instructor at Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB), about the impact of mental health on literacy skills. Tracy shares her experiences at the Douglas Mental Health Institute, where she helps individuals reintegrate into the community by teaching essential social skills. She compassionately explains how mental illness can hinder the ability to maintain literacy skills for some adult learners, and how traditional methods may not work for everyone. We're also featuring our Member, Julia Asselstine from Literacy Unlimited in Pointe-Claire, who discusses the various forms of literacy, the incredible programs her organization offers, along with upcoming initiatives for Family Literacy Day. In honour of this episode's topic, we'd like to shine a light on mental health services and hotlines available to those in Quebec: If someone is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Info-Social 811 811 htps://www.quebec.ca/en/health/finding-a-resource/info-social-811 Free and confidential telephone consultation service. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Anyone who lives in Québec can call Info-Social 811 for themselves or for a family member or friend. 211 Services 211 htps://www.211quebecregions.ca/en/ 211 is an information and referral service that refers citizens towards community organizations, public and parapublic services and programs near them. Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 Text CONNECT to 686868 htps://kidshelpphone.ca/ Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, multilingual and confidential support to help all young people Feel Out Loud. Drugs: Help and Referral (Drogue-aide) 1-800-265-2626 htps://www.aidedrogue.ca/en/ Drugs: Help and Referral (DHR) provides support, information and referrals to anyone worried about their use of drugs, alcohol, and/or medication, as well as, to their loved ones.Literacy Unlimited website: https://literacyunlimited.ca/ Have questions or need help? Contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literacy Quebec's Literacy Helpline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or call 1-888-521-8181.  Jump onto⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.literacyquebec.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for events and to find what literacy services our members can offer you or someone you know.  What's Literacy? is a podcast for English-speaking listeners and learners interested in everything and anything to do with literacy in Quebec and beyond. Follow our host, Dan Laxer, as he explores community building, lifelong learning, and the multiple types of literacy through his interviews with a range of special guests.  Subscribe, share our podcast, and write to us at info@literacyquebec.org, call us at 514-508-6805. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LiteracyQuebec  Special thanks: Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theme Music ‘No Math’ by Cú: Jaan Eerik Priks & Brian Francis Devaney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    31 min
  3. Episode 88 - Exploring AI with Charlotte Nurse from Canada Learning Code, Featuring Member Spotlights with Greg Graham from WQLC and Angelina Leggo from EQLC

    12/03/2025

    Episode 88 - Exploring AI with Charlotte Nurse from Canada Learning Code, Featuring Member Spotlights with Greg Graham from WQLC and Angelina Leggo from EQLC

    Have you ever heard of the term "AI literacy"? In this episode, Dan chats with Charlotte Nurse, Director of Programs at Canada Learning Code. Charlotte unpacks what AI really is, how it works, and how we can use it responsibly and effectively, such as a tool to enhance learning and boost productivity. If you're nervous about AI use, you won't want to miss this conversation! Plus, hear from two of our members, Greg Graham from Western Quebec Literacy Council and Angelina Leggo from Eastern Quebec Literacy Council. They both share the amazing literacy programs their organizations offer, what's on the horizon for both of them, and more. Canada Learning Code website: ⁠https://www.canadalearningcode.ca/Western Quebec Literacy Council (WQLC) website: ⁠https://www.wqlc.org/Eastern Quebec Literacy Council (EQLC) website: https://eqlit.ca/ Have questions or need help? Contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literacy Quebec's Literacy Helpline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or call 1-888-521-8181.  Jump onto⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.literacyquebec.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for events and to find what literacy services our members can offer you or someone you know.  What's Literacy? is a podcast for English-speaking listeners and learners interested in everything and anything to do with literacy in Quebec and beyond. Follow our host, Dan Laxer, as he explores community building, lifelong learning, and the multiple types of literacy through his interviews with a range of special guests.  Subscribe, share our podcast, and write to us at info@literacyquebec.org, call us at 514-508-6805. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LiteracyQuebec  Special thanks: Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theme Music ‘No Math’ by Cú: Jaan Eerik Priks & Brian Francis Devaney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    50 min
  4. Episode 87 - Let’s Talk Money This Financial Literacy Month: Conversations with Li Zhang from CPA Canada, Featuring Rachel Wagner from South Shore Literacy Council

    11/11/2025

    Episode 87 - Let’s Talk Money This Financial Literacy Month: Conversations with Li Zhang from CPA Canada, Featuring Rachel Wagner from South Shore Literacy Council

    Talking about money can often feel anxiety-inducing for many of us...but it doesn't have to be. Join host Dan Laxer as he chats with Li Zhang, Director of Social Impact and Financial Literacy Leader at CPA Canada. Li leads CPA Canada’s Financial Literacy Program and Indigenous Mentorship Program, helping Canadians build confidence in managing their finances. They dive into why it’s important to talk about money, how to ask for financial support when you need it, simple tips for saving better, and more! Plus, hear from our member, Rachel Wagner, Executive Director of the South Shore Literacy Council. Rachel shares her passion for literacy and the amazing programs her organization offers to support English-speaking families and adults on the South Shore. Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) website: https://www.cpacanada.ca/⁠ South Shore Literacy Council website: https://www.southshoreliteracy.org/ Have questions or need help? Contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literacy Quebec's Literacy Helpline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or call 1-888-521-8181.  Jump onto⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.literacyquebec.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for events and to find what literacy services our members can offer you or someone you know.  What's Literacy? is a podcast for English-speaking listeners and learners interested in everything and anything to do with literacy in Quebec and beyond. Follow our host, Dan Laxer, as he explores community building, lifelong learning, and the multiple types of literacy through his interviews with a range of special guests.  Subscribe, share our podcast, and write to us at info@literacyquebec.org, call us at 514-508-6805. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LiteracyQuebec  Special thanks: Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theme Music ‘No Math’ by Cú: Jaan Eerik Priks & Brian Francis Devaney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    50 min
  5. Episode 86 - Unlocking Health Literacy: Conversations with Therese Callahan from ARC, Featuring Marlene Dagenais from Laurentian Literacy Centre!

    10/15/2025

    Episode 86 - Unlocking Health Literacy: Conversations with Therese Callahan from ARC, Featuring Marlene Dagenais from Laurentian Literacy Centre!

    Join Dan Laxer as he chats with Therese Callahan, the Community Outreach Coordinator at Assistance and Referral Centre (ARC), for an insightful conversation on health literacy! In this episode, they dive into the amazing work ARC does to help English-speaking Quebecers on the South Shore navigate health and social services. Dan and Therese also talk about what health literacy is and why it matters, the impact of AI and technology in healthcare, the recent end of free COVID vaccine shots in Quebec, and much more! Plus, we're putting a spotlight on one of our Members! Hear from Marlene Dagenais, the Executive Director of the Laurentian Literacy Centre, about the incredible work they do to help English-speaking Quebecers in the Laurentian region with their literacy skills. Assistance and Referral Centre (ARC) website: https://arc-hss.ca/ Laurentian Literacy Centre website: https://laurentianliteracy.ca/ Have questions or need help? Contact⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literacy Quebec's Literacy Helpline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or call 1-888-521-8181.  Jump onto⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.literacyquebec.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for events and to find what literacy services our members can offer you or someone you know.  What's Literacy? is a podcast for English-speaking listeners and learners interested in everything and anything to do with literacy in Quebec and beyond. Follow our host, Dan Laxer, as he explores community building, lifelong learning, and the multiple types of literacy through his interviews with a range of special guests.  Subscribe, share our podcast, and write to us at info@literacyquebec.org, call us at 514-508-6805. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LiteracyQuebec  Special thanks: Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theme Music ‘No Math’ by Cú: Jaan Eerik Priks & Brian Francis Devaney⁠⁠⁠⁠

    26 min
  6. Episode 85 - Back to School with Joseph D'Intino (The Montreal Fluency Centre)

    08/14/2025

    Episode 85 - Back to School with Joseph D'Intino (The Montreal Fluency Centre)

    In time for back-to-school season, Dan chats with Joseph D'Intino, a psychologist (Ph.D.) from The Montreal Fluency Centre, ⁠about the challenges that children may experience when transitioning to new grades or schools. How can children and parents navigate these changes? Joseph offers his insight and top tips. The Montreal Fluency Centre website: Home - Montreal Fluency CentreMore on Literacy Quebec:  Have questions or need help? Contact⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literacy Quebec's Literacy Helpline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or call 1-888-521-8181.  Jump onto⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.literacyquebec.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for events and to find what literacy services our members can offer you or someone you know.  What's Literacy? is a podcast for English-speaking listeners and learners interested in everything and anything to do with literacy in Quebec and beyond. Follow our host Dan as he explores community building, lifelong learning, and the multiple types of literacy through his interviews with a range of special guests.  Subscribe, share our podcast, and write to us at info@literacyquebec.org, call us at 514-508-6805. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LiteracyQuebec  Special thanks: Podcast⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theme Music ‘No Math’ by Cú: Jaan Eerik Priks & Brian Francis Devaney⁠⁠⁠

    31 min
  7. Episode 84 - Melissa Racine - Screentime with MediaSmarts

    07/03/2025

    Episode 84 - Melissa Racine - Screentime with MediaSmarts

    In our latest epsiode, Dan chats with Melissa Racine from MediaSmarts about the challenges of managing screentime in today's digital age. They delve into practical strategies for balancing screen use, particularly for children and families. Melissa shares tips on setting limits, encouraging healthy tech habits, and fostering open communication regarding digital consumption. MediaSmarts website: https://mediasmarts.ca/ More on Literacy Quebec:  Have questions or need help? Contact⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literacy Quebec's Literacy Helpline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or call 1-888-521-8181.  Jump onto⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.literacyquebec.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for events and to find what literacy services our members can offer you or someone you know.  What's Literacy? is a podcast for English-speaking listeners and learners interested in everything and anything to do with literacy in Quebec and beyond. Follow our host Dan as he explores community building, lifelong learning, and the multiple types of literacy through his interviews with a range of special guests.  Subscribe, share our podcast, and write to us at info@literacyquebec.org, call us at 514-508-6805. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LiteracyQuebec  Special thanks: Podcast⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theme Music ‘No Math’ by Cú: Jaan Eerik Priks & Brian Francis Devaney⁠⁠

    15 min
  8. Episode 83 - Julia Norcross - Preventing the Summer Slide

    06/11/2025

    Episode 83 - Julia Norcross - Preventing the Summer Slide

    Join our host, Dan Laxer, as he welcomes Julia Norcross, Programs Manager at ABC Life Literacy Canada. They dive into the "Summer Slide"—the challenge of students losing some academic gains over summer break. Julia shares practical tips and creative strategies to help families keep their literacy skills sharp while enjoying all those summer adventures. Don't miss this engaging discussion packed with ideas to keep your kids learning! ABC Life Literacy Canada: https://abclifeliteracy.ca/ Article about the summer slide: https://abclifeliteracy.ca/news/8-ways-to-prevent-the-summer-slide/ More on Literacy Quebec:  Have questions or need help? Contact⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literacy Quebec's Literacy Helpline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or call 1-888-521-8181.  Jump onto⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.literacyquebec.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for events and to find what literacy services our members can offer you or someone you know.  What's Literacy? is a podcast for English-speaking listeners and learners interested in everything and anything to do with literacy in Quebec and beyond. Follow our host Dan as he explores community building, lifelong learning, and the multiple types of literacy through his interviews with a range of special guests.  Subscribe, share our podcast, and write to us at info@literacyquebec.org, call us at 514-508-6805. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LiteracyQuebec  Special thanks: Podcast⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theme Music ‘No Math’ by Cú: Jaan Eerik Priks & Brian Francis Devaney⁠

    18 min
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About

Welcome to What's Literacy? by Literacy Quebec, a community-based podcast for English-speaking, lifelong literacy learners in Quebec. Our host, Dan Laxer, explores topics around community building, lifelong curiosity, and the multiple types of literacy. It's incredible what we can learn from each other!

Information

  • Creator
    Literacy Quebec
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    87
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Literacy Quebec
  • Show Website
    What's Literacy?