We are thrilled to announce that our Adult Literacy Program Manager, Alla Mysko-Henke, is one of this year’s recipients of the Government of Alberta’s Immigrant Impact Awards (formerly the Alberta Newcomer Recognition Awards) in the Career and Academics Contribution field. She will be honoured with the award on October 3, 2024.
Nominated by two of our dedicated volunteers, Nansen Smith and Evelyn Thompson-Smith, Alla is being recognized for her outstanding work with the Adult Literacy Program, a vital service within the library and our community.
“Alla is an individual of boundless energy, compassion, and service,” says Nansen. “My wife, Evelyn, and I noticed this immediately when we applied to become volunteer tutors in the RDPL Adult Literacy program. As you engage with her, you know you are her prime focus. As well, her cheerful and positive demeanour was genuine and infectious. She and her team are doing extraordinary service in support of the new immigrants to our community, and indeed to Red Deer at large. As a once newcomer and immigrant to Canada, she is a stellar example to all, and Evelyn and I are much the better for having known her.”
The Adult Literacy Program supports the diverse learning needs of a wide range of adult learners, teaching essential skills such as literacy, numeracy, basic digital skills, English language learning, and more.
Because a significant proportion of program participants are, themselves, newcomers to Canada, much of the work done by the Adult Literacy Program focuses on helping them improve their English language skills, including speaking, reading, and writing.
Having immigrated to Canada from Ukraine in 2005, Alla understands firsthand the challenges of relocating to a new country and facing language difficulties.
“Even though I already spoke English when I came to Canada, it was still challenging because the spoken language is quite different from what I learned,” Alla explains. “The expressions people use in their everyday life, the cultural references, and humorous remarks are not something that is taught in a different country. You have to be here, with Canadian people, and learn from them every day.”
Despite the incredible recognition this award brings, Alla remains humble, crediting the entire Adult Literacy Team and its dedicated volunteers for making the program a success.
"Receiving this award is more than my personal accomplishment. This is the acknowledgement and the celebration of the team I work with: the Adult Literacy staff, the volunteers, and Red Deer Public Library as an organization, who all make the Adult Literacy Program such a success. Together, we bring our differences, strengths, backgrounds, and experiences, and this is what makes this program so unique."
The Adult Literacy Team works diligently to register learners, recruit and train volunteers, and make thoughtful matches between the two to ensure both parties are set up for a positive experience.
The extraordinary volunteers, who meet one-on-one with their learners for a few hours each week, create a truly transformative impact.
“The time our volunteers give to their learners, the time they spend in training and lesson preparation, their presence, and their ongoing commitment are the heartbeat of this program. What they give by volunteering is absolutely essential and has effects far beyond what they will ever know or expect."
The Adult Literacy Program is nothing short of life-changing—for both learners and volunteers alike. It strengthens connections within our community and helps create a better, more inclusive environment for all.
With the rising demand for this program, RDPL is always in need of additional volunteer tutors to work one-on-one with adult learners. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer tutor, please contact the Adult Literacy Department:
Call: 403-346-2533
Email: adultlit@rdpl.org
Visit: Dawe Branch, Red Deer Public Library, 56 Holt St. (in the G.H. Dawe Centre)
About the Alberta Immigrant Impact Awards:
The Alberta Immigrant Impact Awards (formerly the Alberta Newcomer Recognition Awards) celebrate the outstanding contributions of Albertans born abroad. They honour individuals – youth, women, seniors, entrepreneurs, community builders and others – who have enriched the province through volunteer activities, leadership, innovation, business, or academic and professional achievements.
Nominees must have been born outside of Canada but are now Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and currently living in Alberta. They can have resided in Canada for many years, or just a few.
Information from alberta.ca/alberta-immigrant-impact-awards, opens a new window
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