CLLRNet Supports North Bay Student to Research Family Literacy at UPEI

Ashleigh McBain of North Bay, Ontario has just said farewell to her colleagues at the University of Prince Edward Island after spending the summer carrying out research in family literacy. She is one of eleven Undergraduate Summer Research Assistants who received national awards this year from the Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network (CLLRNet). The network supports these awards to assist language and literacy students to acquire research skills in preparation for potential graduate work. They are presented to students in their second last year of a three-, four-, or five-year program.

Ashleigh has been working with Dr. Vianne Timmons, UPEI Vice President of Academic Development, on projects spanning a wide range of research topics, including knowledge translation, inclusion, and family literacy. In particular, she has been involved in a project called Families Learning Together. From 2003 to 2006, researchers from UPEI have worked with 31 families to develop and implement a literacy program for aboriginal families in Atlantic Canada. The project, also funded by CLLRNet, has sought to create a literacy program that embraces the significance of aboriginal culture in order to effectively promote family literacy within aboriginal communities. Ashleigh has contributed to the final phase of this project.

"The UPEI community has made me feel very comfortable. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by many wonderful, intelligent people who have made my time at UPEI both interesting and enjoyable. This summer has been the experience of a lifetime," she says.

Ashleigh adds that she has found her experience at UPEI to be a valuable asset for her future career as an educator and a graduate student. She will be continuing her education in Nipissing University's Bachelor of Education program this fall.