About the Manitoba Reading Association

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The Manitoba Reading Association (MRA) is a provincial council of the International Literacy Association. As a non-profit organization run by volunteers consisting of teachers, librarians, students, and parents, we are committed to the promotion of literacy and to the improvement of literacy instruction throughout Manitoba. Furthermore, MRA supports Manitoba's local reading councils. 

What We Do:
  • Provide inservice opportunities for educators, parents, students, etc.
  • Network with other literacy organizations throughout the province.
  • Evaluate current and future instructional practises in the areas of literacy.
  • Sponsor an international literacy project annually: We have a three-year commitment to support one student through the Volcanes Community Education Project. 
  • Support the International Literacy Association (ILA) by publicizing its worldwide literacy activities and by promoting its extensive selection of publications and brochures.

Recent Highlights

  • MRA organized the successful 4th Adolescent Literacy Summit on April 12 and 13, 2017 in Winnipeg. We hosted internationally renowned literacy leaders, along with Canadian and Manitoban authors. Manitoba educators were also included in the program, and we continued to showcase the achievements here at home. For the first time, the Summit also included a student panel.
  • MRA supports executive members to attend the International Literacy Association's Annual Conference and Exhibits. This allows our members to keep informed and connected to the most current research in the field.
  • MRA has continued to build a strong presence on social media, networking educators across the province and beyond. We host Twitter chats and have regular book draws. We appreciate donations from publishers and authors.
  • Our volunteer executive is represented by urban, rural, and northern members and each has a wealth of experience and skill. We strive to find new ways to innovative and to support our Manitoba educators, parents, and students. We have held meeting and sessions in the Millennium Library and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. 
  • MRA supports the work of four member councils in the province.
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Accepting the ILA Award of Excellence at the 2017 ILA Annual Conference (L-R: Carol Hryniuk-Adamov, Former Provincial Co-ordinator; Lori DiGisi, ILA Board; Arlene Kinden, MRA Treasurer; Tiffany Sears, ILA; Barbara Lepp, Provincial Coordinator).

Board of Directors

Click here to contact the Manitoba Reading Association, or reach out on Twitter. 

Executive Positions

ILA Provincial Coordinator – Barbara Lepp
President – Susan Hayward
President-Elect – Lisa Carlson
Vice-President – Nominations Currently Open! 
Recording & Corresponding Secretary – Stacey Bradley 
Treasurer – Arlene Kinden
Director of Membership Development – Barb Galessiere

Members-at-Large

Adult Literacy – Barb Reimer
First Nations – Donna Prince
Northern MB – Vacant
Manitoba Education – Angie Burdett
Hutterite Representative – Vacant
University of Manitoba Representative – Vacant
University of Winnipeg Representative – Vacant
Brandon University Representative – Julie Ann Kniskern
Westman Region Representative – Vacant
Eastman Region Representative – Vacant
Early Literacy – Vacant
Technology: Website – Brian Wyzlic
Technology: Public Relations and Social Media – Susan Hayward
General Members-at-Large – Lori Emilson
French Immersion – Vacant

Council Representatives

Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg – Brenda Grieve and Arlene Kinden
Manitoba Council of Reading Clinicians – Carol Hryniuk-Adamov and Susan Barnabe
Pembina Escarpment Reading Council – Lisa Carlson and Barbara Lepp
Brandon Reading Council – Nicole Olson and Stacey Bradley
Parent Brochure – Vacant 
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