Welcome to the first show of our 3rd season. This week we’re on location on campus at Brian Mulroney Hall, hosted Crystal Cline and Alicia Yvonne, the show was also produced and written by Adam Wright and Candice Whitman. You can view this episode in segments ( One , Two or Three) or click on the related links(pictures) below.

As the leaves begin to change colour and the temperature begins to drop, flu season is on its way. The feeling is much different this fall. The added threat of the H1N1 virus has sports teams and recreational groups wondering how it could play into their perfect season. Jason Cassidy has more.

The Fredericton Acadian bus terminal has found a new home.It will be moving to a temporary loction on the first of October.The move has been met with a lot of critism. Danny Carson has more.

Students learn that university life isn’t always fun, and budgets become a big part of their lives,quickly learning to cutback on expenses. Vanessa Trindade has the story.

Aspiring poets in Fredericton are getting ready to take their art to the street. Renowned English Professor Andrew Titus is leading the way.  His poetry workshop takes place every Wednesday at 6.

Emma Smith took a look inside.

Acadieman, the first Acadian superhero is coming to the big screen. He’s the star of what’s being called Le Movie.

It’s part of the International French Film Festival happening this week Moncton.

Lily Boisson has the story.

The 52^nd annual Music on the Hill concert series supported by UNB and STU,

began this Friday at the Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Fredericton.

Well…this is the  last show of our season!  Enjoy the show below(in six segments!) and join us again next season.

Slug:Douthwright-Smoking Ban-Mar30/10

Date: April 1^st, 2010

Runs: 3:41

Outqueue: I’m Brittany Douthwright

Smith Adult Literacy

April 1, 2010

Time: 3:48

Out que: …I’m Emma Smith

Intro: From April 18^th to 24th volunteers across Canada will be recognized.  Volunteers here in New Brunswick are relied upon to teach adult learners basic literacy skills.  And as Emma Smith explains, the province faces some particular literacy challenges.  

Sound-up Johnson tutoring Cliff/close-up of work books/close-up of Cliff working

This is Sandra Johnson and John Cliff.  They’ve been coming here every Monday and Friday for three years.  Johnson is a tutor at Laubach Literacy.  She works one on one with adults like Cliff to improve reading and writing.  People come to Laubach for a number of reasons.  Some, like Cliff, have a disability that wasn’t properly addressed in the education system.  Others had to quit school early, or just need to upgrade.

Johnson Interview

“I did have one that was actually taking courses at the university level.  And his tutor told him that if he couldn’t write any better that he needn’t come back.  So he came and just took the Laubach handwriting course, and that was a success.”

People reading and studying in McCain

Literacy is something that we take for granted as university students.  But outside these walls people like John struggle with the daily task of reading and writing.  People can have low literacy skills for a number of reasons.  Some adults had to quit school early.  Others just needed special attention that they didn’t get in the education system.  And so, many New Bruswickers grow up not being able to read bills, or understand a label on a medicine bottle.

Graphic of downtown

We may not think of Canada as having a literacy problem.  Yet, four out of ten Canadians struggle with literacy.  Here in New Brunswick that number is much higher.

Downtown Fredericton/ people walking

More than 60% of adults don’t have the basic literacy skills.  In the past decade 340,000 people have moved from Atlantic Canada to another part of the country.  The young and educated people leave.  And New Brunswick is left with an older and less literate population. 

Janette Deshairnes on computer/close-up of face/zoom out hands on keyboard

Janette Deshairnes is the only paid employee at Frontier College.  The non-profit organization trains volunteer tutors who work with people struggling with literacy.  Frontier College works with learning groups across Canada.  But Deshairnes says New Brunswick faces some specific literacy challenges.

Janette Interview

“New Brunswicks economy is largely based on natural resources like forestry and fishery, so we have a lot of the population that’s out in rural areas, and a lot of people don’t have access to a lot of tutoring like we have programs that we have here.  Or even like they’re dealing with dial-up internet instead of high-speed.  So they don’t have the resources they’d have in bigger cities.”

Johnson tutoring Cliff

There’s often a stigma that’s put on people who need help with their literacy.  It’s difficult for adults to go back and learn the basic of reading and writing.  And so the people who most need help aren’t getting it.

Janette Interview

“I think there’s a lot of misinformation out there about literacy, about how it’s a certain sector of the population, or it’s just the young people.  ‘Anyone who’s graduated from high school must be able to read’.  That’s not true there are so many people who need help.  You know they’ve just slipped through the cracks.”

On-cam

Canada is one of the few industrialized nations that doesn’t have a system set up for adult education.  This means most of the funding and programming falls to the provinces.  Because of the lack of money most of the training is done by volunteers.  Literacy is more than just learning how to read.  Volunteers at places like Laubach literacy help people develop a wide range of skills including how to use a computer and problem solving

Johnson tutoring Cliff/ close-up of family photos/ Herb and Ruth Cliff

Literacy groups and tutors work diligently with adult learners.  They equip them with the confidence to flourish in their communities.

Herb and Ruth Interview

“Now he’s much more part of the community.  He was much more isolated before.  He wouldn’t say it, but he was.”

Johnson tutoring Cliff

For STU Journalism, I’m Emma Smith

Intro: The NB Power Deal has been under debate for the past few months. Last Wednesday, Premier Shawn Graham announced that Quebec had cancelled the deal. Crystal Cline has the story.

Runs:1:30
Out: the story

Visuals                                   Narration

[READ TRANSCRIPT HERE]

               (Read Transcript Here)

At age seven my grandfather taught himself hot to dance. He learned by watching other men dance in the town square of Vila Franca de Xira.

“I feel, I don’t know everytime I put on my uniform, and I listen to the music, it looks like something some power comes into my body. I have to do something. I have to dance. I gotta jump.”

That same year he became a “Campino” a portuguese cowboy alongside his father. Everyday he would check fences, feed bulls, and pick which bulls would be sent to the bullfights. When he was almost 8 years old a bull charged and put him in the hospital for six days. It nearly killed him.

A year later he had a similar accident. While running from a bull he tried to jump a fence. The wire from the fence cut into the tendon in his arm. Today he cannot straighten two fingers on his right hand.

At the age of 13 he started tending to his own group of bulls, and by 16 he decided he was tired of entertaining bulls and wanted to entertain people instead.

While he was dancing and travelling my grandmother, Ne, was home with their two children. That’s my father on the right. Today my grandmother looks through pictures of her life in Portugal and shares her memories with me.

“There was a time when we went to Portugal, maybe ten years ago, but I’m not sure. The groups he taught in Vila Franca honoured him during a ceremony and it was nice, it really moved me. I was really happy, and it moved me to see everyone applauding for him.”

During his career my grandfather danced for many presidents and prime ministers, but he has two fans that will forever remain in his memory. He entertained Queen Elizabeth, and shook hands with a man who touched hundreds of hearts.

“This is a doctor from South Africa, Dr. Barnard. He’s the first doctor to makea heart transplant. That’s the first man that did it. He passed through Portugal and I danced for him. I feel so happy, I never forget that day.”

When my sister and I were young my grandfather started a folklore group in Saint John. I used to hate it….and yes that’s me in the red and black skirt and a puffy blouse….but today I miss it. I’m so happy I had tp put on ten layers of skirts and share the stage with my grandfather.

It started out small with only four members, then grew to 17 members. Karla Renouf was a member of Portuguese Provinces and remembers the time well.

“I don’t know it was just a good time always. We always had fun even though we didn’t want to go, but once we were there it was a good time. He always made it a good place and a happy thing, and it was a good experience, and I’ll never forget it.”

My grandfathers wish it to pass down his tap shoes to the next generation. He cannot wait to teach the next Trindade his fist dance step.

“Oh I feel great. Yes, I’m very happy. When I first find out I feel to cry because she’s my baby, my little grandaughter gonna have a baby, but you have to understand so I’m very happy now. I hace the picture right there, and I look at it , and I’m like I can’t wait to see you.”

For my avo retiring is not an option. He will continue to teach… and he will continue to dance. For STU Journalism I’m Vanessa Trindade

                                                                   (Read Transcript Here)