Iqaluit’s Pinnguaq Association has won an award for its adult digital literacy program, a media release from ABC Life Literacy Canada announced Thursday. 

The association’s Inclusive Futures: Skilled Workforce Development in Nunavut program received an honourable mention and $10,000 through the 2022 Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award for its work developing employment and essential skills training for unemployed adults living in remote communities in Nunavut. 

The award, presented by non-profit adult-learning organization ABC Life Literacy Canada, recognizes organizations that create innovative adult literacy skills programs in Canada.

The Inclusive Futures program works with mostly Inuit learners who have low digital literacy skills or who have faced barriers to accessing technology and provides them with laptops. 

The program includes a four-day workshop on foundational digital literacy skills like writing resumes and cover letters and learning how to code. It also offers support through a free online learning platform that covers topics on technology, financial literacy and employability among others. 

Stella’s Circle Community Services in St. John’s, NL, also received $10,000 and the Further Education Society of Alberta received the top prize of $20,000.