Welcome to P.A.L.S.!
Welcome to P.A.L.S.! We’re changing lives through literacy!
P.A.L.S. has over 200 students and about 150 volunteers working as tutors with them. It is a busy, happening place just off Jasper in our downtown core.
Thank you for your interest in P.A.L.S. You might want to tutor, you might want to be a student. You might want to support P.A.L.S. in some other way. Everyone is welcome! Drop down and check us out!
Thank You Volunteers!
Thank you to all of our volunteers! You inspire us everyday!
Happy National Volunteer Week!
Team Conference
P.A.L.S. Team Conference
Saturday, May 5, 2018
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
NorQuest College
Singhmar Centre for Learning Entrance
10215 -108th Street
Room A205
Workshops for
Adult Learners
Volunteer Tutors
Meet new people
Student Speakers
Tutor Speakers
Door prizes
Have fun!
Registration is limited to 80 participants
Register by Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Team Conference Registration Form
Email: conference@palsedmonton.ca
Maria, Literacy for English Language Learners Student
Hello, good evening. My name is Maria. I´m from Mexico.
I would like to tell you about my journey learning English. I started two and a half years ago when I came to Canada.
First of all, the English language has always been important in my life. Since I was a child I have been trying to learn it every day. Sometimes at school, and sometimes using the internet on my own. (more…)
Daniel, Literacy
Hi! My name is Daniel Scott
My life was a struggle everyday before I came to P.A.L.S. I couldn’t read signs or the menu or the bus schedules. With my kids I couldn’t read to them and I couldn’t even play a board game with them.
A lot of jobs require reading and writing skills and using computers. Most times I just didn’t have the ability and they wouldn’t hire me. One job they actually fired me.
I heard about P.A.L.S. and I just had a feeling it would be the right place to get help. Every one was friendly and they got me a tutor named Lisa right away. She’s awesome. (more…)
Duane, Math Literacy
I, Duane Alexander Payne grew up and went to school in Edmonton. During my teen years I was too busy partying – trying to be cool, not too concerned about my future and taking everything for granted. I did very little to keep up with my studies and even though I had no learning barriers I struggled in class. As a result of my attitude I dropped out of school half way through grade 10, not realizing that not getting the diploma could cause so many barriers in my future.
(more…)
P.A.L.S. on Global News Morning
P.A.L.S. Math Literacy Coordinator Monica and math tutor Jennifer were interviewed on Global News Morning Edmonton:
Gourmet Food Fundraiser
You can order Gourmet Bulk Food (frozen) through P.A.L.S. and P & L Sales.
You must place your order by December 12 – Happy Holiday Party. The order must be prepaid.
Gourmet Food Fundraiser Information
Gourmet Food Fundraiser Order Form
Please return the form to the office or email info@palsedmonton.ca
You can pick up your order on Monday, December 18 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at
P.A.L.S. Office – 41, 9912 – 106 Street.
Or after that time at
P&L Sales
11635 – 145 Street
Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thank you for your support in this fund raiser!
Vote for P.A.L.S.!
Support P.A.L.S. and help us win funding for the Math Literacy program!
Vote between October 10 – 19
- Go to avivacommunityfund.org
- Register with an email account or through Facebook
- Vote up to 18 times for our Math Literacy Program at:
avivacommunityfund.org/voting/project/view/17-458
- Share the link and get your friends and family to vote!
- Ask staff for help with voting
Thank You!
It Looks Like Me – United Way Campaign 2017
Your donation changes real lives. Here is Danny’s story:
As a young man Danny’s home life was in disarray. Danny and his brother ran away and joined the circus. He learned many new skills and trades during his 12 years. “I learned how to be an electrician, painter, a sheet metal person, a truck driver,” he says. “I learned how to trust people and I learned self-esteem. I was really good with numbers and I could understand blueprints fairly easily. I could build almost anything. I didn’t have to read.”
But as he got older Danny found he struggled because he couldn’t read. His wife suggested he connect with the Project Adult Literacy Society (PALS) in Edmonton. P.A.L.S. is a not-for-profit organization that helps adult learners improve their reading, writing, speaking, and math skills. It has operated in Edmonton for over 35 years.
Learning how to read later in life was a big challenge, but Danny was motivated. He had just completed a detox program. “If I was going to survive I needed to be able to understand the AA literature.”
A local adult literacy program connected me with a tutor and the inspiration to learn. — Danny
Danny now helps others to open doors through literacy. “The rewarding part now is being associated with P.A.L.S. and United Way,” says Danny. “There are so many adults like me out there who need help. Just helping one person really means a lot to me.”
Danny says he receives as much back from the program as he puts into it. “We were in a program the other day and the guy in front of me said, ‘I just want to read like Danny.’ I can’t tell you how that hit me.”
Danny Haines is one of the 2017 Faces of the United Way and has been featured in previous United Way poster series’ before. The United Way of the Alberta Capital Region is proud to work with this tremendous advocate for literacy and community wellness.
As a young man Danny’s home life was in disarray. Danny and his brother ran away and joined the circus. He learned many new skills and trades during his 12 years. “I learned how to be an electrician, painter, a sheet metal person, a truck driver,” he says. “I learned how to trust people and I learned self-esteem. I was really good with numbers and I could understand blueprints fairly easily. I could build almost anything. I didn’t have to read.”
But as he got older Danny found he struggled because he couldn’t read. His wife suggested he connect with the Project Adult Literacy Society (PALS) in Edmonton. P.A.L.S. is a not-for-profit organization that helps adult learners improve their reading, writing, speaking, and math skills. It has operated in Edmonton for over 35 years.
Learning how to read later in life was a big challenge, but Danny was motivated. He had just completed a detox program. “If I was going to survive I needed to be able to understand the AA literature.”
My United Way September 1, 2017
Metro Community Choice Award
P.A.L.S. received the Metro Edmonton Community Choice Award for Community Services!
The following article was published in the August 8, 2017 Metro.
Nooria had to quit her job as a television anchor in Afghanistan because of war and threats to her life for being a woman and working outside the home. She moved to Canada by herself in 2009. In Toronto she attended school to learn English for a year. When she moved to Edmonton she worked twenty hours a day so she could have the funds to sponsor her family. In 2014 she sponsored her family.
All this time Nooria never lost her desire to improve her skills. In April 2016, she went to P.A.L.S. to improve her math skills. After the assessment, she was matched with her tutor Paul. Paul quickly realized how hard working and self-motivated she was. So instead of two hours per week they decided to meet for four hours every week on her day off.
Her employer saw her progress and sponsored her for the pastry chef program at NAIT. To do so, Nooria had to have grade 10 math. She registered at Metro Continuing Education and continued working with Paul. In June 2017 she passed her Math 10C. She says it was tough and at times felt like giving up, but with the help from P.A.L.S. and Paul, she accomplished her goal.
Nooria has now joined the P.A.L.S. Literacy for English Language Learners Program to improve her reading and writing skills. She is now confident that she can pass the Pastry program at NAIT and pursue her dream job as a pastry chef.