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TIES Powerful Education Programs Spotlighted in National Production

News

Lights, camera, action!

Hundreds of TIES LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) students showed off their star power in a video shoot by Avenue.ca — a Canadian learning and teaching platform.

“It was great to see the instructors' and clients' excitement to be featured in the video,” LINC Manager Kerry Howard said.

“They (students) were genuinely proud to share what they had learned,” Senior Manager, Language Programs and Childminding, Jana Ciobanu added.

“More than anything, the experience felt affirming. Our clients and instructors felt seen and valued and there was a shared sense of pride in showcasing the work we do at TIES.”

The Opportunity to Shine

The opportunity to highlight TIES LINC programs first presented itself last year after Howard was approached by Avenue.

Avenue.ca is a free, interactive online learning platform specifically designed to help adult Canadian newcomers learn and practice English or French. Managed by Avenue Canada Solutions, a national charitable organization, it serves as a vital tool for settlement language programs like LINC.

Avenue’s platform is designed to support Technology-enhanced Language Learning (TELL) and helps more than 150 community organizations, school boards and colleges create a virtual classroom solution.

Ken Desson, an adult education consultant for the organization, says choosing to profile TIES wasn’t a difficult one.

“Avenue selected TIES because it represents a strong, credible example of integrated newcomer support,” Desson said.

‍“It has a clear emphasis on language and literacy training for newcomers.”

“Additionally, its growing focus on digital skills training reflects an important shift toward equipping newcomers with the competencies needed to navigate online environments in everyday life in Canada.”

Lessons Learned

Desson and cameraman Jimm Fox travelled from down East to Calgary in late April. For the next three days they toured all three TIES locations capturing the magic that happens every day — camera or no camera!

“We were impressed by the consistent and effective use of technology in every classroom we visited,” Fox said.

“It was clear that TIES instructors skillfully use smart whiteboards to engage learners both in the classroom and remotely at the same time.”

Desson and Foxx said what stood out for them the most was the “consistently positive and engaged participation of learners in TIES programming.”

“In every classroom, there was a clear sense of warmth and rapport between instructors and students,” they added.

“Overall, the experience reflected a welcoming, confident learning community where learners felt comfortable, supported, and fully engaged.”

The Finished Product

For TIES, the video shoot will hopefully showcase the important work that it does.

“TIES does a significant amount of meaningful work behind the scenes, and we are often fully focused on meeting students’ immediate needs,” Ciobanu said.

“This means, we don’t always have the opportunity to pause and share the work we do.”

“I hope the public is able to see the impact that harnessing technology and innovative approaches can have to program delivery,” Kerry Howard added.

“It felt great to be chosen for this feature as it reminds us of the great effects our work has for learners and professionals across the country.”

“I hope we can put a spotlight on adult learning, particularly in the language classroom,” e-LINC and LINC Manager Whitney Loewen said.

“I think the majority of Canadians have no idea of the years of work newcomers put in behind the scenes.”

The Avenue shoot also captured the work that TIES’ LCE (Literacy Centre of Expertise) team has done in developing high‑quality digital literacy resources for all of Canada. Desson and Foxx also stopped in, to check on, TIES Settlement & Financial Literacy program.

“It was a moment of deep pride for me and for TIES,” Manager Noha El Tanahi said.

“I hope that when Canadians see this, they realize that settlement is a shared journey. I want them to see TIES as a vital bridge. We aren’t just filing papers, we are helping people navigate a new culture and truly feel at home.”