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National Literacy Day is special for Local 1231 member Ernie MacInnis. He was one of four to receive the Ambassador Literacy Award (sponsored by the Nova Scotia Department of Education). He picked up his award on National Literacy Day, Sept. 10, 2001, in Halifax. "It took me 50 years, but I finally got my high school equivalency diploma," said MacInnis. "I came close to getting my diploma a few times but there was always something that stopped me. With the help of my Local, Trenton Works and the Department of Education, I did it this time." In 1999, Trenton Works Ltd. asked the Local to help establish a literacy program in the plant. The first class was held in September 2000. Three classes, with 12 students each, met one day a week for two hours, from September to June. The company supplied the teacher and the meeting space, and paid one hour per week for employees’ classroom time. In exchange, students gave up an hour for class. The Local purchased the textbooks and loaned them to students. When students are ready, the company will arrange for testing at a local school and pay the cost of the test. "As a member of the Local’s Education Committee, I have a chance to talk to everybody about the sort of education they’ve got," said MacInnis. "People are finding out that I went back and did some upgrading through our workplace literacy program so they come and talk to me about it."