Family Literacy Roundup

Breakfast of Champions 2007 – Celebrating Family Literacy

Literacy BC and our partners celebrated our 8th annual Breakfast of Champions: Setting the Course for a Lifetime of Learning on January 26 at the Vancouver Public Library. The annual Breakfast – featuring special keynote speakers and a wide cross-section of guests -- is a cornerstone of the Family Literacy Day celebration and a key part of British Columbia’s Family Literacy Week.

Keynote Speakers: Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) Report Launched

One of two keynote Breakfast speakers was Dr. Paul Cappon, President and CEO, Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) who launched the first annual report from the CCL on The State of Learning in Canada (No Time for Complacency). The CCL website has full details of the Breakfast launch, report highlights, and additional news releases.

The CCL report is a comprehensive analysis of research on key aspects of learning in Canada, including early childhood learning, learning in school, adult learning and Aboriginal learning.

In addition to launching the CCL Report, the Breakfast also featured Peter Hicks, Executive Director, Strategic Analysis, Audit and Evaluation Branch, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, who presented a keynote address on "A life-course approach to policy analysis: Does it work for literacy?”

More than 200 guests attended the Breakfast, including representatives from all levels of government, colleges, school districts, libraries, business, labour and organizations with a vested interest in families and learning.

Breakfast guests were welcomed by federal and provincial government representatives Shirley Bond, Minister of Education and Deputy Premier; Linda Reid, Minister of State for Child Care (Ministry of Children and Family Development); Hedy Fry, MP, Vancouver Centre; and Lorne Mayencourt, MLA, Vancouver-Burrard.

Welcoming remarks were also given by special guests Joan Andersen, Chair, Vancouver Public Library Board, Sir John Daniel, President and CEO, Commonwealth of Learning; and Robert Munsch, children’s author and national spokesperson for ABC CANADA Family Literacy Day®