1. 2005 Family Literacy Day a Resounding Success

January was once again a month for celebrating as Literacy BC championed the partners, sponsors and literacy proponents across sectors who make the annual National Family Literacy Day a huge success. The “Breakfast of Champions” was held on January 27th at Vancouver Public Library, where Premier Gordon Campbell and other representatives from government, business, schools, libraries, and organizations with an interest in families and learning joined an audience of over 250 to hear two very special keynote speakers. This year’s presenters were John Abbott, Director, The 21st Century Learning Initiative (UK) and Clyde Hertzman, Director, Human Early Learning Partnership.

A highlight at the Breakfast was the presentation by the Premier of his high school graduation certificate to Nick Prince, a student at the Canucks Family Education Centre in Vancouver. Nick was featured on the NALD Story of the Week.

Sponsored by Honda Canada and celebrated in communities across B C and Canada, Family Literacy Day spotlights the fact that learning is a family affair.

Every year, on January 27, families celebrate this day at literacy-themed events coordinated by literacy organizations, schools, and libraries. Events range from special breakfasts, read-a-thons, celebrity story readings, book drives, and reading circles.

This year, the government of BC, along with more than 40 mayors from towns and municipalities across the province, proclaimed January 27th as Family Literacy Day.

Read the events flyer and a complete list of the partners and sponsors of the 2005 Family Literacy Day/Week Campaign.

2. A Legacy to Last

In November, 2004 Premier Gordon Campbell appointed a 12-member advisory panel with a mandate of assessing the nature and scope of literacy challenges in British Columbia; describing those communities and groups whose unmet needs are greatest; and evaluating strategies for building capacity, forging intersections, and increasing profile for the issue in the province.

Since their appointment, the Premier’s Advisory Panel on Literacy has met four times over five days. Chaired by Linda Mitchell, the Executive Director of Literacy BC, the Panel has reviewed the numerous research and consultation studies of the past decade, surveyed participants from the Premier’s Literacy Summit, listened to community perspectives arising out of the initial work of Literacy Now, and engaged in dialogue with diverse literacy and lifelong experts.