1. Take Action to Influence Change

The Movement for Canadian Literacy continues to work hard on our behalf to influence public policy at the national level. MCL’s August 2004 Federal Literacy Facts outlines MCL’s plans to influence action on a pan-Canadian literacy strategy and renewed federal literacy policy. MCL will be connecting with newly elected parliamentarians, and working with the literacy coalitions to support further advances at the provincial/territorial level.

MCL is also planning a successful Literacy Action Day on Parliament Hill on October 21 and is circulating a petition that encourages the federal government to develop a comprehensive literacy strategy. The signed petitions will be hand-delivered to Parliament Hill on Literacy Action Day. For a copy of the petition visit www.literacy.ca

2. Literacy BC 2004 Annual General Meeting

Please join us on Friday, October 15, 2004 for our Annual General Meeting from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Executive Hotel, 1379 Howe Street, Vancouver. Meet federal and provincial representatives, literacy practitioners from across BC and the Literacy BC Board of Directors for 2004-05. Enjoy a wine and cheese reception and celebrate another very successful year for literacy in BC. RSVP by October 8 to info@literacy.bc.ca or 1-800-663-1293 toll-free in BC.

3. New Service from Literacy BC: What’s Happening in Literacy?

At Literacy BC we use a variety of methods for disseminating news and information to the field, including our web site, print newsletter, electronic network, and this e-bulletin. Yet, still more information passes through our office that we would like to pass on to you. To that end, we have instituted a new service called What’s Happening in Literacy? What’s Happening? is a compilation of abbreviated information about new projects, upcoming conferences, funding opportunities, teaching resources, and much more. As well, it includes a list of new acquisitions available for borrowing from our Provincial Literacy Resource Centre. View What’s Happening? at www.literacy.bc.ca.

4. First Recipients of the Paul Gallagher Access Fund Announced

Literacy BC is pleased to announce the first recipients of the new Access Fund, named in memory of former Literacy BC President, Paul Gallagher.

The Paul Gallagher Access Fund provides community based learning centres with financial resources to assist adult students with emergency needs. Bus fare, daycare, clothing, gas money or other costs that would make a difference between attending and not attending a literacy/ABE program are covered by the fund.

Ten thousand dollars is being distributed this month to 19 community based learning centres across the province who have demonstrated a need for assistance related to adult literacy/ABE student access issues. A list of the recipients will be posted on the Literacy BC web site www.literacy.bc.ca in the near future.