The annual Breakfast of Champions, the flagship event of BC Family Literacy Week, attracted key representatives from government, school districts, libraries, business, labour and other organizations with an interest in families and learning.
http://www2.literacy.bc.ca/flw2008flyer.pdf
This year, four special guest speakers addressed the Breakfast theme of Bridging Cultures and Strengthening Communities --how Information & Communications Technology (ICT) is being used effectively to improve literacy around the world.
Keynote speakers were John Corcoran, author of Bridge to Literacy: No Child – or Adult – Left Behind, on his foundation's online tutoring and assistive technology initiatives; Calvin Helin, northern-BC based author of Dances with Dependency, on the importance of literacy to Aboriginal communities; Ian Thomson, Director of TEFA International, on the success of a ‘Computers in Homes’ program in promoting learning for Maori families in New Zealand; and Vince Walter, Advisor to the Rotary International Literacy Resource Group, on their Computer Assisted Literacy Solution.
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Keynote speaker Calvin Helin, author of Dances with Dependency, at the Breakfast. |
Linda Reid, Minister of State for Child Care, addressing guests at the Breakfast, was presented with a certificate acknowledging her as a champion of family literacy |
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Support for Lower Mainland Family Literacy Week was provided by the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (HRSDC) and by BC's Ministry of Advanced Education, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Children and Family Development.
15,000 books donated to BC families
Family literacy programs in BC received an early Christmas present in December, thanks to the generosity of one of BC's longstanding family literacy supporters. In the run-up to Family Literacy Week 2008, Scholastic Book Fairs generously donated 15,000 children's books to Literacy BC for distribution to BC children and families.
On December 19, staff and volunteers from Scholastic, Literacy BC, the Canucks Family Education Centre and Britannia Community Services Centre joined representatives of the Canucks, and the kindergarten class of Britannia Elementary School, to package the donations and courier them to more than 100 programs province-wide. Lunch was provided by Panago Pizza and Starbucks Coffee Company
Scholastic Book Fairs and Literacy BC have worked together to support family literacy in BC for ten years.