Taking the Initiative on Workforce Literacy

B.C.'s Workforce Literacy Initiative, funded by the National Literacy Secretariat, is Literacy B.C.'s newest campaign to raise awareness, build partnerships and stimulate activity around workforce literacy.

The development of a B.C. Workforce Literacy Literacy Advisory Council is key to the Initiative. A voluntary coalition of business, labour, education and government representatives, the Council will assist Literacy B.C. to promote workforce literacy among its various stakeholder groups. So far, Council members include: The Business Council of B.C., MacMillan Bloedel, Gallagher & Associates, Vancouver Community College, the B.C. Federation of Labour, the Ministry of Education, Skills and Training, the B.C. Construction Industry Skills Improvement Council and Labour Force Development Consultant, Stu Noble.

Working with the Council, Literacy B.C. will be staging a variety of special events over the next 12 months. Called Literacy at Work in B.C.,these events include a Field Networking Session for workforce literacy practitioners; a Symposium for leaders in business, labour, education and government; and a series of Community Forums throughout the province.

As part of its new initiative, Literacy B.C. will be expanding its workforce literacy information and consulting services. Our inventory of resource materials, available on loan, is growing. A newsletter, called Working on Literacy, will premiere in December, 1997. Semi-annual issues will feature program profiles, interviews, events schedules, and topical editorials about workforce literacy.

Literacy B.C. will continue to work directly with various stakeholder groups --helping business and labour access the resources to launch workforce literacy initiatives, working with adult educators to increase and enhance opportunities for workforce literacy practice, and identifying ways government might improve the effectiveness of programs and strategies that relate or contribute to workforce literacy.

Literacy at Work in B.C.

Literacy B.C. and the B.C. Workforce Literacy Advisory Council are planning two special events this fall to coincide with an international policy conference on literacy being held at the Hotel Vancouver Nov. 4-7, 1997. The two Literacy at Work in B.C. events will be held at the same time as delegates from the 29 member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperative Development (OECD) meet to further explore the implications of the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS). The OECD was a partner with Statistics Canada in producing the IALS research.

Literacy at Work in B.C. --A Field Networking Session, Nov. 4 at the Hotel Vancouver, will give those already involved in workforce literacy an opportunity to share information and explore solutions to the common challenges experienced in the field. OECD delegates will join the Session in the afternoon when a showcase of workforce literacy programs is planned.