Event Honours Literacy Award Winners

Delta School District,
Continuing Education
Literacy Leadership

The district has been a provincial leader in adult literacy training, with a long history of removing many of the barriers adult literacy students face. In 1976, there were no adult literacy courses available in Delta. Through the pioneering work of its instructors and dozens of teachers and volunteers, thousands of adults over the past 23 years have developed their literacy skills. Some innovations in recent years include: learner events organized by staff and students; English language courses run at an elementary school during morning hours for the parents of students attending the school; on-site child care at the Delview Adult Learning Centre; and participation with community partners such as libraries and the Delta Credit Union in literacy initiatives. Delta Continuing Education now has approximately 750 adults enrolled in literacy courses each year and an active volunteer tutor program.

Robert Wedel, Capilano College
Literacy Education Award

Robert is a faculty member at Capilano College, where he is responsible for developing and implementing workplace education programs in the health care and forestry sectors. He was nominated by his colleagues for his work in creating curriculum materials used in hospitals and for developing a literacy upgrading pilot project for workers in the pulp and paper industry. His colleagues say, “Robert’s approach to literacy instruction is the empowerment model...every opportunity is offered to learners to become active participants in their own learning. Robert’s style is democratic and eclectic. He is able to listen to the learner or the tutor with an open mind and apply all of his varied background to the situation.”