Moving Forward: A Pan-Canadian Literacy and Essential Skills Strategy

Movement for Canadian Literacy (MCL) has done a tremendous job at facilitating national discussions and putting forth recommendations regarding the need for a Pan-Canadian Literacy and Essential Skills Strategy. We at Literacy BC have been doing everything we can to actively support MCL in this essential initiative.

Please refer to and read the current issue of literacy.ca which clearly outlines MCL’s progress to date. The article on page 5, Influencing Change: Your Voice Matters by Chris Dendys is a must read. We all have a voice and role in moving this agenda forward and we urge you to take action locally!

In October 2002 delegates from BC participated in the annual Literacy Action Day in Ottawa. They included Audrey Thomas, Ellen Szita and Vicki Austad. Also in October, Literacy BC’s Executive Director, Linda Mitchell participated in a Best Practices Roundtable, where representatives from across the country developed recommendations for the Canadian government regarding literacy. Twelve recommendations were presented to the Minister of HRDC, Honourable Jane Stewart.

The impact of these recommendations was felt just one month later, at the National Summit on Innovation and Learning, when a Pan-Canadian Literacy and Essential Skills Strategy was identified as a key government priority.

On March 20, at the request of the Human Resources Development Canada’s Standing Committee studying literacy, Jean Rasmussen, Director of Community and Family Development & Training, represented Literacy BC before the Committee at a presentation in Ottawa. Jean encouraged the committee to:

IN THIS ISSUE: ... Canada Post Call for Nominations ... The Co-operators 2003 Provincial Learner Achievement Award ... Canada Post Corporation: Leaders in Family Literacy ... 2003 Summer Literacy Institute ... First Steps Project ... Donor Appreciation

Develop a national agreement on literacy and essential skills Increase capacity for literacy and learning by increasing resources to provincial and national literacy organizations Invest in “Learning Communities” which are community based and support social and economic development and prosperity Invest in our people and in our communities in the way they need and want us to - with the cornerstone of this investment being literacy and learning

To keep you informed of the progress of this exciting agenda for change, the latest issue of MCL’s literacy.ca is included as an insert with our newsletter. Here you will find a comprehensive summary of the work to date and the next steps.