Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry with Literacy Northwest representatives.
On October 1, 2009, the Ontario Literacy Coalition (OLC) hosted a reception at Queen’s Park to applaud the work of literacy programs across the province. The goal was to promote awareness of how investing in literacy and basic skills programming contributes to Ontario’s economic prosperity.
Members of Provincial Parliament and numerous government ministers gathered to meet literacy stakeholders from across Ontario and acknowledge their support of individuals (especially displaced workers) through the current economic downturn.
John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and Minister of Research and Innovation; Robert Bailey, Critic, Training and Apprenticeship; Gary Porter, transitioned adult learner and business owner; and Lesley Brown, Executive Director of the Ontario Literacy Coalition spoke to those who gathered. All applauded the efforts of the literacy practitioners, tutors, and administrators, and the success of adult learners across Ontario.
The OLC invited several people to speak to literacy as the key to economic recovery:
- Trudy Lothian – President and Chair, OLC Board of Directors (emcee)
- Honourable John Milloy – Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Minister of Research and Innovation; MPP (Kitchener Centre)
- Mr. Robert Bailey – Critic, Training and Apprenticeship; MPP (Sarnia-Lambton)
- Gary Porter – Transitioned Literacy, Laubach Literacy Ontario and Business Owner
- Lesley Brown – Executive Director, Ontario Literacy Coalition
John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and Minister of Research and Innovation and Gary Porter, transitioned adult learner.
All applauded the efforts of the literacy practitioners, tutors, and administrators, and the success of adult learners across Ontario.
Speeches can be viewed by visiting the OLC’s YouTube Channel and photos of the event can be found on the OLC Facebook Page. While visiting our networking site, become a fan of the OLC!
The Ontario Literacy Coalition is proud to have offered the opportunity for government officials and literacy stakeholders across Ontario to network. Connections made at these events go a long way to making sure literacy stays on the policy agenda.
Thank you to Reza Miridi, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister, for sponsoring the event and to everyone who attended.
Quality People, Quality Programming
October 26, 2009 — ontarioliteracycoalitionCBC Radio One’s Metro Morning Show (a personal favourite of mine) recently aired a commentary by Michael Hlinka, questioning the practices – and quality – of adult literacy programs. This questioning was based on hearsay. Hence, I must comment.
The literacy field has risen out of the church basement and become an illustrious industry that permeates this province – and country.
You can find literacy in your school, in your college, in your library, in your community, in your local YMCA/YWCA, in your health care system and in your workplace.
We include the volunteers in your community-based organizations but the majority of us are the adult educators and administrators in the not-for-profit and public spheres, which include your libraries, schools and colleges, and other such institutions.
We are the editors re-writing documents in clear language.
We are the public speakers presenting governments and businesses with the literacy tools that makes a more productive society.
We are the project managers researching and creating teaching tools, establishing brand new programs and marketing our products.
We are the social workers bringing literacy students from every race, religion, and socio-economic class together through learning.
We are the conveners developing partnerships between people, social service providers, governments and private companies.
We are the accountants managing all of this on unbelievably minuscule budgets.
We are the professionals making our society a truly accessible one.
When you take a team of professionals, like those that exist in the literacy industry, and you combine it with people who want to learn and a supportive government body, you surely find high quality programs – and a high quality field.