New Funding for Literacy Programs

March 27, 2009 — ontarioliteracycoalition

After a long and difficult decade of static funding, literacy programs in Ontario are set to receive an injection of $90 million over the next two years.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced the additional funding for literacy and basic skills programming in the Ontario Budget 2009, released on March 26, 2009. The funding also re-introduced an emphasis on workplace literacy, an important focus for the province as it moves through these turbulent economic times.

The OLC was invited to attend the budget lock-up and OLC Executive Director, Lesley Brown, was able to ask questions of public officials and Ministry staff in advance of the Finance Minister’s speech.

The OLC will keep on top of this issue as it develops and we will be sure to keep you posted.

For more information on the LBS funding increase and refocus on workplace literacy, please see the following:

  1. OLC Press Release – Ontario Literacy Coalition welcomes Government of Ontario New Investment in Adult Literacy Training
  2. Full Details of the Ontario Budget  – Ontario Budget 2009

The Ontario Literacy Coalition worked in partnership with their Public Relations Committee to raise literacy and basic skills as a priority in meeting the growing demands for training and skills development within the province.

Members of the Ontario Literacy Coalition’s Public Relations Committee:

AlphaPlus Centre
Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes
Deaf Literacy Initiative (DLI)
E- Channel Strategy
Laubach Literacy Ontario
Literacy Link Niagara
Literacy Northwest
Ontario Literacy Coalition
Ontario Native Literacy Coalition
Project READ Literacy Network Waterloo-Wellington
PTP (Adult Learning and Employment Programs)
QUILL Learning Network

Also consulted with:

CESBA
College Sector Committee
Community Literacy of Ontario

Posted in Announcements, Funding, Government News, In the News, OLC News. 5 Comments »

Book Launch Makes Headlines

March 17, 2009 — ontarioliteracycoalition

Learning From Our History Launch

Learning From Our History Launch

Ontario Literacy Coalition’s launch of Beyond the Book: Learning From Our History on February 26 was a huge success.

Over 100 of our partners and friends from across the province, country and beyond, came together to celebrate the past, present and future of lifelong learning. Representatives from local programs, regional networks, the provincial government, provincial literacy streams, provincial coalitions from across Canada, national literacy organizations, private sector partners, and international learning organizations joined the OLC in championing the literacy movement and people in the field.

The OLC would like to thank Dr. Allan Quigley for researching and writing literacy’s various historical tales, the Canadian Council on Learning’s Adult Learning Knowledge Centre for funding the initiative and Teachers Life, whose donation made the day’s event possible. Thanks to the Toronto Public Library for their support of this event and for use of the venue. Thanks to the talented technical contributors who worked to make the book a success. And immeasurable thanks go to the literacy heroes and heroines whose stories make up Canada’s first documentation of adult literacy as a historical movement.

Carol Goar, of the Toronto Star, was present to experience first hand the momentum within the literacy field, which she has contributed to with her recent articles concerning the importance of literacy and program funding. All of Carol Goar’s articles can be found at www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/94620.

Please remember our history is an organic entity whose story is continually being written. The OLC is interested in continuing this initiative and we would like to encourage you to share your story with the rest of the field, and the world, by visiting www.on.literacy.ca/history.

The momentum carried on from our celebration to the provincial legislature where MPP Garfield Dunlop presented a private member’s bill addressing the need for increased funding for literacy programs across Ontario. The OLC was present for this tabling and is hopeful this bill is actualized in the upcoming provincial budget.

The Honourable Dwight Duncan, Minster of Finance and Revenue, addressed the Canadian Club and Empire Club last week regarding the budget (www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/media/2009/sp03-CanClub.html).

Posted in In the News, Literacy's History, OLC News. Leave a Comment »
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