Canadian Literacy Movement

World Literacy of Canada's History of Work in Canada

 

Since it began in 1955, World Literacy of Canada has been an active member of the Canadian literacy movement, helping to generate public interest in literacy issues and supporting the growth of local literacy organizations and movements in Canada.


Over the years, World Literacy of Canada has been involved with the Movement for Canadian Literacy, the Ontario Literacy Coalition, the Ottawa Community Coalition for Literacy and ABC Canada.


During the 1970s and 1980s, World Literacy of Canada became highly active in the Canadian literacy movement. In 1972, we produced and distributed a "Learn about Literacy" resource kit "to make the Canadian public more aware about development problems both overseas and in their own communities."

In 1975, World Literacy of Canada launched the Canadian Project with a grant from the Office of Secretary of State, which ultimately led to the founding of the Movement for Canadian Literacy in 1977. The project involved completing a survey of adult literacy in Canada through a cross-Canada fact finding tour, and led to Project Coordinator, Audrey Thomas's benchmark study, Adult Basic Education and Literacy Activities in Canada 1975-1976. The study summarized existing Canadian programs and formulated a definition and concept of Canadian illiteracy.

World Literacy of Canada's Canadian Project also organized a national conference on Adult Basic and Literacy Education in 1976 in Ontario, in partnership with the Canadian Association for Adult Education (CAAE), the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE), and the Department of Adult Education of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Developing a life of its own, the Canadian Project became a separate organization with encouragement from World Literacy of Canada's Board of Directors, and in the fall of 1977, the Movement for Canadian Literacy/Rassemblement canadien pour l'alphabetisation was formed.


World Literacy of Canada continued to play an active role in Canadian literacy awareness work in the 1990s with projects such as "Reading the Signs", a play about literacy developed by World Literacy of Canada and Toronto's acclaimed Young People's Theatre that toured from coast to coast during International Literacy Year in 1990. The show enjoyed 250 performances and received tremendous media coverage across Canada. In 1991, "Reading the Signs" was adapted to television video format and distributed to local literacy groups throughout the country.

During the 1990s, World Literacy of Canada worked with ABC Canada and in collaboration with the National Literacy Secretariat on several literacy documentation and outreach activities including the National Oral History Project.

In 1995, World Literacy of Canada was the lead agency in the documentary film project, The Sceptics' Journey, produced with support from South Asia Partnership Canada. The film focused on Canadian foreign aid as seen through the eyes of four average Canadians who investigate development projects in India and Nepal. It aired on CBC in November 1995 and video copies are used regularly at universities and schools across the country as an educational tool.

World Literacy of Canada continues to be involved in Canadian literacy today, participating in International Literacy Day activities, Word on the Street , the Canadian Commission for UNESCO , and other literacy awareness activities offered collaboratively with local and national literacy groups.