International Adult Learners’ Week in Canada
News Releases 
Planned Events
The Canadian Commission for UNESCO is again this year inviting Canada's Ministers of Education and its other lifelong learning partners to celebrate International Adult Learners' Week (IALW) in Canada from March 24 to April 1, 2012.
Background and history
IALW was officially launched by UNESCO on September 8, 2000. Its founders understood that the most effective way to underscore the importance of lifelong learning was to give adult learners themselves the chance to express their views, describe their challenges, and document their success stories. IALW has been celebrated in Canada since 2002.
On the pan-Canadian level, in 2012, a partnership was created among Réseau pour le développement de l'alphabétisme et des compétences (RESDAC), the Assembly of First Nations, the Canadian Literacy and Learning Network, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) and the Inuit Tapirit Kanatami (an organization representing four Inuit regions) to promote Canadian Adult Learners’ Week. The slogan ‘l’m still learning’ is engaging anglophones, francophones, First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities in celebrations organized for this week dedicated to adult learners.
In Quebec, in 2001, the Department of Education gave l'Institut de coopération pour l'éducation des adultes (ICEA) the mandate to organize each year the Semaine québécoise des adultes en formation. The first observance was held in 2002. In the Maritimes, Literacy Nova Scotia has been organizing an Adult Learners' Week contest and each year, the number of partners participating has been growing.
NALD celebrates the accomplishments of learners by featuring each week a new learner's story in Story of the Week. To find a story, users can search by alphabetical order, by year and by location. Stories with audio files are grouped together.
NALD invites you to submit your events for IALW.
Read learner writings from the NALD Library
Canadian Commission for UNESCO resources
- Download the Canadian Commission for UNESCO IALW 2012 postcard
- Download Canadian Commission for UNESCO Declaration of principles
- Opening up the possibilities (2010) International Adult Learners' Week in Canada, 2010
- The Power of Learning - IALW 2009 (2009). A world of possibilities through learning
- Share the Road (2008). A world of possibilities through learning
- World of Possibilities Through Learning (2002). Information Kit on International Adult Learners' Week, September 8-14, 2002
- International Adult Learners' Week in Canada on Facebook
- History of adult learning in Canada: A summary, 2012
Other resources from the Canadian adult literacy community:
- Declaration in favour of Adult Learning Throughout Life by CLLN (PDF - 120 KB)
- Literacy Nova Scotia. Living and Learning for a Viable Future - The Power of Adult Learning (2009). Submissions to Adult Learners' Week Contest, March 2-9, 2009
- Literacy Nova Scotia. New Skills, New Confidence (2011). Submissions to Adult Learners' Week Contest: April 2 - 9, 2011
- Literacy Nova Scotia. Opening Possibilities Through Learning (2010). Submissions to Adult Learners' Week Contest, March 1 - 7, 2010
- PEI Literacy Alliance.Success Stories - Determined to Learn (2009). Celebrating 2009 International Adult Learners' Week
Ideas/suggestions on how to celebrate IALW - Past activities
- ABC Life Literacy Canada organized a media tour in Edmonton
- Acadia University celebrated creativity (performance and mini-workshops) during IALW
- Afternoons of entertainment were held here and there in adult learning centres
- An essay Writing Contest was organized in Foremost, Alberta
- Newfoundland and Labrador government decided to announce their scholarship for adult learners
- NWT Literacy Council published a book: Stories of Progress on a Learning Journey featuring the stories of 56 NWT adult learners.
- Panel Discussion and public lectures were given at the University of Alberta
- The Saskatchewan Literacy Network organized the contest: “What Did You Learn Today”. The winner won an iPad 2.
- Toronto District School Board held an open house to celebrate Adult Learners’ Week
- Video challenges were organized, ex: Quebec and New Brunswick
- For more ideas on how Canada celebrated Adult Learner’s Week, you can visit NALD IALW Headlines 2011 and events.
Links
- Canadian Literacy and Learning Network
- Good Learning Anywhere Learner Blog
- Alberta
- Calgary Public Library
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Literacy Nova Scotia
- Saskatchewan
Posters and Postcards
- Literacy Nova Scotia (LNS) 2012 Adult Learners Week
- Video contest: Grande Prairie Council for Lifelong Learning & Grande Prairie Public Library, 2012
Multimedia
- ABC Life Literacy, Literacy Partners of Manitoba. Joy Fielding talks about Good Reads during International Adult Learners' Week, 12-02-28
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