Charitable Status for LPQ

LPQ is extremely happy to report that we have finally been granted charitable status.

This is a major development as we have been working towards it for seven years. After two previous requests for this status were denied, it seems that the third was the lucky charm.

This new status promises to be very helpful in LPQ's attempts to find new sources of funding so that our members can benefit as well. We will be working towards this in the near future.

Family Literacy Day '02

Four the fourth consecutive year, ABC CANADA's Family Literacy day was observed on January 27. Thanks to financial support from Honda Canada and to a growing list of supporters, this day promotes the importance of reading and engaging in learning activities as a family. Once again, bilingual Family Literacy Day promotional materials were provided by ABC CANADA, and LPQ sent these to our members. They included posters, tip sheets, bookmarks, temporary tattoos, stickers and buttons. Our member groups were able to use these colorful materials to help promote Family Literacy in their own communities.

Knowledge Matters: Skills and Learning for Canadians Green Paper Released

Following The January 2001 Speech from the Throne which recognized that no one government or organization can build a skilled workforce on its own, the Government of Canada made a commitment to work with provinces, territories and other partners to ensure that all Canadians can achieve their skills and learning goals.

The long-awaited green paper on Skills and Learning has been released. Among the points included, it states that The Government of Canada will engage a wide range of partners and stakeholders in discussions on national goals and the actions needed to reach them.

Our community is particularly interested in how literacy will fit into the plan and many are disappointed that literacy does not figure prominently enough. Some of the points made are:

• Our system of supports and services for early childhood development does not reach as many young families as it should.

• Today's generation of young Canadians is the best educated in our history. Yet one in eight young Canadians does not complete high school, and one in four graduates lacks the literacy skills necessary to participate in the workforce.

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