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Taking the
Hill
October 25, 2001
was not a typical day for a hundred or so literacy
advocates from across the country.We had gathered in the nation’s capital
to visit parliament hill. Our mission was to tell politicians what we think is
most important about literacy.
In the early morning hours we showered, shaved or pulled out
curling irons, using our daily rituals to help calm our nerves. At 7:30 A.M. we
headed for “The Hill” and the kick-off breakfast hosted by literacy
advocate Senator Joyce Fairbairn.
Before our first meetings of the day there were terse comments
and tension-filled reminders of our message.We summoned our courage, pasted on
shaky smiles and gallantly went off to do our best. Little did we know how
well we had been prepared and how well that preparation would serve us. The
Movement for Canadian Literacy (MCL) staff, who arranged the meetings, had
given us every opportunity to express our concerns and ask questions. They had
warned us to be ready for post-September 11 security and encouraged us to read
the information and have fun. Easy to say! We entered those first doors
expecting to have to educate and do battle with officials who probably thought
they had better places to spend taxpayers hard-earned money.
We were wrong. Our teams were warmly welcomed by people
who knew what we were about. Our representatives had done their homework too.
It was an education in the power of what being briefed really means. These
politicians had prepared for us as readily as we had for them. It made for
positive communication and a feeling that we really were contributing.
The tense faces of the morning were quickly replaced by smiles
of confidence. As we passed other teams in those corridors of power we
exchanged grins.
We were having fun and it felt like we owned the place. Our mood
was infectious and even the security joked as we presented passes and walked
through metal detectors.
Thanks to MCL, the politicians and their staff , we came to
understand it is indeed our Hill.
— Janet McLeod LAN
Chair |
