Senator Fairbairn Visits Province

In September, the Literacy Development Council of Newfoundland and Labrador was honoured to welcome Senator Joyce Fairbairn to Newfoundland and Labrador. Senator Fairbairn, Special Advisor on Literacy to the Minister of Human Resources Development Canada, traveled to Newfoundland and Labrador to visit literacy stakeholders and to participate in International Literacy Day celebrations. The Senator's visit began in Corner Brook and took her to many parts of Newfoundland and Labrador in a four-day whirlwind tour.

Bessie Merrigan, Chairperson, Literacy Development Council and June Alteen, Honourary Chair, Literacy Endowment Fund, escorted Senator Fairbairn and Education Minister Judy Foote during their tour of the West Coast. The group's first stop was at the Learning Centre, 10 Main Street, Corner Brook where they met some of the students who are studying at the Centre. At the Centre, volunteers work with one paid staff person to provide ABE Level 1 and literacy instruction to 13 full and part- time students. Paula Power, Coordinator, met the visitors and introduced them to the students, the instructor and the volunteers. The Senator and Minister Foote were delighted to see the amount of work being done by literacy providers with limited funding. The Centre operates through the efforts of many partners working together.

After visiting with the students and receiving copies of "Then and Now", a book written by literacy students across Canada, the tour visited Corner Brook City Hall for the signing of the Proclamation and the raising of the Literacy Flag for International Literacy Day. This visit was followed with a trip to the College of the North Atlantic to view the Humber Literacy Council's operation. A meeting of the Humber Literacy Council executive and a visit with the 'Books for Babies' Coordinator rounded out that visit.

Continuing with their busy schedule, the Senator joined literacy providers, special guests, district MHAs and the local MP for an enjoyable lunch hosted by the Literacy Development Council. After a brief meeting with the 'Books for Babies' Advisory Committee, it was off to Deer Lake to visit the Deer Lake Community Learning Centre. Here again it was evident that many partners work together to ensure the success of the Learning Centre and the services provided to literacy students. Mr. Peter McBreairty, Chair of the Learning Centre Board of Directors and an avid supporter of literacy in the Western region, was the host for this part of the tour. He was joined by members of his board and by representatives from the many partners that contribute to the success of the Centre.

After a quick meal, it was off to Labrador under very typical Newfoundland fall weather (See page 4 for coverage of the Labrador visit).