ONTARIO

Ontario has a rich history of practitioner development that spans back to the early eighties. The background that follows provides a context for understanding the evolution of practitioner development for workplace education.

Both community groups like St. Christopher's House and St. Stephens, and labour organizations such as Metro Toronto District Labour Council began to address workplace education needs as far back as the seventies. Health and safety issues; poor working conditions; and ESL and literacy needs were the impetus for some of the early workplace education programs.

In the early eighties, educators from the National Centre for Industrial Language Training (NCILT) in England influenced thinking about workplace education in Ontario. The NCILT used an organizational approach which they marketed to employers under the banner of improving communication. The approach advocated a holistic way of thinking about workplace development. It acknowledged that language training for workers was not enough. Cross-cultural training for managers was also needed, as was plain language writing.

1984 NCILT Institute

In 1984, the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture (MCC) took the lead on organizing both a two-week practitioner institute attended by forty people and a one-day workshop for employers, unions and governments. Staff from the NCILT facilitated both of these events. This was the first significant practitioner event for workplace education in Ontario. It had a lasting impact on Ontario's approach to workplace education to the present day. Many relationships forged among participants who attended this initial institute remain strong today. In addition, every province was invited to attend. Several western provinces sent representatives to the Institute. It is also interesting to note that 600 employers, labour representatives and government employees attended the one-day workshop.