A vision to create literate cities by the year 2025 is described in a municipal model for a Champion for Literacy, evidenced in the City of Ottawa's, ‘A Capital Challenge: The Ottawa Literacy Report' (1).

Further, municipal governments are challenged to:

• develop the means to promote the value and practice of continuous learning within the municipality;
• provide support to the Prior Learning Assessment Recognition process (PLAR), a process that identifies, assesses and focuses on the skills and knowledge which individuals have acquired through life and work experience and through formal education and training and establish PLAR centres in their municipality;
• seek ways to expand opportunities for literacy learning and instructor training;
• model and promote Clear Language practices in all communications.

Conclusion

The report concludes that while the new decade will demand fresh approaches to literacy learning, the modern workplace will continue to reap benefits by entrenching a culture of continuous learning in its workforce, through training and development. Excellent examples of best practices now exist to support the introduction of new programs in the future. Similarly, lessons learned by the partners for community literacy in Ottawa-Carleton, coupled with the goals and objectives identified in ‘A Capital Challenge: The Ottawa Literacy Report' stand as legitimate guidelines for achieving literate cities. Municipal governments, working in conjunction with a variety of partners, including other levels of government across Canada, can be among the leaders positioning the Canadian economy for future success. They can be recognized as community leaders in the vitally important field of human skills development. In doing so, they will achieve a significant and lasting legacy for the literacy movement in Canadian municipal government.

¹ City of Ottawa, May 1991 - A Capital Challenge: The Ottawa Literacy Report