History

Early in 1977 CBC Radio in Halifax broadcast a program on adult illiteracy. They included commentary on the problem in New Brunswick. Among the listeners that day were two members of Information Metro Moncton (IMM) who obtained details of the Laubach method of teaching a basic reading and writing course in English for adult students.

Other people in the greater Moncton community who heard the radio program contacted IMM for details. Following some promotional work, sufficient interest in the community was developed to warrant a literacy tutor workshop the first of which was held in April 1977 at St. John's United church, Moncton. The twenty-eight tutors who were trained formed the Greater Moncton Literacy Council; Josephine Mullane was elected the first chairperson.

A second training workshop was held at the beginning of June, 1977 which increased the literacy council membership to 68 tutors. About 50 students in the Moncton area were being helped by the Council's tutors.

International Literacy Day, celebrated throughout the world on September 8 each year, was proclaimed in Moncton for the first time in 1977 and was promoted by the local radio stations and the newspapers. Information booths in the Champlain Place and Highfield Square shopping malls were staffed by members of the literacy council.

Towards the end of 1977 Don MacPherson succeeded Josephine Mullane as chairperson.

The first annual general meeting of the Council, held on April 3, 1978, saw changes in the executive and the adoption of a formal constitution. About 45 tutors and students were then working together.

In May 1978 two workshops were held at l'Universite de Moncton to train more tutors. One workshop was for tutors for English speaking students and the other was for French speaking students. The program used for the French workshop was the one developed by Sister Clemence LaRoche.

The LLNB annual general meeting held on June12, 1978 recognized the results of the Council's dedicated efforts when the first graduate of the Laubach "Each-One-Teach-One" program in Moncton was honoured. Later that year, on October 12, about 18 members of the Council enjoyed a luncheon visit with Dr. Bob and Mrs. Laubach in Moncton. By the end of 1978 there were 54 tutors and 59 students actively engaged in literacy work in the Greater Moncton community.

Don MacPherson resigned as chairman in January 1979 and was succeeded by Pearl Maugham who had been vice-chair since April 1978.

The second annual general meeting was held on April 9, 1979 during which 21 tutors were awarded senior tutor certificates. Several changes in the executive took place and a farewell presentation was made to Pearl Maugham prior to her departure from Moncton to take up residence in Vancouver. Jim Mercer accepted the role as acting chairman, in combination with his other duties as senior student/tutor coordinator, and performed in that capacity until the election of Peter Sawyer as chairman in September, 1979.

Recognition of the Council's activities was recorded in 1979 when the department of Adult Education at Francis Xavier University awarded the GMLC a Certificate of Commendation which read, "This is to certify that the Greater Moncton Literacy Council has been recognized for its exemplary contribution to the field of non-formal education." Also, during 1979 closer ties were forged with the Moncton campus of the New Brunswick Community College. At the general meeting on 19 September, Paul Boudreau, the guest speaker, prepared the way for what was to become the next major practical step in helping students who had completed the Laubach literacy program - a 15-session reading skills laboratory at the college. Two of the council's students attended this course which commenced in January 1980.

The beginning of 1980 saw the end of Information Metro Moncton which, in addition to its many valuable services to the community, was also the initial contact agency for potential students and tutors for the literacy council. All the Council's supplies and teaching materials were stored and distributed by IMM. Fortunately, NBCC Moncton was able to provide space and also helped with issuing materials for tutoring.

In February, 1980 Gwen Edgar qualified for her Master Tutor Certificate and was certified as the Council's tutor trainer in March, 1980. Many of the other founding members were still active with the Council in 1980 including Peggy Hanson (secretary/treasurer), Sheila Horton (workshop manager), and Helen Rose (membership and PR secretary). There were about 40 students and 40 tutors actively involved in the Council that year. Also in1980 some members of the Council volunteered to tutor in the Moncton Detention Centre, had a fund raising booth at the Moncton Flea Market and participated in the student-tutor recognition night on December 10 at the YMCA of Greater Moncton.

Although Council members had been involved in the planning of the national literacy conference throughout 1980 it was the first six months of 1981 that consumed their time and energy in helping ensure the success of the event that formally launched Laubach Literacy of Canada on June 6, 1981 at the Universite de Moncton. The conference included delegates from across Canada and the U.S. and featured Alden Nowlan as the guest speaker. Peter Sawyer was appointed by the National Affiliation for Literacy Advance as chairman for Eastern Canada (Quebec and the Atlantic provinces) and was succeeded by Kendra Budd as chairperson of the Greater Moncton Literacy council.

The April, 1982 annual meeting resulted in changes to the Council's executive including the election of Bev Tucker as chairperson.

During the National Volunteer week in April 1983 Bev Tucker and Helen Rose were honoured at a special dinner held in Riverview.

Although various Council members over the years had edited and distributed a GMLC newsletter, it was in February 1987 that the first edition produced by computer technology "hit" the community.

1989 saw the passing of Gwen Edgar, one of the Council's founding members, an enthusiastic tutor and the first certified literacy trainer in Moncton.

In October, 1990 the Council hosted the annual LLNB provincial conference held at Crystal Palace. During the annual general meeting, Marion Zaichkowski, who had been chair of the GMLC from 1986 to 1989, was elected chairperson of the provincial council.

Other notable events in recent years which involved members of the GMLC:

• May 1992 - A student representative was asked to sit on the executive council for the first time.

• Also in 1992 an LLC Award of Excellence was presented to Peter Sawyer for his many years of volunteer work in literacy.

• December 1993 - Student/Tutor Christmas dinner - guest Dermot Kingston (LLNB Chair)

• May 1994 - Major revision of GMLC bylaws

• August 1994 - First meeting of Student Support Group.

• September 1994 - International Literacy Day marked by reading competition between Moncton and Fredericton. Fredericton won!

• May 1995 - The LLC Annual Conference was held at the University of Moncton (Chairman of the Organizing Committee - Peter Sawyer).

• October 1998 -Peter Sawyer elected Chair of LLNB.

• October 1999 - Hosted LLNB annual provincial conference at the Moncton NBCC (Chair of the Organizing Committee - Jean MacArthur).

• October 2000 - Heather Harris, after many years of volunteer work with the GMLC, LLNB, and special assignments at the national level, elected Chair of LLNB.