National Adult Literacy Database

Fredericton, New Brunswick, November 15, 2010 − Founding of the Adult Learning Network. More than 80 delegates from Anglophone, Francophone, and Aboriginal communities across Canada arrived in Ottawa on November 7 to confirm their commitment to adult learning.

The delegates came together for a forum organized by the Adult Learning Network to discuss ways to realize a thriving lifelong learning culture in Canada. What emerged from the discussion was a shared conviction that it is critically important to have an organization with the capacity to take a leadership role and to be the voice of adult and lifelong learning on the national and international levels. As several participants commented, “Right now, adult learning is everywhere and yet it is nowhere”.

Representatives of Anglophone, Francophone and Aboriginal learning communities took an active part in determining the purpose and structure of the forum, which was to create a sustainable network. The network’s goal is to enable individuals and organizations active in the broad and diverse spectrum of lifelong learning to share research and promising practices, and work collaboratively on developing policies, strategies, and tools.

Participants at the forum strongly endorsed the creation of a sustainable and vibrant Adult Learning Network. Nearly half of the participants pledged financial support to the network to ensure that the secretariat is kept operational and a fund-raising/membership campaign is organized. Sustainable funding will be sought from provincial and territorial agencies, foundations, educational institutes, organizations and individuals.

Teresa MacNeil, Chair of the Adult Learning Network Committee, observed “Canada enjoys a wealth of adult learning activities that range from literacy programs to post-doctoral studies, from workforce training to creativity workshops, from civic engagement strategies to equity initiatives. The breadth is staggering. With the founding of the Adult Learning Network, Francophones, Anglophones, and Aboriginals have a common voice and a shared tool to advance the interests of adult learners in communities across Canada, as well as nationally and internationally.”

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Danielle Charron, Director
Tel.: 506 451-6913
E-mail: dcharron@unb.ca
Internet: www.aln‐raa.ca