CMEC LAUNCHES LITERACY LEGACY

Saskatchewan teachers and learners now have new resources at their fingertips thanks to the 2008 Pan-Canadian Literacy Forum held across Canada, including our province last year.

The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) has unveiled the legacy materials from the forum that connected nearly 3,500 learners, literacy experts and delegates at nine sites across Canada. More than 100 webcast presentations, 19 literacy messages from CMEC Ministers, three literacy modules and seven keynote presentations from leading Canadians in government, business and the literacy research community were assembled as part of the forum legacy. The collection of knowledge is available at www.Forum2008.cmec.ca.

"Initiatives such as the 2008 CMEC Literacy More Than Words Literacy Forum demonstrate CMEC's ongoing commitment to increasing the literacy levels of all Canadians," Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ken Krawetz said. "We are excited about this new, rich legacy of on-line literacy materials as an added resource for the Canadian literacy community."

"The Pan-Canadian Literacy Forum was a truly unique learning experience," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "The knowledge collected during the forum is invaluable as we move forward with the Literacy Action Plan."

The Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of the Northwest Territories hosted the Aboriginal literacy portion of the national forum. This component of the forum celebrated Aboriginal ways of knowing and learning. Presentations that were held in Regina can be viewed at www.forum2008.cmec.ca/en/presentations-aboriginal-literacy.html.

As part of the CMEC Literacy Action Plan, the provinces and territories committed to work together and raise awareness about the importance of literacy and to boost literacy levels across Canada. As a result, the Pan-Canadian Literacy Forum initiated a new era of co-operation and provided an opportunity to create a legacy of literacy knowledge and materials.

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For more information, contact:

Jacquie McLean
Education
Regina
Phone: 306787-5609
Email: jacquie.mclean@sasked.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-535-2261

Lisa Danyluk
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306787-7791
Email: lisa.danyluk@gov.sk.ca