Strength in Learning: A Learner’s Conference

Written by: Berniece Gowan

Literacy Alberta’s Strength in Learning: A Learner’s Conference took place on the Bow Valley College campus, Saturday April 5/2014.

Gail McDougal, Literacy Coordinator for Calgary John Howard, is Literacy Alberta’s lead for this project. This was a free event and included workshops, materials, lunch/snacks for all registered attendees.

The Centre for Excellence in Foundational Learning/Bow Valley College supported this event through assistance with planning, marketing, event and classroom space bookings and coordinating IT support. There was a display area with materials from Calgary John Howard(CJH), Literacy Alberta and Mount Royal University. The learners and tutors came from programs at the Calgary Public Library, Calgary John Howard, Bow Valley College and Mount Royal University.

The keynote speaker for the day was Michelle Cameron-Coulter. Michelle was a warm and inspiring speaker, encouraging us to embrace our possibilities, to risk changing and becoming more of who we want to be.

The event was hosted by Roger Hendrickson, recipient of Calgary Learns 2013 ‘Adult Learner’ Life of Learning Award (LOLA). Roger, a former learner from CJH, has been an inspiration in the adult learning community as he speaks out about his  life and his literacy journey.

One of the goals of this conference was to provide learners (and tutors) with fun and engaging ways to strengthen their learning. Students and tutors had a number of workshops to choose from. Literacy Alberta staff facilitated workshops on True Colors, Career Planning and Learning Abilities. The Calgary Public Library delivered a workshop about Online Learning and also provided an orientation to Library services. Momentum and  Vecova delivered workshops on assets and financial literacy/financial management.

April 5 was also our first brilliant spring day! Although the number of delegates was lower than expected, feedback from the day was very positive.

Thank you to BVC faculty, staff and students for supporting this event.