Champion: Al Strang

Al Strang, the recently-retired City Manager of Moncton, was president of CAMA when the first pilot projects for municipal workplace education were proposed in 1996. He offered Moncton as a pilot site although he wasn't quite sure just what the project involved. "Later," says AI, "I became a champion" along with the "great people in Human Resources" like Kathy DeWitt who has "kept the candle lit" during the last decade.

The City of Moncton has won more than 12 awards for its unique programs, outstanding learners, and dedicated educators. CAMA has recognized Moncton's commitment, the way it built partnerships, designed unique programs, and honoured both learners' success and teachers' dedication. Both the Conference Board of Canada and Canada Post gave Moncton awards for business leadership in literacy programs. As of 2007, 738 people have been part of Moncton's program and 20 workers have earned their GEDs. Al is proud of the program which serves so many employees every year.

How it started

The program started out like many others. It offered reading, writing, math, basic computer training, and GED preparation. Personal development courses, such as how to prepare an income tax form and basic parenting, attracted more people. Effective leadership, effective speaking skills, and French were added to the program in response to employee feedback. In fact, the City has a full-time French teacher to meet the demands for language training in this officially bilingual city. French skills are highly desired by many in the workplace and they are required in certain jobs. Moncton's workplace learning program uses both official languages and addresses essential skills in both English and French on-the-job and in the community.

The City's workplace learning program has always involved families in its options for ongoing learning. Al says this policy has "made one spouse more willing to bring another." During the long winter of 2008, spouses often helped to get their partners to class after long snow removal shifts. The family policy has given job opportunities to spouses, many of whom improved their skills and became more employable. Some spouses returned to the workforce; others moved into better paying jobs. This policy also attracted sons and daughters to continuing education and was the City's outreach effort to the community.