Some of the people quoted in the book will have changed or further developed their ideas and perceptions about life and literacy since the time of our conversations and some of the people I interviewed are no longer working in the field. Given the restrictions of time and money and the space on these pages, I have tried only to document a picture of literacy work in Alberta during a given period of time - the early 1990's, the beginning of the Decade of Literacy.

This book needed to be written so that some of our literacy history could be documented but also so that attention could be paid to the people working "in the trenches" of adult literacy in Alberta, the dedicated literacy workers who often work in thankless anonymity and isolation. They have earned and deserve more credit and recognition than they are currently receiving.

It is my sincere hope that you will enjoy meeting and spending time with all the literacy workers who so generously gave of themselves to be pan of Opening Doors. They are a spirited and impressive group but I don't need to tell you that; you will discover that soon enough for yourself.

Jan Thiessen and her daughters — taken when our families spent
a weekend together at Jan's homestead near Athabasca.