Report & Resource Guide – Integrating Essential Skills into Training Materials

WWESTNET

In November 1993, representatives from western Canadian business, labour, education and government met to discuss their experiences and concerns regarding Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills development in western Canada. They discovered that having the opportunity to learn from each other was extremely valuable. As a result, this small group made a commitment to explore the broader needs of western Canadian business and labour in terms of literacy and essential skills training, and to become a catalyst for change. To date, WWestnet (the Western Canada Workplace Essential Skills Training Network) has hosted eleven very successful Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills conferences/workshops, and publishes a newsletter, “the bottom line.” WWestnet also recognizes champions of workplace literacy, supports the development of workplace practitioner training, promotes research addressing the issues, and uses its network to communicate information about Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills initiatives.

Rob Despins	Standard Aerospace
Naomi Frankel	SK Federation of Labour
Herman Hansen	Boeing Canada Technology MB
Greg Maruca	AB Union of Provincial Employees
Bob McConkey	Douglas College
Irma Mohammed	BC Federation of Labour
Jonas Sammons	University of Manitoba
Nancy Steel	Foothills Continuing Education Council
Sue Turner	BC Hydro Generation

Purpose

WWestnet’s main purpose is to raise awareness of and to be a catalyst for workplace literacy and essential skills issues and activities. WWestnet accomplishes this by sharing information and broadening awareness of workplace literacy and essential skills, and by increasing the support for related programming through western Canadian networks. WWestnet recognizes that all sectors (business, labour, education and government) must share the responsibility for building a workforce with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to keep pace with change. To this end, WWestnet is committed to:

using its network to broker information on workplace literary and essential skills issues and initiatives
developing forums where relevant issues and initiatives can be discussed
publishing a WWestnet newsletter
facilitating worker education programs
recognizing and supporting champions of workplace literacy and essential skills
supporting the development of workplace literacy and essential skills practitioner training
sharing expertise and resources whenever practical and feasible
providing a western Canadian link to western provincial, national and international workplace literacy and essential skills initiatives

http://www.nald.ca/litweb/province/ab/wwestnet/index.html