On March 31, 120 people from Edmonton and several other Alberta communities gathered at Abbottsfield Mall for the second annual Never Ending Learning Conference. This conference, organized by adult learners for adult learners, featured Edmonton’s Poet Laureate, Anna Marie Sewell, as the keynote speaker. During her talk about the benefits of taking risks, Anna Marie demonstrated her point by reading poetry while standing on her head! Next came morning and afternoon workshops, with a fabulous lunch from Choices Catering in-between. The participants closed the conference with a Celebration of Learning, sponsored by ECALA. At the celebration, learners told their stories and highlighted the unique programming at their literacy centres. We were delighted to have Mayor Stephen Mandel as a guest and deeply appreciate his support.
It was great to see adult learners and tutors learning, networking, and supporting each other at the conference. We are profoundly grateful to those who made it possible. Thanks to our fellow Edmonton literacy organizations, our other community sponsors, and especially the conference planners: the Abbottsfield Ambassadors, students from the University of Alberta’s Community Service-Learning program, and other volunteers who pitched in!
