The Learning Centre’s Timeline
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1981
In the spring, Sister Beryl Stone began tutoring inner-city women in a small storeroom in the Bissell Centre. They called it “The Learning Room.” By fall, the Learning Room had attracted many more students and the program needed volunteer tutors to help out. The Edmonton Public School Board supported the program through their project, “Prospects.”
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1985
“Prospects” found the need for an inner city adult literacy program. Funding was obtained and a part time coordinator was hired. The Learning Centre relocated to Boyle Street Co-op. The Centre was located in one room in the basement, with access to a second room and a kitchen. Through a project to publish a book (Our stories, ourselves) another part-time, temporary staff person was hired. Alice Bowie was hired as the first coordinator.
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1986
The Centre began a partnership with Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS).
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1991
The Learning Centre Literacy Association was incorporated as a non-profit society and elected a Board of Directors.
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1992
The coordinator retired and a new part-time coordinator, Mary Norton, was contracted.
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1993
The coordinator’s position became a full time ongoing position.
The Centre Board, students and tutors participated in planning workshops. As one outcome, the Centre applied for support to move into a larger room in the building BSCS. Small group learning was added to the options.
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1994
The Centre began to participate in the Alberta Association for Adult Literacy (AAAL) Conference, and delivered a workshop about peer tutoring at the conference that year.
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1995:
Phyllis Steeves was hired as the Volunteer Coordinator with a grant from the Wild Rose Foundation.
The Centre temporarily relocated to the YWCA.
Mary Norton and three learners – Helen Herbert, Mary McGinnis, and Joyce Porteous – attended the Feminist Literacy Workers’ Network conference in Montreal. They then met with Senator Joyce Fairburn in Ottawa.
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1996
The Centre moved into the Reaney Block, and adopted a mission statement.
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1997
On May 7, Jean and Aline Chrétien visited the Learning Centre. Students greeted them and presented them with a photograph of a quilt that the women’s group had made.
The Centre also hosted Yvette Souque, Program Manager at the National Literacy Secretariat. She launched the peer tutoring resource kit called “With a Common Thread,” funded by the Secretariat.
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1998
The Centre established a publishing arm. Since then, there have been many publications such as books written by students at the Centre, anthologies written by Indigenous learners, research reports, and reports related to projects at the Centre.
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2000
The AAAL Conference changed its name to the “Provincial Literacy Conference.” Centre participants and staff presented three workshops – Drawing out the Self, Participatory Education, and Readers’ Theatre. Lil Gallant spoke at the learners’ gathering.
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2000
Phyllis and Mary became co-coordinators of the Learning Centre. In September, a readers’ theatre was launched, named “Theatre of the Stars.” They wrote and performed their own scripts, including at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Learning Centre.
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2002
Mary was very active in the Research in Practice in Adult Literacy network during this time, and Glimpses of Who We Are, A Collection of Aboriginal Writings, Volumes 1 & 2 were published under Phyllis’ direction.
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2003
A women’s group, “Women of Courage” was formed in January. With the support of Action for Healthy Communities, three of the women were able to attend a women’s retreat at the Star of the North Retreat Centre in St. Albert. At the Willwoods Library during Read-In week, the women presented their script about how violence affects women, and about how it can get in the way of learning. Two of the women helped facilitate a workshop about violence and learning for tutors and learners involved with Project Adult Literacy Society.
Over time, the Learning Centre started to do more outreach, taking literacy programs into community organizations, including the Bissell Centre and Hope Mission.
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2005
With funding from the federal government, the Learning Centre partnered with the Candora Society to being the “Widening Access for Adult Literacies” project for adults in northeast Edmonton. As a result of its success, the Learning Centre opened a space literacy learning at Abbottsfield Mall in 2008. It also started the Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network.
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2006
The “Students Voices for Students” group met to share experiences and support, and to spread awareness about literacy. With students from adult literacy programs all across Edmonton, they made presentations at the University and NorQuest College. A real highlight was presenting on CBC Centre Stage as part of Edmonton’s International Literacy Day celebrations.
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2008
Mary Norton moved on after serving 15 years at the Learning Centre, and Denis Lapierre was hired as the Centre’s Executive Director.
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2009
In May, the Senate of Canada Sub-Committee on Cities and Homelessness and Poverty held an information-gathering meeting at the Centre.
The downtown Centre started to add critical thinking and political education into the literacy program, while the Abbottsfield Centre started the Writers’ Circle.
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2011
Students at the Learning Centre organized the “Never Ending Learning” Conference, which took place at Abbottsfield Mall, with Laurie Greenwood as the keynote speaker. The conference brought adult learners across the city together for a day of fun and learning.
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2013
The Abbottsfield Learning Centre became the Association’s main base of operations, hosting 18 learning sessions per week.
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2014
The Learning Centre moved to a larger space in Abbottsfield Mall and continued to offer programs at various outreach locations.
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2018
The Learning Centre became a key partner in the Edmonton Food Bank’s Beyond Food program.
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2019
The Learning Centre moved to a larger space in The City of Edmonton Orange Hub and continues to offer outreach programming in the inner city and north side of Edmonton.
Community Outreach Program Partners
