Celebrating International Literacy Day
In an inspiring celebration of literacy, PALS and ECALA joined forces at Edmonton City Hall to commemorate International Literacy Day on September 8th. The event showcased the impact of literacy and the hard work of the adult learners in Edmonton. It was a day to honour the joy of reading and writing and the positive changes that improved literacy skills have on our lives and in our community.
The day kicked off with a warm welcome and Land Acknowledgement from Vinesh Pratap, the very capable Master of Ceremonies. Elder Ed Lavallee followed with a moving prayer, setting a spiritual tone to the event.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi proclaimed this special day as International Literacy Day, emphasizing Edmonton’s dedication to learning and reading.
Guest speaker Amin Samji, from the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, talked about how reading and writing matter in the business world and how literacy helps our economy. Bernadette Iahtail, Executive Director from the Creating Hope Society, shared personal stories of empowerment through literacy, and the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, highlighted the importance of literacy. PALS tutor Catherine Armstrong emphasized the special connection between tutors and learner.
Debbie Clark, Executive Director of ECALA, made the event even more meaningful by presenting the ECALA Learner Awards. These awards were given to exceptional learners, James, from the Africa Centre, and Gregory, from Cerebral Palsy Alberta, and honoured the remarkable achievements of learners in our community. Their stories were truly inspiring, showing how literacy programs change lives.
Exceptionally talented learners stole the show with unique presentations. Paul gave a captivating Congo Drumming show, Danny shared his inspiring digital literacy journey, and Alie taught us about goats through an informative slideshow. Jennifer and Jenny brought the house down with their lively Salsa dance performance.
From PALS, Executive Director Monica Das highlighted the importance of speaking up for literacy, and President Chris Ward praised the strong support from our community.
Resource tables offered everyone the opportunity to learn about the literacy work done by the many agencies within the city. Vinesh Pratap, in his closing remarks, added a personal touch to the event. It was a day that celebrated the power of words, showcased Edmonton’s commitment to literacy, and left everyone inspired for a future where literacy is accessible to all. Kudos to all!
