Are there examples of municipal and private sector partnerships to deliver workplace literacy?
The concept of a municipal government developing a partnership with the private sector to provide literacy programs is relatively new in Canada. Some municipalities have developed partnerships for program delivery or financial support. In other municipalities, workers participate in programs outside the workplace such as those given by school boards and community colleges. Some examples are: • The City of Prince George, B.C. reduced the overall cost of its literacy program by opening it up to employees of the B.C. Buildings Corporation. • The Workplace Education Project (WEP) in Peterborough, Ontario, is a unique model of community involvement and cooperation. WEP coordinates needs assessments, program design, and literacy and basic skills training programs for twenty-three local businesses. Companies offer programs for their workers only, for employees of several companies and/or for family members of employees. Two Peterborough initiatives are: • National Grocers did not have enough
