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[Caramia]

A few years ago, my Dad and I sat down with a phone book, a map of downtown and a bunch of coloured sticker-dots. We looked for every "learning institution" in downtown Victoria - from Martial Arts, to ESL, to Quilting. By the end of it we had literally hundreds - we were both amazed to realize that there was this "invisible campus" all around downtown. Since then I have always thought that this was a resource that Victoria could do a lot more with if we could just wrap our collective minds around it.

The idea of Victoria as a Learning City is imo one of the most exciting initiatives to come up over the last few years. It has been mostly championed by Helen Hughes. The idea that by nurturing a civic environment that fosters learning as an industry and engine of economic growth suits Victoria particularly well; we have a profusion of ESL schools, we have UVic, Camosum, Royal Roads and CanWest, and we also have a relatively literate and educated population. So with all this cultural capital, how do we tap into it? How do we measure it, and how do we invest it to make Victoria more socially vibrant and economically successful?

On Feb 26th & 27, Dr Paul Cappon from the Canadian Council on Learning in Ottawa is going to be in town talking about the idea of a "Learning City" I received this email yesterday and with Councilor Hughes' kind permission, I thought I would share it here on VV, especially considering the fitting name for the event.

Learning makes Victoria Vibrant! PART 1

When: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 7:30 pm- 9:00 pm
What: How Learning Affects our Socio-Economic Outcomes -a presentation by the Canadian Council on Learning
Where: Camosun College – Lansdowne Campus, 3100 Foul Bay Rd, Victoria BC Wilna Thomas Cultural Centre, Room 234
Parking: off Lansdowne Road, P1 - entrance to building north of the parking lot
Who: Dr. Paul Cappon, President and CEO of the Canadian Council on Learning is a prominent educator, doctor and administrator, Dr. Cappon has been a lifelong education advocate, community supporter and author of numerous publications on learning.


Learning makes Victoria Vibrant! PART 11
Learning Communities/Neighbourhoods/Cities/Regions.
This is a presentation on the Composite Learning Index and Learning Communities

When: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 10:00 am – Noon
What: A Community conversation on: Community Learning and Learning Cities, a presentation by the Canadian Council on Learning led by Dr. Paul Cappon
Where: City of Victoria - Council Chambers, #1 Centennial Square, Victoria BC
Opening Remarks by: Dr. Paul Cappon, President and CEO of the Canadian Council on Learning is a prominent educator, doctor and administrator, Dr. Cappon has been a lifelong education advocate, community supporter and author of numerous publications on learning.

Overview: The Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) is a catalyst for lifelong learning, promoting and supporting evidence-based decisions about learning throughout all stages of life. Three years ago we introduced the Composite Learning Index (CLI) to assist communities in tracking progress and change. Since then we have been working with municipalities across the country to promote, support and encourage the use of the CLI to support “Learning Cities”.

The Composite Learning Index is a practical measurement tool that can help cities identify their community’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to fostering the best possible environment for lifelong learning. The CLI results offer community leaders and decision-makers a unique and valuable opportunity to help shape how their community can achieve the economic and social benefits that come from lifelong learning.

Learning Cities embrace an understanding of learning as multi-dimensional and comprehensive; they devise ways of bringing learning and people together, in order to develop the social and economic fabric of the community. They also ensure that learning is one of the pillars of
community development.


Learn and share information on: Learning communities /neighbourhoods
/cities/regions, literacy, Victoria 2020, Vital Signs and Vibrant Communities

For more information contact:
Councillor Helen Hughes
City of Victoria Ph: 361-0217