Literacy in a Resource Economy

The Learning Centre Literacy Association is pleased to present a fundraiser with internationally renowned speaker Governor General’s Award-winning author Andrew Nikiforuk.

Saturday, November 13, 7:00 pm
Myer Horowitz Theatre, University of Alberta

In Alberta today there is a need for public discourse that considers hydrocarbons and oil wealth on the one hand, and public literacy and political engagement on the other. How do other oil-rich states manage their resources to ensure that all citizens remain healthy, well-educated, and literate? What is the relationship between provincial and national material wealth and the literacy rate? Is there a correlation between literacy and political engagement? Can the priorities of a resource economy ever eliminate illiteracy or create conditions by which the rate of literacy and political participation would improve? Join us as we begin this discourse.

The evening will be moderated by Edmonton Journal columnist Paula Simons, and will feature respondent Dr. Imre Szeman, Canada Research Chair in Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta. Szeman is the author of numerous articles and books and will provide a response entitled, “How to Know About Oil.”

The evening will feature an interactive question and answer session immediately following the two speakers.

Andrew Nikiforuk is the author of Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent (2009) for which he was the first Canadian winner of the Rachel Carson Environment Book Award. He is also the author of Saboteurs: Wiebo Ludwig's War Against Big Oil (2002, winner of the Governor General’s Award), If Learning Is So Natural, Why Am I Going To School? (1994) and School's Out: The Catastrophe in Public Education and What We Can Do About It (1993). He is the first Writer in Residence for The Tyee, and has written for Macleans, The Walrus, Georgia Straight, the Globe and Mail and many other publications.

Sponsors:

Boyle McCauley News, Faculty of Native Studies (University of Alberta), Greystone Books, Department of English and Film Studies (University of Alberta), Boyle Street Community Services, Greenwoods Bookshoppe, Canada Post Heritage Club, Department of Educational Policy Studies (University of Alberta), Community Service-Learning, Faculty of Arts (University of Alberta). Audreys Books