On Canada Day 2011, Governor General David Johnston expressed a clear and compelling vision for Canada “where learning and innovation are strengthened to provide for a prosperous tomorrow”. On July 2, while presenting the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, His Excellency encouraged Canadians to “think of ways to build a smarter, more caring, nation”.
His words are synonymous with the mission of the Canadian Council on Learning whose mandate has been to help build a national learning architecture. As the Governor General so clearly attested, learning lies at the heart of individual development. It is the foundation of collective prosperity, well-being and social cohesion. It is a bond to cement segments of great countries and vast spaces like those of our own country.
In the future, successful societies will be those that today recognize the value of learning and are making efforts to build the skills, attitudes and knowledge—not only among our youth, but also among our very young and those who have already made a lifetime working contribution.
Since its founding in 2004, the Canadian Council on Learning has acted as a significant force for improvement of learning conditions in every part of this land. With its federal funding completely withdrawn on March 31, 2010, the Canadian Council on Learning now prepares to cease its activities in spring 2012.