"Vancouver is a place which recognizes, values, enables and celebrates learning; a place where all sectors work together to ensure access to learning; a place where residents recognize learning as an essential and integral part of their lives; a place where residents take responsibility for learning throughout their lives."

This is the vision guiding the Vancouver Learning City initiative. It emerged during broad-based community consultation, culminating in the 2006 Lifelong Learning Strategy for the City of Vancouver - which forms the background and context for the work of the Vancouver Learning City initiative.

As the longstanding Co-Chairs of the Working Group spearheading this initiative, we are excited to publicly launch the Vancouver Learning City. Activities in support of the VLC have long been underway behind-the-scenes, but this is the first major push to engage Vancouverites (i.e. those who live or work in the city) in VLC activities.

As you can tell, we´re still "under wraps" at the moment - awaiting your input on several levels. First, we encourage you to contribute to our What is Learning? Campaign by helping us define "learning" in terms that are meaningful to you -- with words, images, and/or music. Enter our VLC Logo Design Contest and help create a visual graphic identity for your Vancouver Learning City. Join in Celebrate Learning! an inventory of organizations partnering with the VLC in support of lifelong learning, citywide. And do Contact Us to let us know let us know who you are and what you would like to see your Vancouver Learning City offer.

The Vancouver Learning City is a place where people´s curiosity and desire to learn and grow are promoted, valued, and made simpler to achieve -- whether for personal fulfillment, the development of family or community, or to achieve work-related goals.

The Vancouver Learning City is yours. Embrace it!

Paul Whitney, City Librarian

Chris Kelly, Superintendent