In November 1978 a group of concerned people got together because they realized there were many adults in our community needing help with basic reading, writing and math skills. A program at Canadore College to help lower-level readers had its funding cut, but the need was still there and there were people eager to learn.

Canadore College president Murray Hewgill gave John Brock, who was the director of adult training, the job of finding a program Canadore could sponsor and help.

Joan Sharman, a Canadore staff person at the time, said the Laubach workshop was chosen because it was the best material and gave the best information to untrained volunteers than any other method.

In the early years, Canadore helped with co-ordination, a telephone contact number, newsletter printing and mailing, stocking the books, meeting rooms, workshop rooms and other help as needed.

There was no provincial funding. Money for books was raised through bake sales, raffles and tag day.

Today, 30 years later, we still do these activities to raise money for books and supplies.

On Nov. 4 and 5 of 1978, the first Laubach tutor training workshop was held at the Teacher's College (now the Correctional Services building on First Avenue). A record-breaking 45 people responded to that first call for literacy tutors.

At the conclusion of this workshop, the North Bay and Area Literacy Council was born, complete with its first president, executive and student tutor co-ordinator. The first president was Kaye Montgomery, the first student/tutor co-ordinator was Al Craig, a teacher at Canadore. Joan Sharman was president for two years and student/tutor co-ordinator for several years.

The driving force behind bringing the workshop to North Bay was Canadore. In 1986, the council hosted the Laubach Literacy Ontario conference. It was deemed a success with more than 90 people from across the province attending.

In October 2003, more than 200 people attended another provincial conference when the council celebrated its 25th anniversary.

The council was housed by the Literacy Alliance (a network of literacy providers; Canadore College, Nipissing Board of Education, the separate school board of education and the council) at 124 Main St. E. from 1987 to 1992 when the council received provincial funding from the Ministry of Education for a part-time student/tutor co-ordinator and some rent.

It set up offices at the historic Scollard Hall building at 1000 High St.

The next move was in 1998 when the council moved to King Street. It quickly outgrew that office space and in June 2000 once again packed up its books and moved to an office at 450 Main St. W. This space, too, with only one tutor room and a small classroom, quickly became too small and once more the council packed up and moved to its current location at 347 Sherbrooke St., Suite 301.

Council presidents have included Kaye Montgomery, Joan Sharman, Bruce Culhane, Mary Mitchell, Stella Moseley-Williams (twice), Ken Osmun, Vivianne Frankish, Karen Mulak, Stella Moseley-Williams (again), Vic Sleep, Cindy-Lou Hepinstall-Brooks (twice), Ellen Schmidt and Eileen Callaghan.

Student /tutor co-ordinators have included Al Craig, Joan Sharman, Suzy Harris, Sandra Hall, Bruno Cuksts, Nancy Herdman, Amanda Levesque and Barbara Anello.

Past and present tutor trainers are Suzy Harris, Louise Lamers, Mary Mitchell, Mary Toye, Susan Robineau, Reva Perreault, Sandra Hall, Louise Cicci, Linda Harris, Jane Jackson, Lori Beckerton, Nancy Herdman, Mary Mills, Sophie Harrison Chumley, Yvonne Henderson and Linda Dubroy.

Others instrumental in the council's development included Frances Visney, Suzy Harris, Catherine Gambacorta, Mary Mitchell, Derek Stott, Bernice Cleator, Tom Graham, Ross Brewer, Carolyn Carr, Linda Bentley, Chris Lee, Vic Sleep and John Kazias.

The current board of directors includes president Eileen Callaghan, vice-president Monica Marier, secretary Ellen Schmidt, treasurer Guy Rocheleau, directors Jeannette Miron, Dave Duncan, Bob Cunningham and Jack Osborne (student representative) and executive co-ordinator Jane Jackson.

For more information, contact the council at 94-9416 or northbayliteracy@on.aibn.com.