Literacy in Canada and the Diminishing of Social Agency – Dr. Linda Shohet, founder of The Centre for Literacy of Quebec

Dr. Linda Shohet: “Literacy in Canada and the
Diminishing of Social Agency”
Literacy was one of the last sectors cut by the current
government since 2007, in a pattern of attack on
independent research and social supports including
environment, science, immigration settlement, libraries and
archives, Statistics Canada, and any activities perceived to
be “advocacy.” Using literacy as an example, Linda Shohet
will analyze the impacts of these measures on the various
sectors themselves, but above all on the fabric of Canadian
society and democracy.
Linda Shohet was founder and executive director of The
Centre for Literacy, a national centre of expertise and
professional development in all areas of literacy and skills
from 1989-2015. She has written numerous articles and
book chapters, spoken widely and consulted for provincial
and international governments, including the US, UK and
France, on literacy, workforce skills training, and health
literacy. Linda was a member of the Canadian Expert Panel
on Health Literacy (2007), helped draft the Calgary Charter,
an internationally-cited set of Core Principles for Health
Literacy, and wrote the content for an accredited inline
Continuing Medical Education module to introduce health
literacy to health care professionals. She has served on
many adult education and community organization boards.
Linda was named one of Canada’s top literacy researchers
by the Canadian Education Association in 2004, and in
2012 was awarded a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Linda has an Honours BA and MA from McGill and a PhD
from Université de Montréal, in English Literature. She
taught English for more than 30 years at Dawson College,
where The Centre for Literacy was originally established.