Home
[b]Below is a history of SALL
THE SASKATCHEWAN ASSOCIATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING (SALL)
The Saskatchewan Association for Lifelong Learning, or SALL, was established in 1971. It drew its foundational membership and organizational structure from roots in the Canadian Association of Adult Education, or CAAE, and the Association of Adult Education, or AAE, Saskatchewan Division.
Prior to 1970, the AAE, Saskatchewan Division, provided a focus for people who were interested in the promotion of adult learning opportunities. The Association was loosely affiliated with the CAAE, headquartered in Toronto and staffed by Executive Director, Allan Thomas. Activities were limited to a one day (Saturday) annual meeting organized by the Extension Division, University of Saskatchewan and conducted by an Executive which met a several times a year. The meetings brought together a small but varied group of people: members of the Saskatchewan Women's Institute, field staff of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, school board members and a few school board staff, clergy (most were from the United Church), Department of Education staff, agriculture extension workers and local committee members, and university extension staff.
A feeling emerged that the organization didn't quite fit the needs of those interested in the promotion of adult education, and that it didn't seem Saskatchewan enough. Saskatchewan had a rich background in adult education that had evolved out of developments in the 1940s connected to the evolving agricultural economy and infrastructure needs in rural Saskatchewan. The CCF government headed by Premier T. C. Douglas was the first government anywhere to establish an Adult Education Division in 1944 within the Department of Education. The Farm Radio Forums (1939 - 1965) and the high profile Royal Commission on Agriculture and Rural Life (1957) had raised the level of awareness for the need for adult education. The large Co-operative movement and school boards also played a significant role in supporting adult learning activities. The extension role in agriculture and rural life carried out by the College of Agriculture and later the Extension Division at the University of Saskatchewan was unique in Canada.
In 1971, a small committee came together to develop a proposal for a more appropriate organization to address the current needs. Drs. Brock Whale and Harold Baker of the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division provided the major leadership. Herb Kindred from the University of Regina, Lorne Sparling from the Community College in Prince Albert, and several other individuals, met to draft a mandate and a constitution for the Saskatchewan Association of Lifelong Learning (SALL).
The main goals of the new organization were to:
* provide a network for those interested or involved in the promotion and/or offering of adult learning whereby ideas could be shared and initiatives promoted; and
* advocate the cause of adult learning to decision-makers and to the general public.
Those involved in adult education at that time were from varied vocations, many were
volunteers, were from various geographic locations and had many and divergent aspirations. To have a means of communication was very significant. Annual conferences and regional learning events provided opportunities for members to network, learn about new initiatives in adult and post-secondary education and engage in policy forums on adult education.
SALL established several awards to honor adult education practitioners and programs. In 1992, SALL established the Roby Kidd award to mark their 20th anniversary. The first recipient was Thelma Howard, Extension Division of the University of Saskatchewan. The award was presented by Margaret Kidd, wife of the late Roby Kidd, a Saskatchewan adult educator who is well recognized in Canadian adult education circles. In 1994, SALL established two additional awards:
• the Adult Education Program of the Year Award. The first program to receive it was SIAST, Kelsey Campus, Saskatoon for its Home care/Special Care Aide Program.
• the Community Adult Educator of the Year Award. The first recipient was Jacob Kutarna, who was recognized for his role in development of the province's community college system in the 1970s.
For over two decades, SALL was the major vehicle through which many Saskatchewan adult educators and policy makers communicated and shared ideas. In the 1960s few decision-makers and citizens in general were concerned that adults should have more learning opportunities. Relatively few resources, public or private, were devoted to adult education. One of the reasons SALL was successful was because it provided a focal point for adult educators to gather and discuss common issues and developments affecting their organizations and the adult learners they served. SALL also brought renewed attention to issues in adult education in Saskatchewan at a time when post-secondary education was rapidly developing in the 1970s and 80s. SALL's participation in a variety of forums and consultations on provincial and federal initiatives (i.e., Canadian Job Strategy, Preparing for the Year 2000: Adult Education in Saskatchewan, 1986, and Choices for a Saskatchewan Training Strategy, 1996) ensured that the members in the provincial adult and post-secondary education sector had an opportunity to voice concerns and make recommendations.
In 1998, the SALL Board of Directors dissolved the organization and transferred files to Saskatchewan Archives. Provision was made for the awards fund to be transferred to the Association of Regional Colleges, to manage the awards for achievement in adult education in Saskatchewan. Today adult education is big business that is relatively well resourced and has become a priority for decision-makers and for the general public. An advocate for adult learning is not likely needed now, although there are special issues such as adult literacy that need to brought to the attention of society. However, several organizations with vested-interest groups (to name a few, the Saskatchewan Literacy Network, the Saskatchewan Council on Educators of non-English Speakers, the Saskatchewan Adult Basic Education Association) continue to be advocates for the learners. It took courage for SALL Board of Directors to decide that the original mandate had been met and that the time had come to shut down. It was a most useful organization and it served its members well.
Co-authored by Lorne Sparling and Donna Woloshyn
[b]
THE SASKATCHEWAN ASSOCIATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING (SALL)
The Saskatchewan Association for Lifelong Learning, or SALL, was established in 1971. It drew its foundational membership and organizational structure from roots in the Canadian Association of Adult Education, or CAAE, and the Association of Adult Education, or AAE, Saskatchewan Division.
Prior to 1970, the AAE, Saskatchewan Division, provided a focus for people who were interested in the promotion of adult learning opportunities. The Association was loosely affiliated with the CAAE, headquartered in Toronto and staffed by Executive Director, Allan Thomas. Activities were limited to a one day (Saturday) annual meeting organized by the Extension Division, University of Saskatchewan and conducted by an Executive which met a several times a year. The meetings brought together a small but varied group of people: members of the Saskatchewan Women's Institute, field staff of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, school board members and a few school board staff, clergy (most were from the United Church), Department of Education staff, agriculture extension workers and local committee members, and university extension staff.
A feeling emerged that the organization didn't quite fit the needs of those interested in the promotion of adult education, and that it didn't seem Saskatchewan enough. Saskatchewan had a rich background in adult education that had evolved out of developments in the 1940s connected to the evolving agricultural economy and infrastructure needs in rural Saskatchewan. The CCF government headed by Premier T. C. Douglas was the first government anywhere to establish an Adult Education Division in 1944 within the Department of Education. The Farm Radio Forums (1939 - 1965) and the high profile Royal Commission on Agriculture and Rural Life (1957) had raised the level of awareness for the need for adult education. The large Co-operative movement and school boards also played a significant role in supporting adult learning activities. The extension role in agriculture and rural life carried out by the College of Agriculture and later the Extension Division at the University of Saskatchewan was unique in Canada.
In 1971, a small committee came together to develop a proposal for a more appropriate organization to address the current needs. Drs. Brock Whale and Harold Baker of the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division provided the major leadership. Herb Kindred from the University of Regina, Lorne Sparling from the Community College in Prince Albert, and several other individuals, met to draft a mandate and a constitution for the Saskatchewan Association of Lifelong Learning (SALL).
The main goals of the new organization were to:
* provide a network for those interested or involved in the promotion and/or offering of adult learning whereby ideas could be shared and initiatives promoted; and
* advocate the cause of adult learning to decision-makers and to the general public.
Those involved in adult education at that time were from varied vocations, many were
volunteers, were from various geographic locations and had many and divergent aspirations. To have a means of communication was very significant. Annual conferences and regional learning events provided opportunities for members to network, learn about new initiatives in adult and post-secondary education and engage in policy forums on adult education.
SALL established several awards to honor adult education practitioners and programs. In 1992, SALL established the Roby Kidd award to mark their 20th anniversary. The first recipient was Thelma Howard, Extension Division of the University of Saskatchewan. The award was presented by Margaret Kidd, wife of the late Roby Kidd, a Saskatchewan adult educator who is well recognized in Canadian adult education circles. In 1994, SALL established two additional awards:
• the Adult Education Program of the Year Award. The first program to receive it was SIAST, Kelsey Campus, Saskatoon for its Home care/Special Care Aide Program.
• the Community Adult Educator of the Year Award. The first recipient was Jacob Kutarna, who was recognized for his role in development of the province's community college system in the 1970s.
For over two decades, SALL was the major vehicle through which many Saskatchewan adult educators and policy makers communicated and shared ideas. In the 1960s few decision-makers and citizens in general were concerned that adults should have more learning opportunities. Relatively few resources, public or private, were devoted to adult education. One of the reasons SALL was successful was because it provided a focal point for adult educators to gather and discuss common issues and developments affecting their organizations and the adult learners they served. SALL also brought renewed attention to issues in adult education in Saskatchewan at a time when post-secondary education was rapidly developing in the 1970s and 80s. SALL's participation in a variety of forums and consultations on provincial and federal initiatives (i.e., Canadian Job Strategy, Preparing for the Year 2000: Adult Education in Saskatchewan, 1986, and Choices for a Saskatchewan Training Strategy, 1996) ensured that the members in the provincial adult and post-secondary education sector had an opportunity to voice concerns and make recommendations.
In 1998, the SALL Board of Directors dissolved the organization and transferred files to Saskatchewan Archives. Provision was made for the awards fund to be transferred to the Association of Regional Colleges, to manage the awards for achievement in adult education in Saskatchewan. Today adult education is big business that is relatively well resourced and has become a priority for decision-makers and for the general public. An advocate for adult learning is not likely needed now, although there are special issues such as adult literacy that need to brought to the attention of society. However, several organizations with vested-interest groups (to name a few, the Saskatchewan Literacy Network, the Saskatchewan Council on Educators of non-English Speakers, the Saskatchewan Adult Basic Education Association) continue to be advocates for the learners. It took courage for SALL Board of Directors to decide that the original mandate had been met and that the time had come to shut down. It was a most useful organization and it served its members well.
Co-authored by Lorne Sparling and Donna Woloshyn
[b]
