Toronto will celebrate its first Digital Literacy Day on May 31 with more than 60 free events for all ages. May 31 will also be proclaimed by Mayor John Tory as Digital Literacy Day.
“We are a tech leader in Canada and throughout the world and it is important that we continue to be competitive in this area,” said Mayor John Tory. “Fostering digital literacy now and in the future is essential for us to maintain our city’s prosperity and livability.”
Technology through phones, tablets, social media and eLearning has changed the way that we work, play and learn. This new literacy is also creating lifelong opportunities and challenges for people of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. Through interactive activities and learning sessions, the breadth and range of possibilities and opportunities available will be explored and celebrated.
“With the rapid pace that technology is transforming our workplaces and social spaces, digital literacy is a critical skill set to learn in order to capitalize on these changes and it is for this reason that I moved my motion at City Council to establish Digital Literacy Day in Toronto,” said Councillor Michelle Holland (Ward 35 Scarborough Southwest), the Mayor’s Advocate for the Innovation Economy. “It’s vital that we future-proof our workforce and provide ample opportunities for the public to learn digital skills to ensure that no one is left behind in the innovation economy.”
Events and workshops will build awareness and skills within topic areas such as coding, digital privacy, digital banking, design, video editing and robotics. Career options will be explored through job search and job training in addition to discussions on how digital literacy impacts work environments and accessibility.
Digital Literacy Day is the result of the City of Toronto and the Toronto Public Library collaborating with a diverse and dynamic group of more than 30 local companies and organizations to produce and host events throughout the city. Since the fall of 2017, a Digital Literacy Day Working Group comprised of City staff, the Toronto Public Library and public and private sector partners have planned Digital Literacy Day. While most activities will be directed to younger audiences, there will be options for all ages. More than 30 Toronto Public Library branches will host events.
“Digital access and digital literacy are so important in today’s knowledge economy and are critical for living and working in the digital age. That’s why the library provides free, equitable access for all Torontonians to all kinds of technologies and the digital literacy supports and resources needed to use them,” said Vickery Bowles, City Librarian at Toronto Public Library. “Free Wi-Fi and computers in all 100 branches, online learning resources like Lynda.com, in-branch technology training courses, digital innovation hubs – I invite everyone to check out these and our many other programs and services at branches across the city, and at http://www.tpl.ca, on Digital Literacy Day.”
More information about Digital Literacy Day is available at http://www.toronto.ca/DLDayTO and on Twitter using #DLDayTO. A complete list of the day’s events will be available soon.
This news release is also available on the City’s website: http://ow.ly/JFpk30jH5Kv.
Toronto Public Library is the world’s busiest urban public library system. Last year, we had 18 million visits to our branches and 31 million virtual visits. Torontonians borrowed 32 million items in branches and online. To learn more, visit http://www.tpl.ca, call Answerline at 416-393-7131 or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/torontolibrary.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TorontoComms, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.
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