Priority Communications Within the City of Vancouver

The City of Vancouver’s 8,000-plus workers represent diverse backgrounds, and some were having difficulty understanding and communicating effectively in English. To upgrade employees’ literacy, language, and communication skills, the City developed the Vancouver Municipal Workplace Language Program (VMWLP). Established in 1990, the writing-based literacy program was made available to all employees and was therefore not structured by level or ethnic population. Workers who completed the program were able to communicate more effectively on the job and were more likely to take on leadership roles. In addition, the literacy program improved adherence to safety regulations, including Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). Although there were a few challenges (e.g., the model required above-average cooperation in the workplace), the benefits were numerous, both within and outside the workplace.