This document provides a summary of a two-day symposium organized by WWestnet (Western Canada Workplace Essential Skills Training Network) in Calgary in February 2004.

The symposium was not directed at the needs of a particular training sector but instead, provided an opportunity for trainers from all contexts to view essential skills training issues from a number of perspectives.

The authors have included accounts of the presentations and panel discussions held during the symposium. Some of the topics covered include assessing learning difficulties in the workplace; real-life collaborative efforts to improve essential skills; and the importance of addressing thinking skills in workplace training.

WWestnet is a group of educators, labour leaders, government representatives and business people with an interest in workplace basic skills education.