These case studies of the experiences of literacy practitioners and their students from all regions of Canada contain descriptions and reflections that provide a critical and revealing commentary on effective practice in literacy education in Canada. Each case study chapter begins with introductory information that provides a synopsis of who, what, and where. Discussion questions at the end of each case study are intended to provoke further reflection and debate. Section 1 on Foundations of literacy contains three chapters: "Looking at Philosophies for Literacy Education" (Draper); "Understanding the Principles Guiding Our Literacy Practice" (Taylor); and "Learning about Learning" (Barer-Stein). Section 2 consists of four case study chapters on community building: "Training Literacy Practitioners for Community-Based Settings" (Norton); "Community Strengthening" (Goldgrab); "Linking Literacy and Health: A Popular Education Approach" (Norton); and "Outreach" (Goldgrab). In section 3 are five case studies focusing on special needs: "Peer Tutoring in the Classroom" (Goldgrab); "Literacy, Welfare, and Popular Education" (Norton); "Preparing Psychiatric Patients for Independent Living" (Goldgrab); and "Les Pas des Mots" and its English translation, "Promoting the March of Words" (Blais). The six case studies in section 4 are on activating student participation: "Sharing Power and Authority" (Norton); "Les Murs de Papier" and its English translation, "Dialogue with Social Decision-Makers" (Blais); "Activating Student Participation" (Goldgrab); and "S'alphabetiser pour posseder une cle'" and its English translation, "Literacy Training as a Key" (Blais). Section 5 contains five case studies on language and culture: "The Whole Person Approach" (Goldgrab); "Theater as Literacy" (Walker); "The Preservation of Franco-Ontarian Language and Culture" and its French translation, "La preservation de la langue et de la culture franco-ontarienne" (Goldgrab); and "Promoting Language, Literacy, and Culture in an Arctic Community" (Norton). Section 6 consists of four case studies on workplace literacy: "Collaboration in Workplace Literacy" (Darville); "S'alphabetiser en milieu de travail" and its English translation, "Literacy Training in the Workplace" (Blais); and "Collaborative Learning in Times of Change" (Wells). An epilogue is "Continuing the Debate" (Draper). Contains 178 references. (YLB)