Media Advisory - 2,000 from around the globe to gather in Ottawa for Education International World Congress

OTTAWA, June 9, 2015 /CNW/ - For the first time in its history, Education International (EI) will hold its quadrennial World Congress in Canada July 21-26, 2015 in Ottawa. The global event will convene nearly 2,000 delegates, observers and guests from over 150 countries at the Shaw Centre.

EI's 30-million members from 402 organizations — including those from Canada — will be represented by delegates who will consider the major contemporary issues affecting their professional organizations, the international teacher trade union movement, the trade union movement generally, austerity measures in education and the on-going struggle to achieve quality public education for all.

EI President Susan Hopgood and EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen will present the top issues that will be addressed at a news conference at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 19.  The presidents of the EI Canadian Affiliate Members will also be available to provide media with regional and national perspectives.

Congress highlights include presentations by leaders of the United Nations based in New York including Gordon Brown, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education; of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); of the International Labour Organization (ILO); of Public Services International (PSI); of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); and of the Council of Global Unions (CGU).

CHECKLIST

Who:	Education International  www.ei-ie.org/en/executive_boards/index/5318
What:	News conference to launch EI World Congress
When:	11 a.m., Sunday July 19, 2015
Where:	Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1N 9J2
Theme:	Unite for Quality Education – Better education for a better world
Congress site:	www.ei-ie.org/congress7/
Hashtag:	#Unite4ed

Canadian Hosts and EI Affiliate organizations:

• Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF), Ottawa
• Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), Montréal
• Fédération nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Québec, Confédération des syndicats nationaux (FNEEQ-CSN), Montréal
• Fédération québécoise des professeures et professeurs d'université (FQPPU), Montréal
• Fédération du personnel professionnel des universités et de la recherche (FPPU), Montréal
• Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), Ottawa.

SOURCE Canadian Teachers' Federation

EI Headquarters, Brussels: Timo Linsenmaier, [phone]; Andrew King, [phone]; Canada: Francine Filion (CTF) 613-688-4314; Valérie Dufour (CAUT) 613-293-1810; Quebec: Christine Marceau (CSQ) 514-235-5082; France Désaulniers (FNEEQ-CSN) 514-219-2947; Hans-Olivier Poirier Grenier (FQPPU) 514-755-5858; Claude Fortin (FPPU) 819-649-1822