The Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES) is a Centre of Expertise with a workplace focus, building awareness and capacity in "what works" in order to improve the literacy and essential skills of adult Canadians.

OLES leverages skills investments in Canada and integrates literacy and essential skills into existing workplace training and upgrading activities through the use of:

• information
• partnerships
• tools

In order to realize its mandate, OLES: 

• Supports effective essential skills networks and partnerships;
• Generates and disseminates research, tools and supports;
• Promotes embedding of essential skills into other programs, policies and training activities; and
• Advises on essential skills concepts, trends and policies.