What is Literacy?

Literacy is the ability to understand and use printed information in daily activities at home, at work and in the community – to achieve one's goals, and to develop one's knowledge and potential. (International Adult Literacy Survey, 1995).

Improving the literacy levels of B.C. citizens is a government priority. The province's Literacy Action Plan is called ReadNowBC.

Adult Literacy

The Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development has lead responsibility for adult literacy. The Provincial Adult Opportunities Plan outlines the strategies and goals relating to adult literacy.

See Facts About Adult Literacy within the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development for more information.

English as a Second Language Settlement Assistance Program

2009/10 Call for Proposals

The Learning Programs Branch is responsible for providing direction, leadership and support to key areas of responsibility such as English as a Second Language.

The Branch assists adult learners through funding contracts with third-party agencies providing adult education services.

The Learning Programs Branch is currently issuing a Call for Proposals for the delivery of its ESL Settlement Assistance Program.

Through this program, community groups and their program partners provide tutoring for immigrants and refugees in small and remote B.C. communities to help them improve their English while learning about the Canadian way of life. Volunteer tutors participate in on-line and face-to-face training before being matched with an adult learner.

Introduced in 2007, this program is linked to the Community Adult Literacy Program. Funding for the ESL Settlement Assistance Program is provided by the Federal Government under the terms of the Agreement for Canada - B.C. Cooperation on Immigration.

In 2008/09, 35 programs were delivered in 42 locations across British Columbia. Nearly 500 volunteer tutors supported over 800 adult learners in reaching their individual learning goals.

Eligible applicants are invited to submit their proposal by: September 8, 2009

Ministry Contact:
Martin Breuhan, Coordinator, ESL Settlement Assistance Program,
Tel. (250) 387-2572; e-mail: martin.breuhan@gov.bc.ca

Community Adult Literacy Program (CALP)

A key component of B.C.'s adult literacy strategy is support for community-based programs. For over 20 years non-profit organizations, in partnership with post-secondary education institutions, have been supported by the province to provide programs to adults wishing to improve their literacy. The goals of the community adult literacy program are to:

  • Enhance adult literacy activities in British Columbia.
  • Encourage and improve partnerships between community groups, school districts and public post-secondary institutions.
  • Encourage active involvement of all sectors of society – governments, voluntary groups, educational institutions, business and labour – in improving adult literacy education in British Columbia.

Community Adult Literacy Program Call for Proposals 2009/10

The Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development invites organizations offering CALP programs in 2008/09 to submit proposals for the renewal of existing programs in 2009/10.

2008/09 CALP grant recipients wishing to submit a proposal for funding for 2009/10 are requested to complete the 2009/10 CALP Application for Renewal outlining program objectives, implementation plan, budget and partnerships.

Deadline for the receipt of proposals is Friday, May 1, 2009. Proposals must be submitted by email to Shelley.Gilmour@gov.bc.ca.


For 2009-10, the Province is providing $2.4 million for 67 community-based adult literacy projects.

News release – September 8, 2009  

2009/10 CALP Grant Recipients:

As part of a province-wide effort to monitor provincial literacy programs and services, recipients of CALP grants are required to provide information on they types of programs offered, the number of learners served, and the literacy levels of learners. The CALP 2009/10 Year End Data Reporting Requirements and new spreadsheet can be downloaded here:

The 2009/10 CALP Interim Report Form, which must be submitted to the Ministry by March 1, 2010, is available here:

Adult Opportunities Action Plan

The Adult Opportunities Action Plan is an adult literacy strategy to enable British Columbia's adults to attain and maintain the literacy skills necessary to participate fully in the modern society and global economy. Read More >>

A message from the Premier

Premier Gordon Campbell overviews the importance of adult literacy in British Columbia. 

[ Watch the video ]

 

Council of the Federation Literacy Award

The fourth annual call for nominations for the Council of the Federation Literacy Award is now open. The award recognizes outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy.

Nominations are welcome from all areas of literacy including:

  1. Early childhood
  2. Family
  3. Aboriginal
  4. Health
  5. Workplace
  6. Community

You’ll find more information, along with this year's nomination form, at http://www.readnowbc.ca/council_fed_literacy_award.html.

Last year, Joan Acosta, creator of the Westcoast Reader, was awarded the third annual Council of the Federation Literacy Award. Read More >>

Reports and Publications

Building Our Competencies: British Columbia Results of the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey - 2003

This report presents the results of the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey, designed to measure how well adults used printed information to function in society. 

The report:

People from 16 to 65 were surveyed in seven countries:

  • Bermuda
  • Canada
  • Italy
  • Norway
  • Mexico (the state of Nuevo Leon)
  • Switzerland
  • United States

The two reports and their findings are used by governments, literacy and skills development professionals, researchers and the public. The data are used to inform policy decisions and respond to adult education needs.


Contacts for further information:

Literacy BC, the provincial literacy coalition, acts as a lending resource for a variety of literacy materials including cost-shared products. For catalogued literacy resources from the cost-shared projects, contact Literacy BC.

The Learning Programs Branch, Students & Learning Division of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development can be reached at:

PO Box 9882 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria B.C. V8W 9T6
Phone: 250 356-9733
Fax: 250 387-0878
E-mail: ALMD.LearningPrograms@gov.bc.ca