2022 was a year of connecting as we returned to in-person literacy support.

Throughout the year, we shared stories about Decoda Literacy Solutions’ projects and resources that help to support literacy programs and organizations in more than 400 BC communities.

Here are Decoda’s highlights of the year!

January celebrated Family Literacy Week

Community groups, libraries and schools across the province celebrated Family Literacy Week January 23-30, 2022, with the theme “Let’s Connect! Care * Play * Listen.”

We highlighted activities around the province in Community activities celebrate BC Family Literacy Week and we shared family literacy stories from Decoda Program Manager Maureen Kehler in Program manager connects to family literacy.

February examined racism

During Black History Month in February, we learned about the impact of systemic racism from Chelsea Goodwin and shared her wisdom in Webinar examines impacts of systemic racism and also discussed The Evolution of Cultural Literacy.

March search for ED and conference promotion

In March, we began the search for our new executive director, announced registration for the Decoda Literacy Conference in May in Literacy conference connects training to people, and celebrated Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month.

April highlighted immigrant families and volunteers

In April, we shared Parents as Literacy Supporters in Immigrant Communities program successes in IPALS thrives despite challenges.

We celebrated National Volunteer week and our volunteer board of directors:

• Dr. Ralf St. Clair, Director
• Grace Kuo, Treasurer
• Diana Twiss, Director
• Leslie Landell, Director
• Dr. Valerie Overgaard, Chair
• Dr. Pat Campbell, Director
• Manmeet Bhatia, Director

And some of our Decoda staff participated in the Vancouver Sun Run to raise money for cancer research.

May Literacy Conference

In May, we held our fifth Literacy Conference and shared the highlights in Connecting for literacy at Decoda Conference.

We shared stories about preparing newcomer children for Canadian schools with the Immigrant Parents as Literacy Supporters (IPALS) in Mothers are children’s first teacher.

We participated in a panel at the Skills for Success Forum at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

June highlighted Indigenous realities literacy

In June, for National Indigenous Peoples Day, we shared highlights of CBC journalist Angela Sterritt’s keynote speech at the Decoda Literacy Conference in Journalist shares Indigenous realities literacy.

We also shared the How to write a Winning Grant Proposal presentation from the Decoda Literacy Conference.

July reading blogs and CALP funding

In July we launched our staff summer reading blog and welcomed news that the Province of British Columbia is investing $3.4 million annually for Community Adult Literacy Programs (CALP).

August celebrated Sock it to literacy!

In August, we prepared for Literacy Month fundraising with a profile of Marilyn Cobban, owner of Blue Sky Clothing Co, who has helped raise more than $53,000 for literacy in BC through sales of socks for literacy since 2016: Success sparks Sock it to Literacy campaign

September celebrated Literacy Month, a literacy award and retirement

In September, we celebrated the ‘Literacy connects us!’ Literacy Month theme with a word cloud contest and a live Team Trivia Challenge fundraiser at The Yaletown Distillery.

• Every gift was matched $1 for $1 up to $10,000 thanks to the generosity of our presenting sponsor First West Credit Union and its four locally known and trusted divisions: Envision Financial, Valley First, Island Savings and Enderby & District Financial.
• RBC presented a cheque for $25,000 in support of Fostering Literacy.
• Blue Sky Clothing Company presented a cheque for $12,768.
• Together, with our partners and supporters we raised over $47,000 to support literacy programs in BC.

In Executive director retires, wins literacy award we celebrated Margaret Sutherland’s Council of the Federation Literacy Award for British Columbia and shared her life-changing story as she retires.

We also highlighted six free curricula developed by literacy organizations to support displaced workers in Workers connect to essential skills in pilot programs.

October introduced new ED and highlighted training opportunities

We introduced and learned more about Decoda’s new executive director, Sandra Lee, in Executive director focuses on connection, inclusion.

We watched Minister of Municipal Affairs Nathan Cullen present the Council of the Federation Literacy Award for BC to Margaret Sutherland and shared the highlights in Minister Cullen presents Literacy Award.

We participated in Cyber Security Awareness Month, Media Literacy Week and recognized Canadian Library Workers’ Day.

November highlighted financial literacy, displaced workers, Giving Tuesday and Fostering Literacy

In November, we highlighted Financial Literacy Month and the Displaced Worker Project Cover Report.

In our Giving Tuesday campaign we inspired people to help change a child’s future with a gift to Decoda Literacy to support Fostering Literacy tutor programs around BC, and we highlighted two former tutors in Fostering Literacy helps children, inspires youth.

We gave tips and highlighted our training opportunities to support adult literacy practitioners in Using The Westcoast Reader in the classroom and Using the Canadian Adult Reading Assessment (CARA).

We presented on the connection between literacy and community health at the Public Health Association of BC’s conference.

And we showcased our new online Literacy Calendar and subscription!

December AGM and Annual Report

In December, we held our Annual General Meeting online with our volunteer Board of Directors and approved our 2021-22 Annual Report.

We attended the AMSSA/IRCC (Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies/ Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) Summit to explore our role in settlement services.

We supported Mothers Matter Centre’s The Right to be Ready initiative to address the inequities of preschool preparedness.

We introduced the Decoda Literacy Library, Family Literacy Week materials and The Westcoast Reader to attendees at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel Wellness Fair.

Throughout the year

• Our Read All About Lit blog highlighted literacy news and resources twice weekly.
• We loaned more than 640 literacy materials through the Decoda Literacy Library.
• We hosted 14 professional development webinars covering nine topics to 370 literacy practitioners.
• We published 10 issues of The Westcoast Reader newspaper for learners with an average readership of 60,000 people.
• We shared literacy news, resources and events to our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
• We supported a network of 98 Literacy Outreach Coordinators who provide community-based literacy programs in over 400 BC communities.
• We supported 18 IPALS programs, serving more than 300 immigrant families who learned new strategies to support their child’s learning in fun and interactive ways, while responding to their cultural and linguistic needs.
• We supported five organizations pilot testing programs to support displaced workers.
• We provided BC’s 94 Community Adult Literacy Programs (CALP) with training, resources and support.

Planning 2023…

Family Literacy Week

We’re getting ready for Family Literacy Week January 22-29, 2023 with the theme “Make it Count! Play * Sort * Measure.”

Our impact

• 400 communities supported in British Columbia
• 45,311 youth and children engaged in community-based literacy programs
• 43,790 adults and seniors engaged in improving their literacy skills

Thank you to our supporters

Your support makes a difference

All this is possible, thanks to support from the Province of BC, corporate sponsors and individual donors like you!

Your gift to the Decoda Literacy Foundation will help children, families, adults and seniors develop the literacy skills they need.

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About us

Decoda Literacy Solutions is BC’s provincial literacy organization. We support community-based literacy programs and initiatives in over 400 communities across BC by providing resources, training and funds.

Our work supports children and families, youth, adults, Indigenous and immigrant communities to help build strong individuals, strong families and strong communities.