
A message from Sandra Lee, Executive Director
This January, we are proud to celebrate Family Literacy Week 2025 across British Columbia, from January 26 to February 2.
Family Literacy Day, an initiative by ABC Life Literacy, takes place on January 27. In BC, this celebration extends into a week-long opportunity for families to play, learn and grow together.
This year’s theme, “Learn to be Green, Together,” encourages families to build literacy skills while helping the planet. From hands-on activities like recycling projects or planting seeds, there are endless ways to combine learning with eco-friendly fun. My family plans to try a new hiking trail on Vancouver Island.
Join us! Visit our Family Literacy Week page to download activity sheets, explore local events and enter our annual Family Literacy Week contest for a chance to win exciting prizes.
As we celebrate, we must also confront the challenges ahead. One of the most pressing is the federal funding cut to our Immigrant Parents as Literacy Supporters (IPALS) program.
For over a decade, IPALS has helped nearly 4,500 newcomer families in BC build literacy skills, integrate into their communities, and support their children’s success in school. Without this vital program, hundreds of families will lose access to crucial resources that make a lasting difference in their lives.
Help us save IPALS! Here’s what you can do:
- Make a donation to directly support the program
- Send a letter to your MLA
- Share a message of support
- Raise your voice
Please take a moment to read more about how IPALS has impacted families and why saving this program matters to so many. Together, we can make a difference.
While we face challenges like saving IPALS, we’re also proud of the successes of the past year. Our 2024 year-in-review and 2023/2024 Annual Report highlight incredible progress in advancing literacy across the province.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce a new partnership with Strong Nations Publishing, which will bring more Indigenous books and resources to our library. This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to truth and reconciliation while strengthening literacy for all British Columbians.
Thank you for celebrating Family Literacy Week with us. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of learning, growth and resilience for families across British Columbia.
Warm regards,
Sandra Lee
Executive Director, Decoda Literacy Solutions
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