Yuki Storey immigrated to Canada from Japan in 2021. She worried about how her two-year-old son, Mike, would adjust to Canadian kindergarten in a few years. She wondered how he would compare to other Canadian children and how she could best support him.

“I knew nothing about Canadian school systems when I came to Canada,” said Yuki. “I felt isolated and worried about what I can do for my son.”

In 2023, Yuki joined the Immigrant Parents As Literacy Supporters (IPALS) program at Literacy Central Vancouver Island in Nanaimo. She attended weekly sessions with her son for three months.

“For me, the benefits were gaining information about what education is like in Canada, learning vocabulary related to the children’s school system, understanding my son’s likes and dislikes regarding various themes, discovering activities I can do with him at home, and so many other valuable lessons. Additionally, meeting in person with instructors and other parents was really important. These experiences have increased my confidence as a mother in a new country.”

Now, Yuki feels better prepared to support her son and more confident about his future success in school. She highly recommends the program to other immigrant parents. However, she recently learned about federal funding cuts that put the program at risk.

“I believe there are many immigrant parents who may feel isolated, confused or challenged by their changing circumstances,” Yuki said. “So, IPALS should be saved for those parents who need support.”

4,500 immigrant families support literacy through play-based learning

The IPALS program is a family literacy initiative from Decoda Literacy Solutions. Using a play-based learning approach, IPALS helps parents support their child’s literacy, emotional development and social skills in ways that feel natural and fun.

“For over a decade, Decoda Literacy and partner organizations have helped 4,500 newcomer families, from more than 46 countries and 35 different language groups build bridges to Canadian life—connecting them with schools and their communities and giving them a sense of belonging,” said Decoda Program Manager Aliza Dhungana.

Through books, materials, training, childcare and transportation support, IPALS ensures that newcomer families have equitable access to education and community resources.

“The program alleviated our anxiety as parents,” said Cecilia Liu, a parent who participated in a Burnaby IPALS program. “With clear guidance and practical advice, we feel more confident in our role as our child’s first and lifelong teachers. We are now better equipped to create a positive and supportive environment that encourages our child’s natural curiosity and love for learning.

Investing in IPALS is a small cost compared to the enormous returns it yields. It is a program that supports families, builds stronger communities and contributes to the development of a skilled and well-rounded generation. Saving and expanding IPALS would mean bringing this life-changing support to more families, ensuring that more children discover the joy of learning and the motivation to succeed.”

Updated curriculum embeds Indigenous learning

This year, the IPALS curriculum is currently being updated to embed an Indigenous component across all chapters and resources, based on the British Columbia’s current Early Learning Framework.

Curriculum sessions include:

• Play is the Way We Learn
• Knowing Who You Are
• Stories, Songs, and Rhymes
• Emotional Literacy
• Print in Our Community
• Numbers and Shapes All Around Us.
• Mark Making/Emergent Literacy
• Mother Earth/Learning on the Land
• Letters All Around Us
• Physical Literacy
• Screen Time/Digital Literacy: Support for facilitators

There is also a separate Aboriginal Parents As Literacy Supporters program, adapted for Indigenous communities in consultation with Elders and community leaders. It focuses on Indigenous resources and ways of learning.

Mastering host country’s language is key to immigrant success

The 2023 Survey of Adult Skills  (Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies or PIAAC) shows that immigrants in Canada tend to have lower literacy skills than native-born Canadians, with a gap equivalent to about 3.5 years of schooling. This gap is partly due to language issues, education levels, age, gender and parents’ education.

Immigrants who learn the country’s language early on, especially those who arrive as children, perform better in literacy assessments. Mastering the host country’s language is key to immigrant success and literacy programs play a key role in integration.

Interestingly, 58% of immigrants in Canada are highly educated, compared to 42% of native-born Canadians. Second-generation immigrants tend to perform as well or better than non-immigrants.

Investing in newcomer families strengthens the economy

Immigrants are a key part of British Columbia’s economy:

• Almost 30% of BC’s population is made up of immigrants.
• Immigrants make up 33% of the workforce.
• Immigrants own 27% of small businesses, strengthening communities by providing services, creating jobs and driving local economies.

In October 2024, the Canadian government announced a reduction in annual immigration targets between 2025-2027, from 500,000 to 395,000, and also reduced the number of temporary foreign workers and international students. In December, it also cut many immigrant support services, including IPALS, even though 395,000 newcomers will still arrive each year.

“In these times, we cannot forget the literacy piece that is directly tied to our economy,” says Decoda Program Manager Maureen Kehler. “An economic crisis is not the time to cut back on education. Literacy matters more than ever.”

Programs like IPALS help families adjust to life in Canada, improve their English skills and understand the school system. The economic impact of IPALS goes beyond education. As immigrant parents improve their literacy, they become more involved in the workforce and community, which leads to:

• higher employment rates
• more successful small businesses
• increased contributions to local economies
• a stronger, more skilled workforce

As Canada faces economic uncertainty, investing in immigrant families today means a more prosperous BC tomorrow.

Help Save IPALS

Decoda has launched the “Help Save IPALS” campaign to protect this program and continue serving newcomer families.

Currently, five IPALS sites in Surrey, Nanaimo, Victoria, and Mission have the capacity to run programs for 120 parents and children, but without additional funding, these programs cannot fully operate. More support is urgently needed to keep IPALS available for families who depend on it.

We need your help to raise an additional $40,000 by September to fully fund essential elements like books, materials, facilitators, and snacks—the components that make these programs welcoming and effective.

Donate today