Adult Literacy

Welcome to the adult literacy website. This site contains links to information about adult literacy programs and resources in British Columbia.

Definition of literacy: 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)

A message from the Premier

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

[ Watch the video ]

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B.C. literacy champion celebrated for life’s work

Linda Mitchell, one of literacy’s most passionate, articulate and effective spokespersons, has received British Columbia’s second annual Council of the Federation Literacy Award. (Read more)

Community Adult Literacy Program of BC

The Community Adult Literacy Program is the new name for the former adult literacy cost-shared program.

Purposes of the Community Adult Literacy Program:

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

Funds support community-based program delivery, regional literacy co-ordination, and provincewide services provided by Literacy BC. All projects must be in partnership with a public post-secondary institution (college, university college, institute or Thompson Rivers University).

For 2006-07, the Province will provide $1.28 million for 47 projects. [News release]  [Backgrounder]

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 can be reached at:

PO Box 9882 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria B.C. V8W 9T6
Phone: 250 387-6174
Fax: 250 387-0878
E-mail: AVED.LearningPrograms@gov.bc.ca