2

2018 Community ReportTHE LITERACY RIPPLE EFFECT

"Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the action of individuals can have far reaching effects." —Dalai Lama

Mission, Vision, ValuesOUR VISION

A healthy, literate society where all are able to contribute and succeed.

OUR MISSION

The Centre for Family Literacy builds, develops and improves literacy with families and communities.

OUR VALUES

The Centre for Family Literacy values people. We value people by championing learning, integrity and quality, and by addressing the needs of our community with innovation and respect.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Eric Newell, Honorary Chair

Ian Cameron, ChairMaie Kellerman, Past ChairHeather-Jane Au, Vice ChairRenee Kent, TreasurerDr. Robert BruinsmaAn-Su De LellisMichael LamMike LupienZoe RezacJim SchmidtGina Wong*

*Retired May 2018

Report from our LeadersTHE LITERACY RIPPLE EFFECT

Each of us makes hundreds of decisions every day, ranging from the subconscious and mundane to the complex and life-changing. Each decision, each action, creates a ripple effect on those around us.

In this Community Report, we would like to show how any action, big or small, contributes unexpected results and how changing one person’s life has multiple impacts.

The work of the Centre, in improving and enhancing literacy skills, ripples out to impact more than the adults and families who come to our programs and trainings. Each year, we gather and measure the quantitative and qualitative results of our programs and training, but often the unintended consequences are overlooked.

Our staff, volunteers, Board Members, and partners contribute to this ripple effect. Their efforts go well beyond delivering and overseeing the work of the Centre. Their influence and connections in the community raise awareness of the importance of literacy. They act as catalysts in creating an understanding of the impact of low literacy on adults, families, businesses and communities. Through their passionate commitment to our mission, they are effecting change. That is the ripple effect.

Our funders and donors make investments in the Centre which lends credibility to our work. Their financial contributions demonstrate that they believe we are making a difference. This encourages others to make an investment in our work which scales up our ability to provide more programming and training. That is the ripple effect.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our work. Imagine the results you have created well beyond the intended outcomes.

Ian Cameron Kim Chung Donna LemieuxBoard Chair Director Programming & Director Development Training & Community Engagement

2 3

The Centre’s programs involve the family as a whole. Parents learn how to support their children’s early learning and their progress in school. Parents also improve their own literacy skills directly and indirectly.

Our Family Literacy programs operate at several levels:

Intellectual: provide opportunities for adults and children to build their literacy skills.

Emotional: promote warm and loving interactions between parents and children, support healthy brain development for children, and increase confidence and self-esteem for adult learners.

Social: encourage stronger social networks and connect adults and families with their neighbours and resources in the community.

• Books for Babies

• Rhymes that Bind and Multicultural Rhymes that Bind

• Classroom on Wheels (C.O.W. Bus)

• 3,2,1 Fun!

• Learn Together – Grow Together

SANDRA’S RIPPLE STORY

Sandra and her two young children moved here from BC to find support for her son, Adam, who is on the Autism Spectrum. The father stayed in BC to remain employed.

Sandra was able to access a number of professionals to work with Adam. She also joined one of our family literacy programs with both of her children. At first Adam’s progress was slow, but he began to show improvement and is now ready to enroll in kindergarten.

Sandra has learned much since coming here, and she now wants to become a support person back home. Sandra has encouraged other families from her home town to come to Edmonton for the services available here, and is looking into how she can bring more services back to her community.

During adult time in our program, Sandra was overwhelmed and emotional as she shared that she is going back home. Other parents in the room shed tears of joy and congratulated her. They shared their own stories of struggle and success and how it felt to be isolated and alone. The group have become a great little community of support to each other in a few short weeks.

Family Literacy Programs

FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS OFFERED IN 2018:

adult participants 2142

child participants 2390

DARREN’S RIPPLE STORY

We noticed that since coming to the C.O.W. Bus, 5-year old Darren was participating more in the program, and was more interested in books. Diane, Darren’s mother, was very happy to see his progress and felt encouraged that he would be better prepared to start school in the fall.

In September, Diane let us know that Darren had a good start to his kindergarten year because of skills he had learned at the C.O.W. bus program. He was able to interact with other children, sit and focus on a task for longer periods of time, and participate in activities. She was so pleased.

One day, Diane told us how much Darren loved the “Tickle the Duck” book he had recently borrowed. He shared the book with his little sister, Anne, and insisted the whole family participate in reading it together.

The day Darren returned the book to the program, he encouraged his friend to borrow it. Now these two little boys enjoy sharing books together. One will sign out a book and then tell the other about it. They talk about why they like the book—almost like a mini book club.

RIPPLE EFFECT ACROSS THE COUNTRY

“When I visit my grandson, he is soothed and distracted when we “sing” together. When I go back to Ontario, we continue to bond by singing via Skype and telephone.”

4 5

The Centre’s programs help adults acquire basic reading, writing, numeracy, technology and other life skills needed to function successfully in society.

Our Adult Literacy programs are built on sound educational practices and are successful because they:

• Are learner centered, focusing on the specific needs, strengths and interests of each learner.

• Are culturally sensitive, using resources and methods appropriate for each participant.

• Offer knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that are transferable to the learner’s family, workplace, and community.

• Are offered in accessible, welcoming locations that remove barriers to participation.

Supported by professional staff, the programs are delivered by trained volunteers whose passion for their work is felt on a day to day basis by our learners.

• One-on-one tutoring program

• Group Classes o Book Clubs o Conversation Classes o Learning Together o Resume and Cover Letter Writing

EDITH’S RIPPLE STORY

During a visit to our weekly Book Club, I listened to the learners’ feedback about the class, and was keenly aware of the golden thread which ran through their comments. I noted with interest that almost 70% of the learners in that class are involved in some volunteering activity in different organizations around the city.

The learners attributed this spirit of volunteerism mainly to the encouragement from their facilitators and the inspiration from the stories they read weekly from “The Spirit of Canada”, a stunning collection of stories that celebrates Canada’s life and times. They shared some of what they are doing with me.

“Attending this class has given me the confidence to join a Knitting Club in my community. We make hats for newborn babies and donate them to refugees.”

“I now volunteer at Changing Together, a center for women in need. I volunteer as a teaching assistant in a basic adult literacy class.”

Adult Literacy Programs

o Women’s Literacy o Workplace Skills o Financial Literacy

ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMS OFFERED IN 2018:

adult participants 41 7

MONICA’S RIPPLE STORY

Over the course of 2018, I spoke with dozens of our volunteers about why they volunteer with us. These conversations are always inspirational to me. Volunteers have often put a great deal of thought into how they want to invest some of their free time to better the lives of others in our community.

There’s a common thread throughout their comments: volunteering gives back. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a volunteer say, “I came to give, but I think I’ve actually received more than I’ve given."

I watch volunteers gain the skills and confidence to pursue new opportunities, new careers, and take on stretch assignments that surprise them and reveal just how capable they are. I see volunteers who committed to a year with us, but have stayed for five, ten, fifteen, even twenty-five years. They understand the simple principle that in giving, we receive. This is perhaps best captured in their own words.

“As a volunteer tutor for over 20 years, I have learned a lot from all my learners. My continual learning has come in the form of looking at things from different angles, including words and grammar, and learning different aspects of life from these precious and brave people.”

6 7

In Alberta, and across the country, hundreds of thousands of professionals work with young families every day. They are front line workers who have the best opportunities to make a difference in helping parents understand the importance of their children’s early language and literacy development.

Through experience, research and collabora- tion, the Centre has developed training opportunities that are shared with family literacy professionals, and those working with families. The trainees are encouraged to use this knowledge in their own programs, thus building more capacity in more communities to support more families.

TRAINING PROGRAMS OFFERED IN 2018

• Family Literacy Training Week

• Models Training

• Introduction to Family Literacy

• Literacy Links

• Tutor Training

ALICE’S RIPPLE STORY

Alice was recently hired to be a Literacy Practitioner responsible for developing and executing literacy programs and family visitations in three rural communities.

She had heard of family literacy and after visiting our website she knew that family literacy was going to be an impactful approach to her work. Alice decided to attend a training session. Because she was travelling quite a distance, the Centre staff invited her to come a day before to learn more about what we do.

Alice spent a full day learning all about the programs offered, explored materials we have developed, visited programs, and began to create a plan for her own programs. She then attended Rhymes that Bind training and later came for Storysacks training.

As a result of her visit and training, two organizations in her community have contracted the Centre to provide their staff with family literacy training. They are considering a week-long training in the early fall through a shared partnership with several agencies.

Alice has stayed in contact with Centre staff on a regular basis, for support with her programs, or simply to share an update on how family literacy is supporting families in her rural community. Through this relationship, the Centre has learned a great deal about working in rural communities and is employing this in work with other rural northern communities.

Training

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples." —Mother Teresa

participants 1,302

FLIT APP RIPPLE STORY

We created the Flit App (Families Learning and Interacting Together) to provide parents of preschool children with a variety of fun literacy activities they can do with their small children. Currently there are over 124 activities, divided into eight categories, that give step by step instructions with pictures to show parents how to do each activity.

To our surprise, Flit is being used by more than parents. Many professionals working with families are using it as a program resource and as a result we are reaching a far wider audience than anticipated. The latest analytics show that our Flit app has been downloaded by individuals in over 70 countries!

8 9

JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2018

GovernmentCity of Edmonton, Family and

Community Support ServicesGovernment of Alberta

FundersCentre for Family Literacy Society

of Alberta Fund*Edmonton Community Adult

Learning AssociationFamily Literacy Society Fund*United Way of the Alberta Capital

Region

IndividualsAnonymous (10)Allison AbercrombieFelipe AguerrevereC. AllenHilary AnakaKeith AndersonLarry & Janet Anderson Learning

Access Endowment Fund*Trudy AndersonAnonymous Fund*Natalie AntonReid D. AntonelloChi Cheong AuDick & Heather-Jane AuJanice AubryGeoffrey BadgerMark BaryloSharron BatschGloria Bauer

Alice & Alan Bell Fund*Tracy BensonDuart BergGrace BerryGino BitCheri Blain & James StruthersCecilia BloxomWendy & Neil BoschJason & Lisa BossertDenise BourqueBob & Sheryl BowhayDean BrantingLisa BrekkeBrenda BrindleIan BrookerMarianne BrownRobert BruinsmaDale & Janet BurgessGail M. BurkeMarta BurnsDorothy BrystromGena CakeIan CameronLinda CameronRobert & Paige CampbellNada CathreaKim ChungGordon J. ClanachanBrenda ClarkConor ClarkePegi ClaytonStephen ColquhounAndrea CollingSheryl CoonanKent & Janice CoulterTheresa CowanClaudia CruthersDonna DaviesKerry Day

Christine DeCarolisJulie DeneveDetheridge Family Fund*Carolina DiazSandra DickieKristin DmytriwMonica DohertyElaine P. DouglasLiz A. DuncanMuriel DunniganMark DuttonHeidi EdgarCasey EdmundsRandall & Karen EdwardsLorraine EngeDanette ErautSandra ErnstDawn Marie EvansEric Falkenberg PoetzGrant & Heidi FedorukIrene FehrLois FieldRosina FischerRhonda GerencserEric GermainWilliam GibsonPaul & Kristina GivensLinda GoodchildEric GreenKelley HajarCameron HaldaneJanet & David HancockGlenise HarveyKen HaywardCatherine HergertDavid J. HiebertGrace HillDarren HingerB. Hoff-Morin

Generous donors, funders, and volunteers sustain the Centre’s work. Their contributions of time, money, and expertise build healthy, literate communities through innovative and responsive programming and training.

The return on their investment impacts change.

• 84% of parents report that their children are more engaged with books and learning. This year, families borrowed over 2,250 books from our C.O.W. Bus and we distributed 1,524 books through other family literacy programs.

• 88% of parents reported they felt more confident and able to support their children’s early language and literacy development. They felt better prepared to help their children succeed in school.

• 95% of adult learners achieved their learning goals and were interested in pursuing other learning opportunities and programs.

The contribution of time and talent by the Centre’s 185 volunteers is critical to our work.

1. Volunteers donated 8,537 hours to the Centre in 2018.

2. 73% volunteer weekly in one or more of our programs.

3. Special Event committee volunteers helped raise over $179,000 for programs.

“Volunteering at the Centre is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my entire life.”

—Centre volunteer

The Return on Your Investment Our Supporters

2.

10 11

Blair HolgateNancy HologroskiKrystal HoopleD. HubbardWayne HukDeAnn HunterRobert W. HutchinsonJim HuttonHutton Family Fund*In Honour of Donna Lemieux Val Morris Tutor Learner relationships Mlle. Wong In Memory of

Maureen AllenUrsula Dudok van HeelPer Lysholm

Clare & Thomasine IrwinMartha JamiesonSam JenkinsMarcia JeremiahAnita JockschDale JohnsonKathy JohnsonDianne JohnstoneElaine JonesLindsey Juke TurnbullJacob KellermanMaie KellermanPat KelleySarah KelleyNicole KempLorian KennedyDavid P. KentRenee KentStephen KhanSalima KherajEdith KiggunduFrankie KimKimberly KnullBarbara Komisar

Nicole KonkinJeralee KonschuhJeanine KowalchukKyle KozaRhonda KozuskaDonna KrucikHolly KruegerKen LamBeth LangloisDan LanskeyRose LapawchukVanessa LaroqueDavid & Joan LaurieDao LeJeremiah & Dawn LederAlyssa LefaivreMargaret LeightonDonna & Gerard LemieuxMarhea LiboironDavid & Tamara LinklaterRama LogsettyMike LundquistMike LupienSharon Lynne-MateiHilliard MacBethColleen MacDougallMary MacGregorJonathan MacLeodShelley MacLowickColleen MacPhersonAudrey MagnusonKaren MandrusiakMarilyn ManningPaul ManualMichael MateiWendy MathewsonElizabeth MaykoMarshall McAlisterBruce McCollumGeorgianna McDavidSteven McDougallGloria McKeeSheri McLean

Nona McMartinJudy MeintzerKaren MillsDawn MitchellPaavo MontandonShelley MorrisDiane MotkoskiDavid J. MuddleEric NewellMonica NewportKim NishikazeLinda NuttingTony & Jan NuttingIan O’DonnellLara Oberg-StensonSofia OleksynMike J. OlssonKimberley OnclinEsther OndrackDoreen OwenMarlene PackmanAmanda PapadopoulosDella ParadisLaurie ParsonsCarol PawlenchukMichelle PennerAnne PhippsMichael PidhirniakFordyce PierTim & Regan PinkoskiDavid Porter Tracy PoulinCharlotte PowellJ. R. PrenticeSherry PrinceMargaret RalstinBarbara RayburnKen ReganBarbara ReidChristina ReidJ. ReynoldsScott RiddellMary Robbins

C-Anne RobertsonJeff RobinsonMargaret RolfKelsey RomaniukScott & Rhonda RossPhoebe SchergerLauren SchulteEd SchultzJeana SchuurmanJeanine SearsDiana SeemannChristina SherwoodDaniel ShuteElke A. SiebelsBrandi SiffledeenSimonson Family Fund*Diane SinclairKaren SmithPamela SmithSharon SmithCatherine Marie SmitsJanet SpriggsGregory StamlerNancy SteevesKaitlin Stewart-WhiteChristian StriglHannah StuparykLeah StuparykKim SwordRay TailleferDawn TaylorBrian F. ThompsonKevin ThompsonSue TimansonKristin TollovsenGlen TomsKristin TomsGary & Sue TriggMonte TutschekLynda TuttyGilbert Van BuurenPeter Van KempenLisa Ware

Isaac WatsonJeanne WegnerPat WeinkaufJon WilliamsKathleen WillyKan WongMary WoodheadDoug WylieRyan YoungConnie YuenAndrew & Louisa Zylstra* Funds at the Edmonton

Community Foundation

Businesses & Foundations

Arkk Engineering Corporation

Arrow Engineering Inc.

ATCO EPICBella Maas BoutiqueBlackRock Inc.BMO Global Asset

ManagementButler Family

FoundationCanadian Western

BankCareers: the Next GenerationCI InvestmentsClark BuildersConcrete Inc.Critical Mass Inc.Crowe MackayDetheridge Investments Ltd.Edmonton Community

FoundationEdmonton JournalEllisDonFidelity Investments CanadaFinning

Foster ParkGusto Fit Inc.Imperial Oil LimitedKPMGLedcor Construction LimitedMackenzie InvestmentsMcCoy Family FoundationMcDougall United ChurchMelcor Developments Ltd.Melton FoundationMNP Ltd.Mortgages by Carmela Ltd.Nearctic GroupOgilvie LLP

Old Strathcona Chapter Harley Owners Group

PCL Construction LeadersPimco Canada Corp.priMED Medical ProductPro-Active IT Management Inc.Qualico Developments West Ltd.RBC Global Asset ManagementRichardson GMPRocky Mountain Ice House/Cask

& Barrel Russell InvestmentsSequeira Partners Inc.Silent-Aire

12 13

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

ABC Life LiteracyAboriginal Parent Link CentreAlberta Job CorpsAlberta Somali Community

CentreBent ArrowBissell CentreBright Horizons DaycareCALLS Fort Saskatchewan &

StrathconaCANDORA SocietyCastle Downs Branch, Edmonton

Public LibraryClareview Branch, Edmonton

Public LibraryConestoga CollegeConnect SocietyDecoda Literacy SolutionsDickensfield Amity HouseEast Edmonton Health CentreEdmonton Catholic School

DistrictEdmonton Early Years CoalitionEdmonton Evergreen Community

AssociationEdmonton Garrison Military

Family Resource CentreEdmonton Public LibraryEdmonton Public School DistrictEllerslie Road Baptist ChurchFamily Futures Resource NetworkFirst Nations Metis Inuit Advisory

CouncilFrontier College EdmontonGolden Key International Honour

Society – MacEwan University Chapter

Health for Two NetworkHoly Spirit Lutheran ChurchIdylwylde Branch, Edmonton

Public Library

Jasper Place Child and Family Resource Centre Parent Link

Lansdowne Childcare and Family Centre

Lauderdale SchoolLiteracy Without BordersMacEwan University Meadows Branch, Edmonton

Public LibraryMelcor Village YWCAMontrose Community LeagueMulticultural Family Resource

SocietyMulticultural Health Broker’s

CooperativeNorQuest CollegeOne World One CentreOttewell Community LeagueP.A.L.S. Project Adult Literacy

SocietyThe Pride Centre of EdmontonPrimrose Place Family CentreRahma Mosque: MAC Islamic

CentreRiverbend United ChurchScott Robertson SchoolSTAR LiteracyStrathcona Branch, Edmonton

Public LibraryThe King’s UniversityThe Learning CentreTouchmark at WedgewoodTwin Parks Community LeagueWoodcroft Branch, Edmonton

Public LibraryYellowhead Tribal College

14 15

Site EngineeringSobeys LiquorTD Bank GroupThe Benevity Community Impact

FundView GlassWorldwide Outfitters Corp.

In Kind SupportAlberta Computers for SchoolsJoy BaileyCafé RistaFerrier Transit GarageIan MacLeodPSAV Presentation ServicesOttewell TGPPunchcard Raymond James Ltd.Southland Transportation

We acknowledge support from the following book distributors and the publishers they represent.First Book CanadaPenguin Random House Canada

LimitedRaincoast BooksScholastic Canada LtdSimon and Schuster CanadaThomas Allen & Son Ltd.University of Toronto Press

Legacy for Literacy ClubThe Legacy for Literacy Club recognizes those who have planned a future gift to the Centre through a bequest or have made an outright gift to the Centre for Family Literacy’s endowment fund.AnonymousKeith Anderson & Carol

KariatsumariRandy BoissonnaultChris & Leah BurrowsRob & Paige CampbellCaroline & James GilfillanDr. Ruth HaydenDavid & Nicole HiebertAlexandra HildebrandtSandra IrvingClare & Thomasine IrwinJacob & Maie KellermanPaul Kottl & Heather RaymondDonna & Gerard LemieuxJohn & Barbara PooleLibby & Roger SmithRobert & Shirley Stollery

Statement of OperationsREVENUE 2018 2017Grants 638,739 827,160Donations and other fundraising 362,023 438,238Product sales and service fees 85,281 64,705Casino 32,730 47,225Interest 9,216 9,386 1,127,989 1,405,204 PROGRAM EXPENSES Wages, contract and benefits 718,935 801,480Program delivery 54,247 62,861Facilities 117,602 126,582Promotion 100,312 113,541Travel 19,840 25,816 1,010,936 1,130,280 ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES Wages, contract and benefits 64,106 74,700Office 20,619 24,095Facility 13,067 12,925Professional fees 27,190 29,802 124,982 141,522 Deficiency of Revenue over Expenses Before other Income and Expenses (7,929) 133,402 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES) Amortization of equipment (18,140) (20,064)Amortization of deferred contributions related to equipment 10,453 10,453 (7,687) (9,611) Deficiency of Revenue Over Expenses (15,616) 123,791

Complete audited financial statements are available on request.

16 17

ASSETS 2018 2017CURRENT Cash 417,664 499,809Accounts receivable 5,594 346Goods and services tax recoverable 3,202 3,172Prepaid expenses 18,508 19,582 444,968 522,909 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT 4,272 22,412 449,240 545,321 LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS CURRENT Accounts payable 8,326 4,386Wages payable 9,375 15,132Deferred revenue 16,800 22,100Deferred contributions 141,269 204,164 175,770 245,782 DEFERRED CONTRIBUTIONS RELATED TO EQUIPEMENT 10,453 175,770 256,235 NET ASSETS Unrestricted 129,198 137,127Internally restricted 140,000 140,000Invested in property and equipment 4,272 11,959 273,470 289,086 449,240 545,321

Statement of Financial Position

Literacy Develops in Families First

11642 142 Street Edmonton Alberta T5M 1V4Phone: 780.421.7323 Fax: 780.421.7324Email: info@famlit.ca Website: www.famlit.ca

Follow us

CentreforFamilyLiteracy

4FamilyLiteracy

“If we are to raise literacy standards in any significant way, we need to do more to ensure that all parents have the confidence to support their children's developing literacy and in so doing are encouraged to develop their own literacy.” —Ruth Hayden, PhD Professor Emeritus