“We have just received a letter from Decoda Literacy Solutions (previously Literacy Now 2010) stating that they will not be providing funding for the literacy outreach coordinator position in the South Okanagan Similkameen this year.  This is due to a cut in funding from the Ministry of Education.  Our members of the task group, Literacy Now South Okanagan Similkameen, are very disappointed and are presently looking at options to allow us to move forward.” – Marieze Tarr – Chair SD #53

With a shortfall of $1.5 million – 55 communities have been told funding is gone.

In 2011/12:

• 2,002 people from school districts, colleges, health care service providers, employment agencies, business, justice, libraries and community service organizations participated in task groups and related meetings
• 493 new literacy initiatives and 696 continuing literacy programs were supported
• 1,673 community organizations collaborated to deliver literacy initiatives
• 19,114 adults participated in community adult literacy programs
• 59,838 children and adults attended community family literacy programs
• 10,981 school-aged children participated in community programs designed to support their learning
• 2,623 youth participated in community programs designed for their literacy development
• 2,718 seniors attended community literacy programs that assist them to keep up-to-date and connected
• 51,123 children and adults attended community literacy events
• 7,297 literacy workshops were presented
• $5,693,171 in grants, fund-raising and in-kind support was contributed to local literacy work, more than doubling the $2,754,499 provided in provincial grants