About Us

Did you know...

We need to "Get the Word Out" about literacy and Skills for Success. 48% of adults in Alberta have difficulty with literacy that interferes in their day-to-day life and of those 48%, half of them have major difficulty that greatly impacts on their home, work and community life.

Literacy and Skills for Success:

  • are needed for work, learning and life;
  • are the foundation for learning all other skills; and
  • help people evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change.

Skills for Success are reading, writing, numeracy, adaptability, communication, digital, collaboration, creativity and innovation and problem solving. For more information on Skills for Success click on this link.

What we offer

We offer a variety of programs for families and adults living in the Foothills County. Programs are provided at little or no cost to the learner, family or community agency. Our focus is on building the Skills for Success needed to lead a successful life in family, work and community. Another goal is to connect families and adults to community resources. Check out the program tab or call the office at 403.652.5090 for more information.

  • Building Blocks – Family in-home sessions for healthy learning ideas for children and adults. The focus is providing information and strategies to parents that will build the adult and the child's literacy skill.
  • One on One Volunteer Learning support to adults with basic literacy and numeracy concerns.
  • Basic Technology Programs
  • GED Preparation classes
  • Skills for Learning, pre-GED classes
  • English Classes (ELL, ESL)
  • Skills for Success and workplace literacy training
  • Literacy audit for agencies and business

To find out how you can help us continue providing free and low-cost programs to all residents of the Foothills County, click here or for volunteer opportunities click here.

History

Literacy for Life Foundation has been providing free and low-cost programs to the Foothills County since 1998, starting with the introduction of the Building Blocks Family Literacy Program to the High River and area. This program was a pilot project begun by the Rainbow Literacy Society of Vulcan County and was part of an initiative looking at ways to provide family literacy in rural communities. At the time, the Foothills County lacked a body that coordinated and promoted literacy. Interested community members formed a group and in 1998 became a non-profit society called Literacy for Life Foundation. The organization received charity status in January of 1999.

Also in 1999, Literacy for Life applied to the province for the Volunteer Tutor Adult Literacy Program (VTALP), funded by Alberta Advanced Education. The Foothills School Division agreed to be the legal host authority for a few years and then the government transferred the authority to Literacy for Life. The VTALP program continues to be a core program.

Family literacy grew from the one program "Building Blocks" to numerous programs. Building Blocks In-home Family Literacy program is now considered a provincial model. Literacy for Life and Rainbow Literacy employees are trainers for the program.

The next programs to be developed were Rhythm and Rhyme and Toddler Time. High River Library had a program called "Books for Babies" which was discontinued due to limited resources. At the suggestion of the Library Director, a partnership with Literacy for Life led to the Books for Babies program we now provide.

Dog Tales Program and Dog Tales and Beyond came into existence in 2012. This is an unique program that supports reluctant readers in the community and the schools in the County. Other growth has included development of curriculum such as Pool Rhyme Time and Leap-Learn, Explore, and Play.

Our focus has changed to the Skills for Success in family, work and community. The Skills for Success are reading, writing, numeracy, adaptability, communication, digital, collaboration, creativity and innovation and problem solving.. This switch in perspective has resulted in providing programs in basic technology. Public awareness and education on literacy and learning has become a major focus.


Today

Literacy for Life Foundation serves community members in the Foothills County with quality, research based programs. The organization has a provincial impact through training and program development.


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