About the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
We are a non-profit organization
whose purpose is to promote literacy and lifelong learning throughout the Columbia Basin by educating the public about the importance of literacy and by supporting local community actions related to literacy.
CBAL was formed
as a non-profit society with charitable status in August 2001, when a number of established groups providing literacy services throughout the East and West Kootenay and Boundary regions joined forces. CBAL has grown to 16 communities, which also serve 77 smaller towns and villages in their surrounding areas. These communities collaborate to seek funds and share resources, ensuring each community has the opportunity to work toward being a learning community and to build effective local literacy programs and resources.
Vision of the Alliance
Local communities across the Columbia Basin and Boundary region will be healthy, inclusive, and committed to literacy and learning as "life long” and "life wide” activities.
All people will have the functional skills to participate fully in their communities: socially, economically, politically, and culturally.
CBAL's awards include
- 2002 - Exemplary Practices in Rural Community Development from the Association of Canadian Community Colleges
- 2005 - Council of the Federation Literacy Award
- 2008 - Award of Recognition from the British Columbia School Superintendents Association.
