AnnualReport2017-2018

Desneiges Profili, Executive DirectorThe 2017-2018 program year was a tremendous success forthe organization. New programs and partnerships emerged andexisting partnerships were strengthened. Staff and volunteersembraced new learning opportunities and elevated programs tonew heights. It was determined that we needed to diversify ourfunding streams and these changes have started to take place.The board identified challenges and initiated growth. Together,staff, volunteers, board members, partners and funders havecontributed to the success of the organization. Throughout thisreport, the story of our success will be told.

Looking forward, we will focus on three main areas: storytelling,diversifying and planning for the future. We want to be better attelling our story, as well as diversifying our programming andfund development strategy. It is also our goal to create astrategic plan that will help to elevate our organization’sadministrative and program delivery practices. There are fewwords that can describe my respect, admiration and gratitude toall of those who make CBAL the organization it is today. Welook forward to continuing our work and sharing our stories.

Allison Alder, Board ChairGreetings from the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy Boardof Directors. In this document you’ll find wonderful picturesand statistics that reveal the broad reach and profound impactCBAL makes throughout the Kootenay and Boundary regions.From the one-to-one tutoring program to family literacyand newcomer settlement services, CBAL volunteers,employees and learners are making bold strides forward intheir exploration of literacy and learning. This work transformslives and builds communities. Many people contribute to the work of CBAL: visionaryleaders, bright staff, passionate volunteers, committeddirectors, generous funders, and connected partners - all areessential pieces which enable CBAL to do their importantwork. Thank you to all funders and supporters, volunteers and staff,for the commitment and generosity you devote to CBAL’slearners. It is sincerely appreciated. And to all learners, from the bottom of my heart, thank you foryour courage and your trust. It is an honour to walk beside youalong your literacy journey.

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Annual Report 2017-18 Messages from CBAL

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Annual Report 2017-18 CBAL Snapshot

The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) is a not-for-profit organization that develops, promotes and delivers literacy andessential skills services for people of all ages in the Columbia Basin and Boundary regions of southeast British Columbia. Our vision is that local communities across the Columbia Basin and Boundary will be healthy, inclusive and committed to literacyas lifelong and life-wide activities. Our 16 community literacy coordinators provide services in 77 communities, working with local community literacy planningcommittees to develop effective literacy programs and resources. Staff are supported by regional program managers, anadministrative assistant, the executive director and a board of directors.

 Our Purpose

Our Vision  

Families  Children & Youth Adults & Seniors Immigrants

CBAL provides free literacy programs, resources, events and support for:

             Our Team

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4,480 ADULTS IN PROGRAMS

Since 2001, we have been helping to create strong and resilient communities by elevating the literacy skills of learners of all ages.Literacy matters and impacts people's abilities to make informed decisions, become confident learners, gain meaningfulemployment, and access information from both print and digital sources. Participants are at the heart of our motivation to develop and deliver meaningful, community-focused programming and the impactof this work is far-reaching. Here is a snapshot of our activity across the region:

62,164 CONTACT

HOURS

5,830 PROGRAM

SESSIONS

197 PROGRAMS

191 EVENTS &

WORKSHOPS

434 DIGITAL BADGES

AWARDED

318 YOUTH INPROGRAMS

Annual Report 2017-18 Impact Report 

3,693 CHILDREN IN PROGRAMS

2,844 CHILDREN

AT EVENTS& WORKSHOPS

3,150 ADULTS AT EVENTS &

WORKSHOPS

282Professionaldevelopment

trainings attendedby staff

and volunteers

of in-kind services provided to

other organizations and partners

$53,332

books and materials

distributed

unique visitors

to cbal.org

Facebook

friends

9,375

47,752

2,275

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Blog Posts

2 Newsletters

reaching 4,586

subscribers 4cbal.org

Serving 77 communities in the Basin

and Boundary!

142 Staff 7

Board Members

176 Partnering

Organizations

330 Volunteers

249 Planning

Committee Members

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Annual Report 2017-18 CBAL Team

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Annual Report 2017-18 Spotlight Program

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In 2011, CBAL launched a fully licensed daycare at College of the Rockies (COTR) in Cranbrook as part of the Young Parents Education Program (YPEP). What started out as a need to provide full day child care for parents ina family program grew into something remarkable. For the past sevenyears CBAL, in partnership with COTR, has offered young parents a rareopportunity to complete high school courses such as English, math and biology,along with support in parent education, essential skills and access to familyservices in the community. The magic of this program happens under oneroof - while parents are studying and engaging in class discussions with college instructors, their children are being cared for right down the hall.

The vision was to create a program that would one day become self-sufficient andtoday we are seeing that vision become reality. The daycare is now our own socialenterprise. Since 2011, the daycare has expanded and is able to offer more spacesto the general public, meeting a critical need in the community. At the sametime, YPEP participants continue to complete courses, become more confidentlearners and parents, and many have transitioned into college programs.

We have countless stories of young parents who have walked through thedoors, ready to embark on a new path. Last year, 18 parents were enrolled inthe program ready to learn just like our friend Hannah!

HANNAH'SStory

At 16, Hannah gave birth to her

daughter.  In 2017, she was

referred to YPEP by a friend.

Her goal: to earn her high

school diploma.

HerExperience

In addition to her academic

accomplishments, Hannah has

improved her time

management and life skills and

gained valuable ‘hands-on’

parenting skills.

HerGoals

Hannah's plans for a medical

career will require sciences

and higher levels of math and

English - she is confident (and so

are we) that she will meet her

goals!

HerAchievements

Although it took Hannah some

time to join and feel grounded in

the program, she has completed

Grade 10 English and is now

working on Grade 11 English and

math.

Annual Report 2017-18 Programs at a Glance

.

Programs for Families:

Parent Education SeriesTogether to LearnAlphabet Soup

Mother Goose  Lego Lovers

Love 2 Learn PALS

POPS...and much more!

Programs for Children &Youth:

Intergenerational Cooking

Afterschool ProgramsOne to One ReadingBook Clubs

Guys Read STEAM 

Programs for Immigrants:

Information & OrientationCommunity ConnectionsEnglish Language ClassesNeeds Assessments

English Tutoring Referrals

Workshops

Programs for Adults:

Digital Literacy TrainingTelling Our Life StoriesCooking on a BudgetOne to One TutoringFinancial Literacy 

Writing Out LoudWorkplace Skills

...and more!  

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Annual Report 2017-18 Board & Staff 2017-18

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Board Members

Allison Alder, Chair

School Chair, Selkirk College

Barbara Morris, Treasurer

Retired Asst. Superintendent, SD#6

Linda Chell

Executive Director,

Revelstoke Child Care Society

Aaron Francis

Chief Librarian, Creston Valley Public Library

Kathleen Gabelmann

Retired Manager, Community Reinvestment and

Corporate Responsibility, Preoccupation- Farming

David Standing

Principal, SD#5 Southeast Kootenay

Jack Moes

Dean of Trades and Technology, College of the Rockies

Community Literacy Coordinators

Lisa Bjarnason - Arrow & Slocan Lakes

Yelena Churchill - Boundary

Corinne Svardfeldt - Castlegar

Alison Facey - Cranbrook

Gillian Wells - Creston

Chrisy Hill - Elk Valley

Melanie Myers - Golden

Barb Szuta - Kaslo & Balfour

Carol Fairhurst - Kimberley

Joan Exley - Nelson & Slocan Valley

Tracy Spannier - Revelstoke

Lori Dunn - Salmo

Carolyn Amantea - Trail & Area

Shona Thorne - Valemount

Sandy Kalesnikoff - Windermere Valley

ManagementDesneiges Profili - Executive Director

Betty Knight - Program Manager (East)

Alana Murdoch - Program Manager (West)

Heather Flowitt - Administrator/Bookkeeper

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Annual Report 2017-18

Financials

Grant Revenue $1,906,812Fee for Service $153,616

Other $26,897

$2,125,477

Total Revenue $2,125,477 Total Expenses $2,044,933Literacy Programs $1,400,522

Capacity Building $256,825 Administrative Costs $197,693

CBAL works with 176 community partners to provide literacy programs and services across the region. The in-kindcontributions made by our program partners and supporters is imperative to the work we do. We are an organization that thriveson partnerships and our work would not be possible without them.

In-kind contributions provided to CBAL in 2017-18 were valued at $266,833!

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$2,044,933

Fundraising $38,152 Coordination Costs $189,893

Annual Report 2017-18 Supporters

College of New Caledonia Community Foundations

Community Partners Libraries Local Donors

Local Volunteers Okanagan College

School Districts: No. 5 Southeast Kootenay

No. 6 Rocky Mountain No. 8 Kootenay Lake

No. 10 Arrow Lakes No. 19 Revelstoke

No. 20 Kootenay Columbia No. 51 Boundary

No. 57 Prince George Volunteers

Black PressBlue Sky Clothing Company

College of the Rockies Columbia Basin Trust

Credit Unions: Columbia Valley Credit Union

East Kootenay Community Credit Union Grand Forks Credit Union

Kootenay Savings Credit Union Nelson & District Credit Union

Revelstoke Credit Union Decoda Literacy Solutions

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Ministry of Advanced Education,Skills and Training

Ministry of EducationMinistry of Jobs, Trade and Technology

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selkirk College

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 Local Funders, Partners & Supporters Regional Funders & Supporters