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About ABC CANADA

ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation is Canada’s private-sector voice championing adult literacy. The national charity was launched in 1990 during the International Literacy Year by a group of business, labour and education leaders concerned about the social and economic ramifications of wide-spread literacy challenges among Canadian adults. Today, ABC CANADA continues to raise public awareness of the literacy issue. Working with influential Canadians from a cross-section of disciplines and business sectors, ABC CANADA fosters an environment where all adults have access to opportunities that increase their literacy skills and help them realize their full potential at work, at home and in the community.

Learn more about ABC CANADA

About Literacy

Facts and Statistics

Low literacy affects Canadians more than most people realize. Four out of 10 Canadian adults struggle with low literacy (Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey, Statistics Canada and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2005).

Our Literacy Q & A provides answers to common questions about literacy.

Please visit Myths About Literacy for clarifications about the misconceptions of adult and workplace literacy.

Adult Literacy Facts

• Four out of 10 adult Canadians age 16 to 65 - representing 9 million Canadians - struggle with low literacy (Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey, Statistics Canada and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2005).
• Though the majority of Canadian youth age 16 to 25 attain the minimum level of literacy skills needed to cope with the demands of everyday life and work, anywhere from 18 per cent to 38 per cent of youth, depending upon the region of the country, do not attain that minimum proficiency (International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS), 2005).

Read more Adult Literacy Facts

Workplace Literacy Facts

Improved literacy skills among employees bring about numerous benefits, both to the individual worker and to the organization. Benefits to implementing basic skills programs in the workplace include:

• Increased self-confidence - 97% of respondents report that basic skills programs increase the confidence of program participants in ways that benefit the workplace (The Benefits of Improving Literacy Skills in the Workplace, ABC CANADA, 1998).
• Higher Productivity - 79% of respondents report that they have observed increased productivity in their workplaces because of the basic skills programs (The Benefits of Improving Literacy Skills in the Workplace, ABC CANADA, 1998).

Read more Workplace Literacy Facts

Family Literacy Facts

• Some experts say that for 80 per cent of children, simple immersion in reading and books will lead to independent reading by school age. (How to Make Your Child a Reader for Life, Paul Kropp, Random House Canada, 2000)
• Reading to children more than once a day has a substantial positive impact on their future academic skills. In addition, research indicates children with early exposure to books and reading are better at performing mathematical tasks. (National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, Statistics Canada, 1996-1997)

Read more Family Literacy Facts

Literacy Levels in Canada

For insight into literacy issues and levels within our country, please read ABC CANADA’s summary report National Details.

For a comparison of Canada’s literacy level to six other countries, please read Learning a Living: First results of the Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey

View full report on International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS).

Downloads

Copyright Policy

ABC CANADA materials may be reproduced “as-is” provided the intended use is for media coverage; otherwise written consent for non-commercial use can be obtained from ABC CANADA. Material may be excerpted but not altered in any way. Full acknowledgment must be given to ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation as the source. Reproduction requests can be sent to ABC CANADA, 4211 Yonge Street, Suite 235, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2P 2A9, or via e-mail or fax: info@abc-canada.org; (416) 218-0457.

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Current Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

Stuck/Immobilisé

People ‘stuck’ with low literacy are not necessarily aware of where to turn for help, or may be reluctant to seek help. This PSA compels viewers to “take the next step” toward greater reading, writing and math skills by looking under ‘LEARN’ in the Yellow Pages™, which then directs them to literacy resources in their community.

View the PSAs:

Stuck

Immobilise

Order our PSAs:

Broadcasters’ Order Form

Literacy Groups’ and other Organizations’ Order Form

Family Literacy Day PSAs

ABC CANADA has a variety of Family Literacy Day print ads in both English and French available for inclusion in your publication.

To obtain broadcast PSAs, please contact ABC CANADA at fld@abc-canada.org or call 1-800-303-1004 x122.

Math Literacy Print Ads

English Ads

• 4-colour, full-page Maze ad in English
• Black & White, full-page Maze ad in English
• Black & White, filler ads in English
• Black & White, 4.44” h x 6.375” w Tips on Tips ad
• Small Space Colour, 10.125” h x 1.9375” w Tips on Tips ad
• Small Space Black & White, 3” h x 2” w Tips on Tips ad

Annonces en français

• 4-couleur, plein page, Maze annonce en français
• Noir et blanc, plein page, Maze annonce en français
• Noir et blanc, petites annonces bouche-trou en français
• Noir et blanc, 4.875” h x 4.6825” w Petits conseils pour les pourboires annonce
• Couleur, 10.125” h x 1.9375” w Petits conseils pour les pourboires annonce
• Noir et blanc, 3” h x 2” w Petits conseils pour les pourboires annonce