We have a big mission: to ensure all children in Canada are equipped with the early literacy skills they need to reach their full potential.

The Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation (CCLF) was founded to address persistent inequities in early literacy development across the country and to drive the systems-level change needed to give every child a strong start. Today, we are the only national charity dedicated exclusively to children’s early literacy.

We work across healthcare, early learning, and community settings to raise awareness of why early literacy matters, develop and promote evidence-based literacy initiatives, champion partners, and empower families and caregivers with simple, practical ways to build literacy at home and in everyday moments.

Why early literacy? Because the years from birth to age five lay the foundation for lifelong learning. Strong early language and literacy skills are closely linked to school success, health outcomes, and long-term economic participation. Children who start school behind are more likely to struggle academically — and those gaps can persist well into adulthood.

Yet too many children in Canada are being left behind. Thousands begin kindergarten without the foundational language skills they need to thrive, particularly children from lower-income communities and those facing systemic barriers.

Investing in early literacy is one of the most effective ways to change this trajectory. It strengthens families, supports educators and healthcare providers, and helps build a healthier, more productive, and more inclusive society.

Together, we can change this. With your support, we can reach more families, train more professionals, and ensure that every child — no matter where they live — has the opportunity to start school ready to learn.

Let’s make Canada’s children the most literate in the world.