Council of the Federation Literacy Award
The Council of the Federation, which includes all 13 provincial and territorial premiers, created the Council of the Federation Literacy Award in 2004. Presented annually in each province and territory, the award celebrates outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy.
In British Columbia the award celebrates the achievements of a literacy champion who helps Indigenous, workplace or community literacy learners in B.C. acquire the literacy skills they need to improve their lives. This includes Indigenous language, numerical, digital or other forms of literacy. The award is administered by the Public Libraries Branch, Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
Nominations are assessed according to:
- Demonstrated excellence and innovative practices in literacy
- Responsiveness to community needs and relevance of their work
- Results that demonstrate the nominee has had a positive impact in people’s lives by helping them develop their literacy skills
Selection of the recipient is evidence-based.
2022 Recipient
Margaret Sutherland, Literacy Leader
A leader in community literacy, Margaret Sutherland has had a tremendous and positive impact in the lives of literacy learners in B.C., helping people gain the skills they need to engage with the modern, digital world. From her beginnings as a literacy volunteer to her most recent role as Decoda Literacy Solution’s Executive Director (retired), she has championed literacy at the local, regional, provincial and national level for over 20 years. Throughout her varied career, she has demonstrated innovative thinking and creative, collaborative problem-solving. She has served as editor of the West Coast Reader, a monthly newspaper for literacy and English learners. Margaret continues to raise awareness and has fostered successful partnerships, including in the business sector, that support literacy and lifelong learning throughout B.C.
