Community Literacy of Ontario

About Community Literacy of Ontario

Who We Are

Community Literacy of Ontario (CLO) is a provincial literacy network of 100 community literacy agencies across Ontario. CLO was founded in 1994 and our office is located in Barrie, Ontario.

We provide many services to Ontario’s community literacy agencies such as: sharing information via ebulletins and newsletters, producing exemplary resources and tools to support literacy agencies, hosting two websites, providing online training and holding an annual training event, and researching the needs and priorities of our members. CLO has grown to be an organization that is respected both provincially and nationally.

CLO has invariably attracted people with vision, dedication and commitment. We are proud of our dynamic board, staff and volunteer team. While CLO may be small, we have always dreamed big, worked hard, and accomplished much. Community Literacy of Ontario has truly become the little organization that could.

CLO's Mission Statement

Community Literacy of Ontario exists to support, promote and provide a united voice for Anglophone community-based literacy programs in Ontario.

Our Core Values

CLO has developed five core values. We are:

1. Member-centred
2. Innovative
3. Collaborative
4. Respectful
5. Accountable

Please click here to read our core value statements.

Our Funders

Community Literacy of Ontario is funded by the Ontario government, under EMPLOYMENT ONTARIO, Ontario’s employment and training network.

As well, CLO has received project funding from a variety of sources including the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, the National Literacy Secretariat, the National Office of Literacy and Learning and the Trillium Foundation. We also receive support through membership fees.

CLO's Members

CLO has a formal, paid membership consisting of literacy agencies, literacy networks and organizations, and individuals. Our members are located in communities large and small throughout this province. Our members are our greatest strength!

In 2010, our formal, paid membership consists of:

• 95 organizational members (Anglophone community-based literacy delivery agencies in Ontario);
• 27 associate members

Please email CLO at clo@bellnet.ca for a membership form

CLO's Board of Directors

CLO is an incorporated organization with an elected Board of Directors. We are governed by a twelve member board of directors from urban and rural community literacy agencies located in all regions of Ontario. In order to be eligible to be a board member, your literacy agency must be an organizational member of CLO.

CLO is pleased to present our Board of Directors for 2010-2011:

Central Ontario

• Debra Barrett (Toronto)
• Barbara McFater (Toronto)

Eastern Ontario

• Keith Harford (Picton)
• Teresa Kerr (Peterborough)

Northern Ontario

• Susan Hughes (Haileybury)
• Johanna White (Red Lake)
• Lynne Zuliani (Wawa)

Southwestern Ontario

• Elizabeth Debergh (Arthur)
• Lorraine Bergstrand (Haldimand-Norfolk)

Member-At-Large

• Sue Davidson (Toronto)
• Marsha Roadhouse (Belleville)

Our Staff

CLO has three core staff members:

• Joan Beaudry (Administrative Assistant)
• Jette Cosburn (Co-Executive Director)
• Joanne Kaattari (Co-Executive Director)

The following people also serve as contract staff with CLO:

• Robyn Cook-Ritchie
• Vicki Trottier

CLO's Volunteers

CLO is supported by volunteers who help with committee work, advisory group work, editing, administrative support and other important functions. In 2010, CLO was served by 17 volunteers who in total contributed over 970 hours of their time. This results in an economic contribution to CLO of over $19,000 annually and a social benefits of incalculable value. Thank you for all you do for Community Literacy of Ontario!

CLO: A Leader in E-Learning

Community Literacy of Ontario is a leader in providing E-learning to literacy practitioners.

CLO has developed and delivered numerous online workshops and offered diverse online training opportunities for literacy practitioners for many years. CLO has extensive experience in developing online curriculum and an in-depth knowledge of effective techniques for facilitating online learning.

Given that CLO is a provincial network serving 100 literacy agencies in communities all across Ontario, technology has allowed us to effectively provide training and resources to literacy practitioners in our member agencies. Ontario’s literacy practitioners have given CLO rave reviews about our online training activities.

Click here to view a summary of CLO's activities in the exciting and quickly growing area of E-Learning