Raising more than $300,000 a year

For school libraries, literacy projects and literacy organizations throughout Vancouver Island

Donate

Who we are

THE TIMES COLONIST
LITERACY SOCIETY

Literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning and education, and we support school libraries and literacy organizations through Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The Times Colonist started raising money for literacy work with a small book sale in 1998, and today that work is carried on by the Times Colonist Literacy Society.

Our Work

The Times Colonist Literacy Society has raised $7 million for literacy projects and school libraries throughout the readership area of the Times Colonist. Money is raised through the annual Times Colonist Book Sale, through monthly and one-time donations, and through a grant from Decoda Literacy Solutions.

The Book Drive

Donate your books to the 2025 Times Colonist book drive between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20

The Book Drive

The Book Sale

The annual Times Colonist Book Sale is one of the most popular events of the year. It is a can’t-miss weekend for book lovers.
People from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Washington State come every year, along with a couple of hundred people from mainland British Columbia.
All proceeds from the sale go to the Times Colonist Literacy Society, a charitable organization that is supported by the Times Colonist.
The society distributes money to school libraries and literacy organizations.
They will be offered for sale on May 3 and 4, 2025. Sale hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Make a donation

The goal of the Times Colonist Literacy Society is to raise money for work that will improve literacy in our coverage area. While the primary source of funding is the annual book drive, we also welcome regular donations through the year.

It’s easy to donate. Just click here to go to our page on the Canada Helps charitable donation website. You can make a one-time donation or select a regular monthly donation.

A monthly donation can be cancelled at any time, so there is no long-term commitment.

Our literacy society is a charitable organization, so you will receive a donation receipt for the full amount. You can use this receipt when you file your income tax return.

Another option is to make a bequest, which would come to us when your will is probated. When you write your will, leave the Times Colonist Literacy Society a specific sum, or real property and securities such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds, or a percentage of the value of your estate.

We strongly advise that you consult a lawyer and a financial advisor before making a bequest.

Your estate will receive a donation receipt for the full value of your bequest.

Please note that the proper legal name is Times Colonist Literacy Society, and the CRA registered charity number is 71228 5725 RR0001.

Make a Bequest

Volunteer

The work of the literacy society would not be possible without the help of community-minded volunteers.

There are about 400 of them, including a core group of 100 who have been around for a decade or more. They ensure that the entire process — the set-up, the drive-through drop-off, the order-out-of-chaos sorting, and the tear-down — is done to ensure that the sale is a success.

Want to join the team?