ABOUT US
LITERACY FOR ALL
Literacy Without Borders is a federally incorporated non-profit organization based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Our three main goals are to (1) develop global citizens, (2) foster lifelong literacy ambassadors, and (3) improve literacy levels for individuals and families.
Our current projects are focused mainly on developing literacy skills and strengthening community engagement in Belize City, Belize. For more detailed information about our different projects, see our Projects drop-down menu.
“While there are other factors that impact early literacy development, access to books and high-quality teaching, particularly at the early primary level play a critical role in helping students to build a strong literacy foundation. A strong literacy foundation is the number one indicator of how well students are likely to perform throughout their schooling—and their lives.”
~ Dr. Carol Babb, Former Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Youth & Sport (Belize)
MEET THE TEAM
Jason Bossert, President
Jason Bossert is a long time nonprofit advocate. As a commercial insurance broker, Jason assists nonprofit organizations with tailored insurance solutions and corporate governance. Jason is an active volunteer with Literacy Without Borders, Rotary Club of Edmonton West, Rotary District 5370 Playground Committee and various local and international non-profit organizations.
Raising 5 children, Jason deeply understands the crucial importance literacy plays in development and opportunity for youth. Everyone should have access to literacy tools. From the ability to read for enjoyment to understanding current events, literacy provides access to the world around us. Literacy is the foundation of peaceful, prosperous and sustainable societies.
Rain Bossert, Secretary & Communications Director
Rain is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Professional Communication from MacEwan University. She is a Communications Coordinator at Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC), an Alberta-based non-profit working locally and globally to advance sustainable development and global citizenship. Rain is eager to make a difference and give back to the global community in any way she can.
Growing up in a family of seven —four siblings and two parents— Rain has a healthy understanding and respect for how important language literacy is in everyday life and how much it can influence an individual’s future. Rain is in the right place to make connections with younger generations and hopes that this will help bring more awareness to the importance of literacy efforts such as that of Literacy Without Borders.
Jeff Alliston, Treasurer
Jeff Alliston is a partner with Metrix Group LLP, an Alberta-based accounting firm. His specializations include public practice, audit, assurance, consulting, business tax, and personal tax. Jeff serves many clients in the non-profit sector, and therefore has a healthy understanding of the intricacies of these organizations.
Outside of work, Jeff enjoys spending time with family, golfing, and shopping for plants.
Lorraine Enge, Board Member & Education Consultant
Lorraine is a parent, partner, university graduate with two degrees, former collegiate athlete, and volunteer coach, with experience working in an educational environment with marginalized and vulnerable populations. She is passionate about contributing to cutting-edge education projects and programs rooted in social justice and equality frameworks.
With international and local teaching experience, Lorraine hopes to bring practical and theoretical literacy expertise to the Literacy Without Borders team and its projects.
Casey Edmunds, Board Member
After 15 years in Alberta working on different arts, youth and community projects, Casey is currently the Executive Director of the Victoria 2020 Canadian Francophone Games, a national event for French-speaking youth aged 14 to 18 years old. He continues to support community driven events, this time in a city he knows somewhat well, as Victoria is his hometown where he can spend quality time with his family. He will lead the charge of this national event until Fall 2020, after which he will look for something new!
“Education is at the crossroads of opportunity and possibility”, this is what I remember from LWB founder, Randy Boissonnault. Having visited Belize a couple times, I witnessed the desperate need for literacy initiatives in Belize. Moreover, the look on a child’s face once they’ve completed another level on the CALS computer program, or finished a chapter in a book is overwhelmingly energizing and encouraging!