Four regional divisions are responsible for Reading Recovery across Canada: the Atlantic Division in Nova Scotia; the Central Division in Thornill, Ontario; the Western Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Mountain Pacific Division in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Each division is responsible for providing the year-long training of teacher leaders, offering ongoing professional development to teachers and teacher leaders, overseeing the work in teacher training centres and schools and working with district administrators in the analysis of data in order to strengthen implementation.
► Link to regional divisions map and contact information

First introduced in the provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia in 1987, Reading Recovery expanded across Canada and is now implemented in 7 of the 10 provinces and in the Yukon Territory. 

In 1992, Dame Marie Clay, originator of Reading Recovery, granted the Canadian Institute of Reading Recovery (CIRR) the right to register the royalty-free trademark for the term Reading Recovery in Canada. The CIRR was formally opened in 1993 at the University of Toronto through a partnership with Scarborough Board of Education and the university faculty. Prior to this time, Canadian teacher leaders trained at the National Reading Recovery Centre in New Zealand or at The Ohio State University in the United States.

In 1995, the Canadian Institute of Reading Recovery Western Division was established in Manitoba, followed in 2003 by the Atlantic Division, in 2006 by the Central Division, and in 2009 by the Mountain Pacific Division.

These divisions work in collaboration with the CIRR under the Standards and Guidelines formulated by the CIRR Board of Directors.
► Link to regional divisions map and contact information

Canada is a nation of two official languages, English and French. Therefore, it was critical that Reading Recovery be made available to Francophone and French immersion students. 

The first phase was the adaptation of An Observation Survey of Early Literacy Achievement, which resulted in the publication of Le sondage d’observation en lecture-écriture. The redevelopment into French of Literacy Lessons Designed for Individuals Part 1 and Part 2 is proceeding. A bilingual trainer supports the implementaton of Intervention préventive en lecture-écriture for Francophone and French immersion students in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.

The importance of the Standards and Guidelines lies in their underlying rationales, which are understood and applied by trainers, teacher leaders, and liaison administrators at each site.

Standards are deemed essential for assuring both quality services to children and successful implementation. They are the foundation upon which Reading Recovery is built. These are the musts that research and practice throughout the world have proven to be the essentials for successful implementation.

Guidelines have been shown to significantly support program effectiveness and represent the means to achieving successful implementation. Canadian guidelines were written in collaboration with Reading Recovery teachers, teacher leaders, trainers, and liaison administrators throughout Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. They are intended to be informative to the cadre of personnel who are responsible for the establishment and maintenance of effective Reading Recovery sites.

All Reading Recovery centres that annually meet the requirements set forth in the Standards and Guidelines for Reading Recovery in Canada, including making application to the Canadian Institute of Reading Recovery, are granted a 1-year royalty-free license annually to use the term Reading Recovery.
Standards and Guidelines of Reading Recovery in Canada

Ongoing research and evaluation are essential in Reading Recovery's success. The Canadian trainer team, in collaboration with the Canadian Institute of Reading Recovery (CIRR), has collected and analyzed outcome and implementation data in Canada since 1995. Since that time, nearly 200,000 children have received Reading Recovery lessons in Canada.

CIRR Summary of Progress - 2011-2012
CIRR National Implementation Data - 2011-2012

A National Reading Recovery/Early Literacy Conference is held every year in Toronto, Ontario. 
► Link to Regional and International Reading Recovery Conferences

Canada has established a Marie M. Clay Canadian Memorial Fund to further the expansion of Reading Recovery in Canada through training, research, and advocacy. Each year an event is held to honor of the work of Marie Clay and to raise funds to support training and research of Reading Recovery in Canada. Tax receipts will be issued for any donation to this fund.

Donations supporting the Marie M. Clay Canadian Memorial Fund should be made payable to:
Marie M. Clay Canadian Memorial Fund
Canadian Institute of Reading Recovery
660 Eglinton Ave. East, #119-402
Toronto Ontario
M4G 2K2

► Visit the CIRR website and click the Donate Now through CanadaHelps.org icon