ABOUT US
Setting the Standard for Language in Canada
CCLB is Canada's national nonprofit dedicated to the CLB and NCLC — the official benchmarks for measuring and recognizing English and French proficiency in adult immigrants and newcomers.
About the cclb?
Canada's Leading Resource for Language Benchmarks
The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks is a national nonprofit organization that serves as Canada’s leading resource for the CLB/NCLC. As the national standard setting body for the CLB/NCLC, it is the only organization in Canada focused exclusively on promoting the use of these national standards in educational, training, community and workplace settings.
The CLB and NCLC are recognized as the official Canadian standards for describing, measuring and recognizing the language proficiency of adult immigrants and prospective immigrants in both English and French. They provide a common language for the entire immigrant-serving community.
CCLB/CNCLC was established in 1998 to support the CLB and NCLC. It is governed by a nationally representative, multi-stakeholder board of directors including representation from ESL and FSL experts and language assessors.
Using CLB for Citizenship or Immigration?
CCLB tools and benchmarks are not directly used in citizenship or immigration applications. For official language requirements, please refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Who We Serve
Supporting Every Part of the Language Learning Ecosystem
From individual learners to national institutions, CCLB's standards, resources, and expertise reach every part of the immigrant-serving community.
Language Learners & Newcomers
Tools, self-assessment guides, and resources to understand your language level and find the right program for your needs.
Language Teachers & Instructors
Benchmark-aligned teaching resources, PBLA support, and professional training to help you teach effectively and support your learners.
Language
Assessors
Standardized assessment tools, training, and continuing education to support fair, consistent, and credible language evaluation across Canada.
Organizations & Workplaces
Occupational language analysis, benchmarking support, and standards expertise for employers, institutions, and community organizations.
Strategic Plan
Our Priorities & Direction
Our strategic plan outlines CCLB's priorities for advancing national language standards, deepening our impact, and strengthening the tools and support available to everyone we serve.
CLB/NCLC Maintenance & Enhancement
Ensure the framework is kept up to date and meets stakeholder needs.
- Engage stakeholders to determine current needs.
- Engage funder for support.
Communications & Visibility
Ensure the framework is kept up to date and meets stakeholder needs.
- Engage stakeholders to determine current needs.
- Engage funder for support.
Impact
Ensure the framework is kept up to date and meets stakeholder needs.
- Engage stakeholders to determine current needs.
- Engage funder for support.
Sustainability
Ensure the framework is kept up to date and meets stakeholder needs.
- Engage stakeholders to determine current needs.
- Engage funder for support.
Board of Directors
Meet the Leaders
The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks is governed by a nationally representative, multi-stakeholder board of directors.
Ricardo Arisnabarreta
Chairperson
University of Regina
Jessica Leslie
Vice Chairperson
Mount Saint Vincent University
Yves Page
Treasurer
GEMS Consultants Inc.
Donna Clark
Board Member
McGill University
Jessica Durepos
Board Member
University of Ottawa
Maria MacMinn Varvos
Board Member
MMV Educational Consulting
Tehreem Zafar
Board Member
University of Saskatchewan
Our team
Meet the Team
Our success is a result of teamwork and building upon our technical expertise and creative style providing a full-service solution to our clients.
Colette Pépin
Executive Director
613-230-7729 ext. 177
cpepin@language.ca
Anne Senior
Specialist Consultant
asenior@language.ca
Linda Hu
Financial and Budget Manager
613-230-7729 ext. 182
lhu@language.ca
Marie-Élyse Gauthier
Program Delivery Coordinator
mgauthier@language.ca
Sue Su
Accounting Technician
613-230-7729 ext. 176
ssu@language.ca
Mohammad Nasim Rahimi
Bookkeeper and Administrative Assistant
mnasimrahimi@language.ca
Annual Reports
Accountability and Impact
xplore CCLB’s annual reports to see our progress, priorities, and organizational impact over the years. These reports highlight key initiatives, achievements, and accountability across our work.
Newsletter
CCLB Newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest news, resources, training updates, and announcements from CCLB. Our newsletters share recent initiatives, upcoming opportunities, and important updates from across our work.
March 2026 Newsletter
Check out our newest resource to support literacy classrooms. The literacy orientation kit explores teaching EAL/ESL literacy. The kit is designed to be accessible and clear for instructors who are new to teaching EAL literacy but robust enough to support more experienced instructors. The first section is a “quick start” guide, and the other 9 sections explore this information in greater detail. Key topics include learners, levels, approaches and resources. The kit will be updated as needed over time.
December 2025 Newsletter
If you missed it, the Placing Literacy Learners, and Assigning and Removing L for Literacy Designations Resource Package for Programs is now available! This resource represents a direct response to the second key conclusion by providing support to programs to assign or remove the L designation using a combination of evidence and informed professional judgement.
September 2025 Newsletter
A series of nine modules with varied thematic content and NCLC levels are now hosted on Avenue.ca:
June 2025 Newsletter
Enrich your CLIC courses with new resources designed as part of the modernization of the National CLIC Online Curriculum! Discover innovative, ready-to-use guidelines for teaching and preparing CLIC courses! The 50 Module Plans and 50 Lesson Exemplars (AMA, Stage I and Stage II) are waiting for you and can be accessed here.
March 2025 Newsletter
Discover the results of our survey conducted among language service providers and key players in the CLIC program. These videos reveal the profiles of instructors and learners, their expectations, motivations and challenges, as well as their perspectives of the CLIC program.
December 2024 Newsletter
LINC classroom teachers (part-time or full-time) are eligible for training but must have completed the CLB Bootcamp as a pre-requisite. Registrations are only accepted from program coordinators by emailing: PBLA@language.ca after the call for participants is received in early January.
March 2026 Newsletter
Check out our newest resource to support literacy classrooms. The literacy orientation kit explores teaching EAL/ESL literacy. The kit is designed to be accessible and clear for instructors who are new to teaching EAL literacy but robust enough to support more experienced instructors. The first section is a “quick start” guide, and the other 9 sections explore this information in greater detail. Key topics include learners, levels, approaches and resources. The kit will be updated as needed over time.
December 2025 Newsletter
If you missed it, the Placing Literacy Learners, and Assigning and Removing L for Literacy Designations Resource Package for Programs is now available! This resource represents a direct response to the second key conclusion by providing support to programs to assign or remove the L designation using a combination of evidence and informed professional judgement.
September 2025 Newsletter
A series of nine modules with varied thematic content and NCLC levels are now hosted on Avenue.ca:
June 2025 Newsletter
Enrich your CLIC courses with new resources designed as part of the modernization of the National CLIC Online Curriculum! Discover innovative, ready-to-use guidelines for teaching and preparing CLIC courses! The 50 Module Plans and 50 Lesson Exemplars (AMA, Stage I and Stage II) are waiting for you and can be accessed here.
March 2025 Newsletter
Discover the results of our survey conducted among language service providers and key players in the CLIC program. These videos reveal the profiles of instructors and learners, their expectations, motivations and challenges, as well as their perspectives of the CLIC program.
December 2024 Newsletter
LINC classroom teachers (part-time or full-time) are eligible for training but must have completed the CLB Bootcamp as a pre-requisite. Registrations are only accepted from program coordinators by emailing: PBLA@language.ca after the call for participants is received in early January.
CCLB careers
Employment Opportunities
CCLB offers opportunities for qualified professionals to contribute to meaningful projects in language education and assessment. Learn more about available roles, consulting opportunities, and how to stay informed about future openings.