Answering the Seeking Heart
The history of the Canadian Bible Society is anchored in the call to help all people hear God speak
More than a century ago,
English immigrants, Gaelic-speaking highlanders, Moravian missionaries, travelling salesmen, relentless volunteers and outward-looking churches fuelled the establishment of what became the Canadian Bible Society.
Today through the Canadian Bible Society (CBS), God’s voice is being made clear to people in thousands of communities across the country and in multiple languages.
We serve young and old, those in prisons and in the military, people in Indigenous communities and the most recent immigrants.
We direct people to God’s Word, from those struggling to make ends meet or find a place in society, to those in the highest reaches of power.
Our impact is intensely personal and felt around the world through projects we support and our membership in United Bible Societies.
Donor Powered Service
Everything we do or have ever done is made possible by donors – individuals, families, churches, ministry partners, foundations – people who want others to hear God speak in the language closest to their hearts.
Explore Stories from the Field
Dr. Bill Brackney 1948 – 2022
Dr. Bill Brackney, the former Chair of the Board of Governors of CBS passed away on November 13, 2022 at the age of 74.
CBS Ontario & Nunavut Regional District Dinner
The Canadian Bible Society (CBS) hosted its first Ontario & Nunavut regional district dinner after the start of the pandemic. It was a great occasion to meet CBS donors, patrons and supporters and learn more about the Canadian Bible Society’s support of Indigenous language Bible translations.
Healing Through Language Reclamation
Over 1.6 million people in Canada are from Indigenous groups, 63% of whom self-identify as Christians. Mourning the loss of their language and wanting to preserve it for their children, a team of women, some over the age of 80, began translating the Old Testament into Inupiaq. They are now supported by CBS translation specialists but at the outset they had no external guidance. In the backdrop of the beautiful Alaskan landscape, listen to them share their story of Inupiaq Scripture translation.
Steadfast through the storm
Worldwide Bible distribution topped 32.6 million in 2021, showing the extraordinary commitment of Bible Societies to provide the hope of God’s Word amid a global pandemic.
2022 Impact Report | Loud and Clear in Long-Term Care Homes
In 2020, CBS launched a pilot program to support individuals in long-term care homes, in the form of audio Scriptures and music delivered through specialized easy-to-use audio devices and selected large-print Scriptural resources.
2022 Impact Report | Unwrapping the Gift of God’s Word
CBS offers new resources to help people engage with God's Word.
2022 Impact Report | Rescuing and Empowering Girls
CBS partners challenge some of the darkest evils in the world, reaching out to rescue and empower teenage girls from spiritual and physical bondage.
2022 Impact Report | Breaking Down Physical Barriers
In 2021, thousands for whom God might have seemed silent, were helped through your gifts. Although COVID slowed progress, day by day more people who are visually or hearing-impaired gain access to the tools they need to encounter God’s Word.
2022 Impact Report | Punjabi Project Creates Early Impact
For CBS, publishing in the languages of the heart of Indigenous communities and the diaspora church is a high priority. One’s own language is the way God speaks most clearly and powerfully.
2022 Impact Report | 90 Translation Projects in 2021
Despite a second year of COVID disruption, in 2021, Bible Societies across the world completed Scripture translations in 90 languages used by 794 million people—just over 10% of the world’s population.