Teacher Alfred Fitzpatrick creates The Canadian Reading Camp Movement. Reading tents are set up in remote and isolated communities and equipped with books and volunteers to teach workers in logging camps, on the Canadian National Railway, and in mines to read and write. Fitzpatrick’s approach—every place is a learning place—pioneered how education and basic literacy were taught throughout Canada. This was before other educational and government institutions recognized the importance of literacy outreach programs.

Alfred Fitzpatrick develops the Labourer-Teacher model after Angus Gray, a University of Toronto student and tutor, grows tired of waiting for his students to come to classes in the evening and joins workers in digging a ditch at Nairn Centre. Throughout the century, Labourer-Teachers were recruited from universities to take up the challenge to work alongside labourers by day and then teach them to read and write at night. Thousands of young Canadians have since served as Labourer-Teachers, tutors, and mentors.

Alfred Fitzpatrick establishes Canada’s first adult education organization, The Reading Camp Association.

The Reading Camp Association expands to Alberta, where university student E.E. Sayles works as a Labourer-Teacher with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad near Edmonton. Mr. Sayles organizes English as a Second Language classes for workers to build their English and work skills.

Norman Bethune, a second-year university medical student becomes a Labourer-Teacher. He works at the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company in Georgian Bay, Ontario, teaching math, history, hygiene, spelling, geography, and letter writing to immigrant workers.

The Reading Camp Association expands to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, with A.S. Windsor, a student from Mt. Allison University, becoming an education worker on the St. John Valley Railway. In his free time after work, Mr. Windsor teaches his fellow workers basic literacy and numeracy classes in English and French to upgrade their education. In Nova Scotia, D.L. McDougall worked as a brattice man with the Dominion Coal Company, New Aberdeen, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Jessie Lucas, B.A. (University of Toronto) is hired as Secretary and later becomes Bursar, Registrar, and Archivist working for the College until 1963.

In 1922, the Canadian Government, recognizing the national character of the College, passes a parliamentary Act allowing the College to award university degrees anywhere in Canada. Alfred Fitzpatrick is the first Principal.

With academic pressure from some universities, political pressure from the Ontario Government, and the financial constraints of the Great Depression, Frontier College requests the Canadian Parliament to revoke its degree granting status. Alfred Fitzpatrick retires and Edmund Bradwin is named Principal in 1933.

Alfred Fitzpatrick, B.A., M.A., O.B.E. dies in Toronto at the age of 74.

Frontier College expands to Newfoundland, where Eric Robinson, a student from McGill University, works as a Labourer-Teacher on a rail gang in Tickle Head Harbour. After work, Robinson teaches basic literacy and numeracy classes in English, writes letters, and supports his fellow workers in learning. Robinson succeeds Edmund Bradwin, who dies in 1953, as the third Principal of Frontier College.

The Labourer-Teacher program expands to Prince Edward Island. Wiley Meekis, a track labourer for the Canadian National Railway, organizes games and teaches English and Math to his fellow workers in the evenings.

Ian Morrison, a former Labourer-Teacher, becomes the fourth President of Frontier College.

Frontier College is the first Canadian organization to receive a UNESCO Medal for its exemplary work in promoting literacy.

Two former street-involved youth create the Beat the Street program. The program is formed around the idea that if people were going to get off the streets, they needed literacy skills and an accessible way of learning outside of the traditional classroom. Literacy and Basic Skills, including preparation for the General Equivalency Diploma (high school diploma), are taught by staff and tutors. Many graduates of this program become entrepreneurs and trades workers and pursue post-secondary education.

After a hiatus, the Labourer-Teacher program expands to farms and greenhouses in Central Ontario. During the spring and summer months, Labourer-Teachers work alongside migrant seasonal workers, sharing life on the farm. After work, they volunteer their time as tutors, mentors, and recreation organizers for their coworkers.

READ CANADA, a national family literacy initiative is launched to help get families and young children reading.

John Daniel O’Leary, a former Labourer-Teacher and prison literacy instructor, becomes the sixth President.

Sherry Campbell becomes the first woman President (seventh) to lead the organization.

Stephen Faul becomes the eighth President of Frontier College.

Frontier College changes its name to United for Literacy, reflecting the ambitious next chapter in its history.

The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, joins us in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Frontier College charter being approved.