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Our History

Frontier College is Canada's original literacy organization, with a rich and storied history dating back to our beginning in 1899. Take a tour of Frontier College through the decades. If you have photos or stories to share with us, please send them to information@frontiercollege.ca or use the

Submit Your Own Story page.

1899

Teacher and reverend Alfred Fitzpatrick founds Frontier College, sending trained individuals to logging camps, mines and railway lines. These Labourer-Teachers worked alongside the men during the day
1900

The Rocky Mountain Reading Tent in the early 19th century. Imagine a time when Canada had few buildings!
1902

This lumber camp in Sudbury was one of Frontier College's first locations.
1903

Frontier College starts up in Saskatchewan--before it is even a province!
1909

Station men clearing the muck, Northern Ontario 1909
1910

Men hanging out in a lumber camp bunkhouse.
1910

Men reading in a Frontier College tent, ca 1910
1910

Interior reading room of Victoria Lumber in Northern Ontario
1910

A workroom and bookshelves around the turn of the century.
1910

Four Russian workers in the sleeping quarters of a lumber camp, ca 1910
1910

Men in a tent classroom in the early 20th century.
1911

Norman Bethune joins the Reading Camp association and is sent to work at the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company. He went on to become a noted physician and inventor.
1912

Field work at Canadian National Rail (CNR) camp, 1912. Edmund Bradwin is on the right.
1912

This photo shows the diversity of the workers who participated in Frontier College programs while building the country's industry. Near St John Valley, New Brunswick, 1912
1915

Instructor and class in a lumber camp, 1915
1920

A portrait of Frontier College's founders: Edmund Bradwin, Tom Fitzpatrick (seated), Alfred Fitzpatrick
1925

New Canadians outside the immigration hall in Winnipeg.
1915

Men passing on the lumber road, ca 1915
1920

Jessie Lucas is hired as secretary-treasurer. Her dedication to maintaining records lead to an incredible archive of adult education resources. Today, she is remembered at the Frontier College headquarters.
1929

Dr. Margaret Strang becomes the first woman Labourer-Teacher to participate in the homesteading program, bringing education to children in remote Northern Ontario communities.
1929

Dr. Margaret Strang becomes the first woman Labourer-Teacher to participate in the homesteading program, bringing education to children in remote Northern Ontario communities.
1929

The Margaret Strang Settlement House
1935

An unemployed relief workers' camp in 1935.
1940

Labourer-Teacher Charles Jones teaches class during the '40s.
1950

Three cooks at a Canadian Pacific Rail work site, ca 1950.
1950s

Workers in a classroom in the 1950s.
1970s

Women and couples are recruited to work in cities and rural areas. Jane Henson becomes the first woman Labourer-Teacher to work at a copper mine.
1970s

Men laying down tracks in the 1970s.
1980

Wear safety glasses! Miners pose for a photo sometime in the 1980s.
1977

UNESCO recognized our work in the field of adult education by awarding Frontier College with the 1977 Literacy Prize (also known as The Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Prize)
1986

Frontier College’s national headquarters is relocated to 35 Jackes Avenue in Toronto. The beautiful house (originally owned by Robert Laidlaw) was given to us by the National Ballet of Canada in exchange for the College's earlier headquarters.
2002

Frontier College headquarters was named Gzowski House in honour of renowned CBC journalist and College supporter, Peter Gzowski.
2005

The Summer Literacy Camps program began in five First Nation communities in Northern Ontario.
2009

Manitoba launches their first Aboriginal Summer Literacy Camp in Little Miskwaadesi (Turtle) Camp
2010

Our Summer Literacy camps grew in size and capacity during the 2010s.
2000s

Seasonal farm workers reading a Frontier College pamphlet during class time.
2015

The Summer Literacy Camps program grows to 99 communities across Canada.

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Did You Know ?

Literacy is measured on a scale of 0 to 5, with 5 being the highest. A 2013 study revealed that almost half of Canadians have literacy scores below level 3, and nearly 1 in 5 Canadians are at or below Level 1.