From our Tutors

Watch her video!

“I am currently a first-year pharmacy student at the University of Manitoba. Pharmacists interact with people of different ages and walks of life. It is especially important that pharmacists know how to effectively communicate with young children to ensure that they understand their medication and have great health outcomes. I was able to develop these skills at Frontier College because I often had to come up with simple ways to teach the learners a difficult concept.

“It has been a rewarding experiencing seeing readers improve and develop a love for reading!” 

Watch her video!

My experience with Frontier College has been excellent. I am a retired teacher of 23 years and
everything Frontier College does is right in line with what I loved to do as a teacher. The staff and interns
follow great fundamental practices. I love all of the people I have met through Frontier College, and it
feels good to give back to my community. I feel really good after I volunteer and chat with people; it is a
great way for me to interact and meet people. I am 75 years old, and I live alone, and the pandemic has
been especially hard for me. Since I am not overly familiar with technology, it was challenging for me to
stay in touch with family and friends. Volunteering with Frontier College has allowed me to have
meaningful and impactful conversations with young children and adults via Zoom!

Rachel is an Organizational Team member and has been an STC for Math Club and Homework Club. Watch her video about why she volunteers with Frontier College.
 

Frontier College helps people with more than literacy and numeracy. It empowers learners by providing access to new knowledge, new opportunities, and new worlds. As a tutor, Frontier College has given me the chance to share my love of learning and my love of books, but my favourite part is that I get to learn from my learner.

 

When I researched volunteer opportunities in 2019, I came across Frontier College and applied to become a Reading Volunteer. It was one of the best choices I had made. The opportunity to help young learners with reading and comprehension, as well as give back to the Grande Prairie community, was very appealing.

Since then, I look forward to every session with my student(s). We have fun learning, challenging each other, and laughing together. I truly enjoy being a volunteer for Frontier College because it is so worthwhile and the staff members whom I’ve come to know and respect are great people. Their commitment to literacy is admirable and they always make me feel appreciated.

 

If I were to summarize my experience with Frontier College into a single word, it would be the word "support." When I began with Frontier College, I was eager to share the knowledge I had from my own struggles with English but I was unsure of how to exactly do it. My initial worries were quickly reduced. I found that the senior volunteers (OTs) of my branch were full of useful tips and were easy to approach no matter the question I had. With the OTs' assistance, I fine-tuned my approach, like gauging when a learner needed help or needed to face a challenge on his or her own. Knowing I could rely on them let me relax and make my experience with the learner that much more meaningful. Later becoming an OT myself, I discovered the same level of encouragement if not more. From meetings with other OTs and Azmina, I felt armed with the advice to handle any situations with volunteers or learners. Being a part of Frontier College gave me support and capacity I needed to give back to my community as a volunteer.

Frontier College has also shaped the skills I have used to explore careers where I can support others. Most directly, the excitement of aiding a child in their progress to greater challenges pushed me to work with children in behavior therapy programs. I relied on the approach I had learned from Frontier College, like how to deliver feedback. However, this time for helping children express themselves and engage with their peers. I still pulled from my successes with reading with children, while working with adult patients as a psychiatric aide. For instance, taking that extra step to invest time into a learner's interests. After work at the hospital, I would look up a patient's favorite band or hockey team, so I could talk to them about it during my next shift. These simple gestures made it easier for patients to open up to me about the issues they were facing. In turn, I could share these insights with their nurses to ensure they received the care they deserved. Even in research, I felt I could tap into the organizational skills I mastered while managing a reading circle in a busy library. Knowing to do regular check-ins or how to keep track of all the moving components better positioned me to support the research team. This was essential when leading the assembly of large-scale research reports that would inform clinical guidelines for spinal cord injury. I look at my time with Frontier College as a source of fond memories, and as an opportunity that has made many more in my past careers.

This fall I will be fortunate enough to begin a new path studying Medicine at the University of Alberta. I realize that Frontier College has played no small part in helping me achieve this goal. The support they have shown me has been invaluable, from Michelle, the OT who gave me my first MCAT books, to Azmina, who supported me through four applications cycles. I hope to show my future patients, the kindness and support that Frontier College has taught me.

From Laney:
I graduated in 2018 with my Registered Early Childhood Educators diploma and have been volunteering with Frontier College for over a year. It has been an amazing opportunity to be involved in my community with Frontier College. When I read about Frontier College's values towards learning and teaching in areas such as literacy, math and more I knew it would be a good fit for me. I struggled with these areas when I was young and I did not have a role model or a supportive environment until I was much older. But through my own experience, it sparked my passion about early years and learning. I have found this opportunity most valuable by teaching and learning alongside the children that attend the Frontier College programs. Fantastic relationships and learning happen when we are able to engage in a fun light atmosphere. Throughout my experience it has taught me to value those interactions where both parties are able to gain something valuable from them.

I look forward to continue volunteering with Frontier College and open to the new opportunities the future brings. 

My name is Brittany Cornthwaite and I was first introduced to Frontier College in my second year of Concurrent Education. During my four years with this organization, I volunteered in numerous roles: one-to-one tutoring, in both public school and university settings, homework club tutoring, and being a Student Tutor Coordinator on the Organizational Team.  

Frontier College has helped me flourish as an educator in multiple ways. Firstly, this organization heightened my awareness of students who struggle with literacy and numeracy competencies and helped me gain confidence in differentiating instruction to suit students’ unique needs. Additionally, volunteering with this organization offered an abundance of practical materials, such as literacy and numeracy games, and classroom strategies to bring reading, writing, and math to life for students. Working with Frontier College also afforded me the opportunity to hone my lesson planning skills as planning my own activities was required for one-to-one sessions. Furthermore, the tutoring sessions offered a setting in which I gained firsthand experience regarding how various tools and strategies can influence different students. Finally, being an Organizational Team member gave me access to other educators’ knowledge and skills. Through interacting and sharing ideas with other members, supporting the implementation of training workshops, and monitoring other tutors within programs, my teaching toolkit and overall professional network were further enhanced. 

Frontier College is an amazing organization that performs important work and truly prioritizes students’ needs. Volunteering with this organization is a minimal investment of your time that will enrich your professional development and allow you to make a significant difference in the lives of students. Frontier College volunteers are given the support they need to succeed in helping students thrive. This support is offered through professional development, training, and human connections. Volunteering with Frontier College offers the valuable opportunity to assist students in mastering fundamental skills and competencies and foster their vital sense of accomplishment. I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to volunteer with this fantastic organization! Hopefully, you will be too! 

Volunteering with Frontier College has been immensely valuable for me, both as a member of the community and as someone studying to be a teacher. I have had the opportunity to work with diverse groups of kids, all with their own particular needs and strengths. This has taught me perseverance, flexibility, creativity and patience. As an OT, I've had the rewarding experience of working with tutors who are truly engaged in helping the kids, and having some fun along the way. 

Volunteering with Frontier College has shown me the amazing ways that education can happen outside of the traditional classroom. Thank you to everyone at Frontier College for your ongoing support! 

From FC Staff:
In 2016, Laura volunteered with the Syrian Summer Program and she was also a Project Intern working on the NS Education Curriculum. During the 2016-17 program year, Laura volunteered with our Keshen Library Youth Program, as well as being an OT member for our Wednesday Homework Club!

In 2017, Laura volunteered with our Summer Reading Tent program. During the 2018/19 program year, Laura became the OT member for our Reading Club program. She will graduate soon with her Bachelor of Education degree and looks forward to teaching Junior High students. Laura has told us how much the Reading Club has helped her to better understand the process of teaching a learner to read. 

I have witnessed Laura leading the Reading Club program and she has a special way with the learners and tutors – she is respectful of individual needs and genuine in her desire to help her learners and support her tutors. Laura is going to make an amazing teacher! John and I wish Laura all the very best in her teaching career and appreciate all the time she has devoted to Frontier College’s programs, learners and tutors! Thank you Laura!


 

 FC volunteer role(s)
Y.O.U. peer tutor (2 years)
Beacock Library Homework Club O.T. Leader (1 year)
Junior MAP at Boys and Girls Club London O.T. Leader (1 year)
 
How FC helped me develop professionally
(Ashley is in her last year of Law School at Western University.)
 
I have gained many skills over the years I volunteered with F.C.. I learned to think creatively when looking for solutions, and to think of multiple ways of approaching problems because of the various ways people learn and assimilate new information. 

Furthermore, I developed my leadership, time management, and team management skills through my roles on the Organizational Team
 
Why people should volunteer with Frontier College
Frontier College works with Community Partners to connect volunteers with their local community and to bring volunteers where they are needed. Frontier College gives volunteers the opportunity to help populations within their own communities, relieving those individuals of the burden of travel.
 
FC volunteers receive support from their O.T. leaders and their fellow tutors, Intern and Regional Coordinator and therefore have a large network of experience to rely on when faced with difficult problems or when they need help with their learners. 
 

I volunteered with Frontier College for the duration of my undergraduate degree at McMaster University, starting first as a weekly volunteer, then progressing to a program leader and finally working for the organization as an intern. As an undergraduate student, it is easy to find yourself trapped within the university “bubble” where your life revolves solely around classes, school friends, and on-campus extracurricular activities. For me, volunteering with Frontier College was an important touchstone to the world outside university. It allowed me to explore and feel more united with the external Hamilton community, while also empowering me to believe my small weekly actions could make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
 
As a volunteer, I developed critical teaching skills including the ability to articulate my thoughts in a clear manner, explain challenging concepts in multiple ways, and dynamically adapt to different learning styles. I continue to draw on these skills in my work as a teaching assistant at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. As a program leader, I advanced my organizational and communication skills while overseeing my team of volunteers and problem-solving on-site challenges. Few undergraduate students have the unique opportunity to manage a team, so I believe this past experience on my resume has been an important signal of my leadership ability to potential employers. Together, my experiences as a volunteer and program leader instilled in me the importance of commitment, dedication and accountability – values that still inform my professional work ethic today.
 
I highly recommend volunteering with Frontier College as a valuable form of service learning. In my experience, volunteering with Frontier College facilitates the acquisition of valuable skills that help one develop both personally and professionally.


 

From Taylor: My time volunteering with Frontier College has been rewarding and enjoyable to say the least.  Working alongside the cheerful and enthusiastic staff is both motivating and uplifting, as they create a welcoming environment for all ages through focus on individual interests, while simultaneously helping teach literacy. Working alongside dedicated volunteers and staff has strengthened my skills in a number of areas, such as: time management, commitment, and flexibility. Frontier College is truly an asset to my community, and the staff is friendly, motivated, knowledgeable and experienced.     

From FC Staff: Taylor has been an active volunteer at St. Mary’s Wellness & Education Centre’s Comic Book Club since October 2017. Throughout his time with Frontier College, Taylor has demonstrated his ability to be flexible and work collaboratively, as well as his strong commitment to the students of St. Mary’s. He is approachable and kind, and has become a reliable mentor and friend to participants and volunteers. Taylor shows his support for Frontier College by assisting at Volunteer Fairs and other events, as well as by participating in the annual Comic Book Club Gala. Taylor’s dedication and strong work ethic is appreciated by Frontier College staff, volunteers, and learners!  He is truly an asset to Frontier College.  

I started volunteering with Frontier College during my first year of university. The program appealed to me for the opportunities it provided in giving back to my community, and working with students. I really enjoyed helping children develop their literacy skills and find joy in reading. I joined the organizational team the following year, where I recruited and trained volunteers with similar interests. Through my experiences with Frontier College, I developed a strong passion for working with children. I was also able to cultivate important skills in communication, professionalism and teamwork.

Through my four years with Frontier College, I have had many wonderful experiences and opportunities to refine important skills that prepared me to continue my studies and professional development, and instilled a passion for giving back to my community. This is a great volunteer experience for anyone looking to work with students, improve their community, or develop professional skills.
 

I’ve tutored a young newcomer to Canada for the last 3 years from his beginnings in Grade 6 at George St. Middle School up to Grade 9 at Fredericton High School. We began our sessions using a translation app as he knew very few words in English. He now has an excellent command of the English language. His progress has been remarkable given the challenges he has had to overcome. He has an unwavering desire to learn and fully embraced the opportunity to improve. While our one on one sessions were very important there are others who assisted with his achievements including an incredible ESL teacher at George Street, plus other educators and the community at large.

While learning a new language was our goal, our work also focused on increasing his self-esteem and confidence. His improvement has been incredible and it has been a real treat to witness the progression. Our sessions were fun which allowed his sense of humour to emerge and did it ever. Fits of laughter were not uncommon.

I feel very fortunate that Frontier College provided the opportunity for me to volunteer which has been very rewarding to me on a personal level. I’ve become close to both my tutee and his family and I’m confident this friendship will continue into the future. We are fortunate to have this family become a member of our community.

From Taylor: My time volunteering with Frontier College has been rewarding and enjoyable to say the least.  Working alongside the cheerful and enthusiastic staff is both motivating and uplifting, as they create a welcoming environment for all ages through focus on individual interests, while simultaneously helping teach literacy.  Working alongside dedicated volunteers and staff has strengthened my skills in a number of areas, such as: time management, commitment, and flexibility.  Frontier College is truly an asset to my community, and the staff is friendly, motivated, knowledgeable and experienced.     

From Lauren, Community Coordinator: Taylor has been an active volunteer at St. Mary’s Wellness & Education Centre’s Comic Book Club since October 2017. Throughout his time with Frontier College, Taylor has demonstrated his ability to be flexible and work collaboratively, as well as his strong commitment to the students of St. Mary’s.  He is approachable and kind, and has become a reliable mentor and friend to participants and volunteers. Taylor shows his support for Frontier College by assisting at Volunteer Fairs and other events, as well as by participating in the annual Comic Book Club Gala.  Taylor’s dedication and strong work ethic is appreciated by Frontier College staff, volunteers, and learners!  He is truly an asset to Frontier College.  


 

From Madison: It has been a real pleasure volunteering for Frontier College for this past year. I have learned so many things! I think the most important one is seeing how developing minds work. Through the ‘One on One’ reading program we get to dig deeper into the books we are reading, asking questions, forming ideas and making connections within the stories. Seeing how the children move from one idea to the next and then come up with their own theories about what has happened and how that will impact the outcome of the story is exciting.  I am honored that I get the chance to volunteer for this wonderful organization and help children continue to grow their literacy skills.

From FC staff, Janine: Madison has been an enthusiastic and open-hearted volunteer with Frontier College since we began providing service to the community of Grande Prairie in April of 2018 as a 1:1 reading support volunteer. Madison continued to share her time with us over the summer months at our reading tents. Madison is so committed to Frontier College that she is has been sharing even more of her time with us, volunteering with two students that Frontier College supports. Meeting twice a week, one-on-one, supporting their reading and literacy goals.  She is talented at exploring the magic world housed between a book's covers and engaging students over zany and silly literacy games and fun!  The room just gets brighter when Madison walks in it!  Thanks for sharing your time with us Madison!

From Jenna: My experience at Friendship Inn has had an enormous impact on my life. The relationships and emotional ties I have built with other volunteers as well as the children and adults attending the program bring me so much fulfillment and happiness. I look forward to Sunday mornings when I volunteer and feel disappointed when I'm unable to attend. Interacting and building relationships with such a range of people has broadened my abilities in communication and providing support. Volunteering with Frontier College is time well spent and I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time with such amazing volunteers, heartwarming children and inspiring adults. 

From Lauren, FC Staff: Jenna has dedicated her Sunday mornings to Lifelong Learning at the Saskatoon Friendship Inn since March 2018. She always greets participants and volunteers with a smile on her face, and always has a positive and uplifting attitude. Volunteers and participants rave about Jenna’s ability to develop valuable connections with a wide range of people, and her kindness. Throughout her time at the Friendship Inn, Jenna has been a strong advocate for Frontier College, and has shown her commitment and dedication to enhancing the lives of everyone around her.

 

I have been with the Water Wings Employment Readiness Centre at Boyle Street Community Services for 125 hours as a volunteer, and 75 hours as a SCiP intern. During my time there, I assisted in community member intake, assessments, and other job preparation (resumes, cover letters, mock interviews). I went beyond my roles as a volunteer and intern by creating tools for marketing and general administration of the employment readiness program. I also took initiatives to help new volunteers transition into the role, and created tools to assist this process.

I am in my final year of study in the Human Ecology program at the University of Alberta. I am majoring in Family Science, and minoring in Community Nutrition. In the future, I would like to work with the newcomer population.

As a current high school teacher, my biggest takeaway from my experience with Frontier College is the importance of building relationships. When I was a literacy tutor, knowing the learners I was working with and catering towards their individual needs was critical to make sure that what I was teaching them was relevant, accessible, and of course, fun! The value of student-centred individualized learning and the various strategies I’ve learned at Frontier College to implement this, which ranged from literacy and numeracy-based games to personalized homework tips, are things I continue to use in my own classroom (and my students enjoy them!).

Working with learners from different backgrounds and levels has also taught me how to be more patient, creative, and empathic. Along with learner-tutor relationships, as a previous Coordinating Chair/Intern, I also learned the value of developing relationships with other team members from all levels - Community Partners, Organizing Team members and volunteers - in order to make sure programs are successful. Not only did I learn a lot about how to be a better teacher from working with such inspiring people, it made my university experience more fun and less challenging knowing that I’ll be working with them after classes!

While my time with Frontier College has come to an end, I’ll forever cherish the memories, knowledge I've gained, and most importantly, the relationships.

From Jessica: I have always been driven to be of service in my community. It is a great way to make connections, find job opportunities, and develop meaningful relationships. Through volunteering with Frontier College (Thunder Bay Chapter) since 2016, I have I had the chance to gain valuable life experience through so many exciting opportunities. It has allowed me to grow in many aspects such as self-confidence, leadership, and awareness. I have become very passionate about literacy and am recognizing its fundamentals in overall accessibility. My experience has aligned well with my education and shaped my future career goals. Having recently graduated with a Master’s in Northern Environments and Cultures, awareness regarding accessibility in the North is something I hope to pursue further. I plan to continue to work with this organization long into the future as I greatly respect the work that they do. It is also lots of fun!

From Melissa, FC staff: Jessica has been a volunteer since January 2016. She has a diverse volunteer portfolio with us and has spent time volunteering for our core programs at both of the Boys and Girls Club locations as well as for Family Literacy Day, Summer Reading Tents, parent workshops, reading circles at Chapters bookstore  and Giller Light Bash. She will also be assisting elders with their digital literacy skills starting next week. In addition, she has also been a summer camp counsellor for our Indigenous Summer Reading Camp in Muskrat Dam. 

She is very reliable and dependable and has filled in for absent volunteers on numerous occasions and with short notice. She can always be counted and has taken on leadership roles and oriented new volunteers when I am not available. She is passionate about literacy and promoting the work that Frontier College does.

From Laura: Volunteering with Frontier College has been immensely valuable for me, both as a member of the community and as someone studying to be a teacher. I have had the opportunity to work with diverse groups of kids, all with their own particular needs and strengths. This has taught me perseverance, flexibility, creativity and patience. As an OT, I've had the rewarding experience of working with tutors who are truly engaged in helping the kids, and having some fun along the way. 

Volunteering with Frontier College has shown me the amazing ways that education can happen outside of the traditional classroom. Thank you to everyone at Frontier College for your ongoing support! 
 
From FC Staff: Laura joined us in 2016 and since that time she has had many different experiences with us. 
In 2016, Laura volunteered with the Syrian Summer Program and she was also a Project Intern working on the NS Education Curriculum. During the 2016-17 program year, Laura volunteered with our Keshen Library Youth Program, as well as being an OT member for our Wednesday Homework Club!

In 2017, Laura volunteered with our Summer Reading Tent program.  During the 2018/19 program year, Laura became the OT member for our Reading Club program.  She will graduate soon with her Bachelor of Education degree and looks forward to teaching Junior High students. Laura has told us how much the Reading Club has helped her to better understand the process of teaching a learner to read. I have witnessed Laura leading the Reading Club program and she has a special way with the learners and tutors – she is respectful of individual needs and genuine in her desire to help her learners and support her tutors. Laura is going to make an amazing teacher! John and I wish Laura all the very best in her teaching career and appreciate all the time she has devoted to Frontier College’s programs, learners and tutors! Thank you Laura!

 

There are so many opportunities to get involved in the community, something that adapts to your interests is just fun. I like making a difference and giving back. The fact that my family spoke English and gave me the resources helped me, and I wanted to share this with people who don’t have the same resources and opportunities. I remember when I was involved with homework club two years ago, we had a girl who wasn’t super confident in her abilities, but I knew she could do the work and just needed some extra help. She went from the lowest grade in her class to the highest in her Social Studies class.”
 
Brogan started volunteering with Frontier College in her first year of University as a reading buddy and is currently an OT at the Whitemud Crossing Branch. This will be her fifth year as a volunteer with us. If that wasn’t impressive enough, she holds a degree in Biology and Japanese Linguistics and Literature from the University of Alberta and runs marathons in her free time.


 

I first got involved with Frontier College over the summer, as a Summer Intern. I worked closely with the Frontier College team to run the Indigenous Summer Camps across Alberta. One of the unique parts of my job in the summer was compiling the data from the campers, counselors and community members. I’m not being sarcastic when I say that it was actually quite fun. Reading the positive feedback from everyone involved showed how the camps impacted not only the students but the community as a whole. It was truly an incredible opportunity visiting some of the camps and experiencing the unbelievable hospitality of such tight-knit communities. I knew that I had to continue working with Frontier College so I could see the impact they had on communities closer to home.
 
Currently, I am an OT at the Whitemud Crossing Library. My fellow OTs and I organize the weekly reading circle sessions held by Frontier College at various public libraries in Edmonton! So far, I have nothing but praise for the program. I love the concept of intergenerational learning, with older mentors helping out young learners, and fostering a habit of reading. Having a small group of 6 learners so far, we are able to notice the changes in attitudes of each learner. The most noticeable change I saw was in one of our learners who at first was very shy but quickly gained more confidence in reading and during our 15 minute board game period.
 
What I love the most about volunteering as an OT is seeing the excitement among the learners when they pick up a new book and being reminded of my own childhood memories of grabbing a book and not stopping until I finished reading it. I hope to continue working with Frontier College over the years to come and encouraging the love of reading and life-long learning within my community.
 
Kareena is a third year cell biology student at the University of Alberta and is fascinated by molecular biology research, which happens to be her major. Outside of classes and lab work, she spends a lot of my time at the Cross Cancer Institute and enjoys getting involved in different clubs on campus. One of the clubs she feels truly inspired by is Students for Literacy, which is associated with Frontier College.

Frontier College has afforded me the opportunity to develop relationships by working with kids one on one (which I love!) and have the flexibility to continue my education. Spending my time working within a supportive school and out in the community sharing my love of reading and learning is a lot more like fun and a lot less like work. I often say to people, "Can you believe I have a job reading and playing with kids all day?" 



#Faces of Frontier 

 

Hi, we are the program leaders for the Beacock Homework Club. Vasia is hoping to achieve her HBA whereas Lanqing is a third-year student pursuing a honors specialization in accounting and a minor in psychology. Beacock library is a program which helps kids (age 7-12) with their homework and also leads fun literacy games and activities. We are extremely excited to be a part of the program this year as we want to challenge ourselves in motivating younger students to appreciate the value of learning!

Volunteering at Frontier College is a real pleasure, bothe because of the rewarding work with students and the fantastic support we receive from all the staff. 

I am so grateful for the time I spent as a volunteer with Frontier College in Montreal. It was a fantastic opportunity to step out of my university campus and contribute directly to the Montreal community. One of the best aspects of volunteering with Frontier College was meeting other people passionate about building literacy skills in their community, including the fantastic Frontier College staff, volunteers, and community members. It was such a privilege to be part of an organization that values its volunteers so highly, provides opportunities for leadership, and makes a direct impact in the community it serves.

My time working for Frontier College opened my mind and my heart. Through the Aboriginal Summer Camp program and the Labourer-Teacher program, I had the privilege to meet and learn with Ojibway kids in Norther Ontario and Mexican migrant workers on a farm. I saw parts of the country that I’d never have glimpsed otherwise and I was inspired by the power of words and the tenacity of people to learn and grow. I never stop thinking about my time with FC and I don’t think I ever will. To 25 more years for FC Montreal!

My name is Joanne and I work at Frontier College. I'm also a tutor who works with a learner from the Independent Studies program. I am supporting her through her studies in preparation for taking the exam to become a Canadian citizen, which is a subject close to my heart since I'm also a Canadian immigrant. My time with my learner is some of the most rewarding of the week. We have struggles sometimes -- why is a Mountie not the same as a mountain? -- but we mostly have a lot of laughter and excitement over new things learned.

In my day-to-day role at Frontier College, I am part of the Communications team and I'm also the contact for alumni, which has introduced me to some interesting people with fascinating stories. It feels great to wake up in the morning and know that I work for an organization that works tirelessly to help people in Canada reach their full potential. There's (truly) never a dull moment and, with staff across the country, there's always someone to talk to or do something for... all with the end result of making learning more accessible for more people! 

I was fortunate to have reading be extremely valued in my family, with books being readily available at home and through the library, where we made frequent visits. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting on my dad's lap asking him about words in the newspaper or having my mum read me stories in the evening. The memory of her taking me shopping to buy Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar is something I'll always hold dear. That was in 1973 and I still have my original copy!

I'm always curious about what book got people started on their reading journey and I often ask new friends what their most beloved children's book is. I'd love to know yours!

"We are volunteers who have become OT members who have become counsellors for the Indigenous Summer Literacy Camps. We were fortunate enough to discover this organization through Concordia University. As students studying in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Frontier College has provided us with opportunities to gain real-life experiences and learn more about the literacy situation in Canada. We met while volunteering in a reading circle at a CPE. We have become the right arm of one an other! As much as we have become close friends, together we have been able to reach out to children/youth, parents and community members. Thank you Frontier College for offering such opportunities to get involved and spread wonderful resources to communities!" 

I started as a volunteer ESL teacher for adults. I had two adult students whose English 
was good but they wanted to improve it for better job opportunities.
 
One student was out of work for sometime and was looking to get in and the other student was a 
newcomer to Canada. His problem was not the English itself, in fact he had excellent grammar
but his pronunciation made it difficult to understand him. Using techniques I had learned in College 
I was able to guide him to the correct tongue and lips movement required to produce the English 
consonants and especially vowels. I found this extremely rewarding. He was an excellent student
and worked very hard. He was able to apply for his driver's licence soon after that. 
 
Also I enjoyed the classroom setting at Frontier College and the guidelines given by the coordinator 
of the program. Being able to design my lesson plans according to the needs of the students and seeing 
the difference it made in their lives gave me great joy.
 

We are not simply educating today’s children and youth for the careers of tomorrow. We are teaching them “how to grow physically, intellectually and spiritually.” Frontier College’s programs aim to build safe learning environments where relationships of trust and mentorship can grow between tutors and learners. - Julia Malone, Toronto

When I chose to volunteer with Frontier College I knew I wasn't just going to be standing at the front of a classroom lecturing to a group of children. I knew that I wasn't just going to be waiting for the children to come to me so that I could help them - an idea which so many tutoring organizations premise themselves upon. Frontier College, since its conception, has believed in providing education and educational resources where they are needed. These aspects encompass HOW Frontier College runs. The first Frontier College volunteers/employees were trained individuals who would work alongside loggers, miners and railway workers during the day, and would teach them how to read and write at night. Over one hundred years later and this standard largely remains - with our volunteers going into the communities where there is need. Frontier College's model is different from many other organizations that I've come across and it is a huge reason why I chose to volunteer with them. However, the main reason is because of their motto: "We believe education is a right". They believe and practice what they preach. I volunteer with Frontier College because I believe that education in Canada and abroad is a right and everyone should have access to it. I could work with other tutoring organizations and be paid for my time, but the experience wouldn't be the same. At Frontier College, we train volunteers to become leaders and we recognize that leadership is not about hierarchies but rather is centred on trust and communication. - Candace Gunn, Toronto

 

“Many kids home lives are difficult and it’s not their fault, but hopefully this camp will have them looking forward to school and camp.” – Counsellor, Beaver Lake
 

“I played mad libs at Accueil Francophone and the people there really enjoyed it! That was one my first times there when there was a lot of laughing, so it was memorable.  I enjoyed my time volunteering, and I think I'll keep volunteering depending on my exam schedule and summer job.”  – Volunteer @ LSS, Accueil & Flora House, MB
 

“Being a student with the University of Winnipeg I had not had the opportunity to have had spent many hours with kids in that type of environment. I have learnt from this experience how to become a proper volunteer and better educator. I will take all my skills I have learnt in the program and use it for my future knowledge. I enjoyed working with Frontier College very much and wish to continue in the future. I would recommend anyone looking to work with kids and adults in a literacy environment.”  – Volunteer @ Millennium Library and Flora House, MB
 

“I have been tutoring Ryan in math for two years now and I am very proud of him. He has passed his Grade 10 Math class after several failed attempts and his average for Grade 11 Math, including assignments, tests and quizzes, is 80%. A problem that he has is submitting work after the deadline, which has cost him some marks. He is an excellent boy and I enjoy working with him. It is nice to know that hard work pays off.” – Intesar Saeed, tutor to Ryan Trail, Gr. 11 student with multiple learning and developmental challenges, Fredericton, NB
 

“It is an amazing experience to tutor in Barkers Point Elementary School. I work with Mr. Rogers, who is quite experienced in education. Last Thursday, I was told by the vice principal that there is a quiet boy who doesn't like school and needs extra help. So I first watched him a few times while I was helping another child with writing.

After I saw Mr. Rogers assigned the class five words to copy, I quickly went up to him. Seeing him at a loss, I knelt down and greeted him with a smiling face. He became relaxed and I offered my help to him. I encouraged him to copy the word "snake". At first, he wrote the wrong symbol for "S", then I held his hand and taught him how to write "S". He made it quickly and I praised him. He got excited and tried another "S". He kept on trying and I taught him to write the letters "Y" and "T". He finished copying five words in a short time. I kept complimenting on him for his hard work. Then he was asked to read a book by himself. I asked him to read first, but he didn't know how to pronounce the words, so I read first and he followed me. I asked him to repeat what I read sentence by sentence. He learned to read little by little.

Sometimes he stopped and asked me questions about the sentence. I explained to him what was happening and he was excited to read on. With my help, he was ready to learn and he worked hard at learning. Seeing him smiling at me confidently, I was deeply touched. My help paid off.

While driving home, I kept thinking of him. As long as I continue to help him with writing and reading, he will catch up with the other children soon.
Working with children really makes me excited and feel my work is rewarding. Thank you for providing me with this chance to work with kids. I will keep on tutoring at Barkers Point Elementary School.” - Jianfang (Jennifer) Chen, Fredericton, NB
 

“Tutoring with Frontier College for me is more than numbers and words and helping children understand concepts; it has been a life changing experience.  My experience volunteering with Frontier College, a respected organization in the community I volunteer in, has allowed me to seek out new opportunities within that community.  It has allowed me to gain more responsibility, more volunteer opportunities and even paid work opportunities in the summer and throughout the year.  Without the initial step of first volunteering with Frontier College I would not have had dozens of other opportunities to grow as a leader and an individual. I value my role as a tutor with Frontier and could never repay back the invaluable gifts that it has given me.”  – Heidi Hoffman, OT, Halifax
 

“I just wanted to let you know I am really enjoying working with Jonathan. I am really seeing a difference in his reading ability and his interest in reading. Last night, for the first time, he really read with expression and confidence.

Most thrilling for me is that he’s shown interest in reading for pleasure – when we had first met he told me he didn’t have books at home and most of his reading was the reading of captions/storyline of video games.
After a couple of false starts, I started using Jeff Smith’s Bone graphic novel series for the reading sessions. Jonathan really took to it and would ask to keep going on with the book. We were on volume one when we realized that we were going to miss some sessions (for various reasons) – Jonathan actually asked to borrow the book so he could continue reading it on his own.  He had finished it by the time we worked together again. 
I’ve gotten number two for him to read at home, while we move towards slightly denser texts for Thursday tutoring.  He had finished it by the next week and was hoping for number 3.  It’s really, really great that he’s reading on his own. He recognizes that he doesn’t necessarily know all of the words, but he is enjoying the story all the same and getting into the habit of reading.”– Tammy Wohler, tutor, Halifax
 

“After one and a half years volunteering with Frontier College, I can full heartedly say that the experience has been one of the most rewarding I’ve had so far. My initial thoughts on Frontier College were that volunteering with them would only help and reward the students and children that I tutored. Therefore, I started tutoring with the linear idea that only the students benefited and I was just volunteering my time, perhaps similar to other volunteer-oriented organizations. I quickly realized that I was wrong.

From my involvement, Frontier College provides an equally rewarding experience for both the tutor and the student. I’ve been able to improve many vital life skills and develop new ones, which will help me become a better person in the community and going forward. As for the students, almost all attend tutoring sessions each and every week. It’s clear that as a volunteer, you are genuinely helping the educational well being of the student. I’ve been tutoring different students over the past year and a half and nothing feels better then when he or she tells me, “I actually like to read now”, or “Wow, math is kind of easy then!” For me, when I hear things like that I don’t even consider it volunteering. I just think of tutoring these kids as a fun activity that I’m gratefully honoured to be able to do. No other volunteering experience comes close to the reward you get from actively taking interest in the education of these students.

The students that come to the George Dixon center every week are an interesting crew. They range from five and six to 12 and 13 years old. Each student possesses unique learning tools and each possesses learning hurdles that present challenges. Although each student is different, they seem to, for the most part, share the common goal of wanting to learn. They want to learn and become better students. They want to be better at math or reading or writing or spelling. As a tutor, it’s easy to volunteer every week when I know the student wants to be there. When he or she wants to learn and benefits from what I say and do as a tutor, there is no better feeling. I cannot stress enough how rewarding my time has been with Frontier College.

To sum up my experience with Frontier College and tutoring the learners at the George Dixon, it has been one of the most rewarding undertakings I’ve ever done. I look forward to helping these kids each and every week and I’ll hopefully have a long relationship with Frontier College in the future.”–JC Kaiser, Halifax
 

From Laney:
I graduated in 2018 with my Registered Early Childhood Educators diploma and have been volunteering with Frontier College for over a year. It has been an amazing opportunity to be involved in my community with Frontier College. When I read about Frontier College's values towards learning and teaching in areas such as literacy, math and more I knew it would be a good fit for me. I struggled with these areas when I was young and I did not have a role model or a supportive environment until I was much older. But through my own experience, it sparked my passion about early years and learning. I have found this opportunity most valuable by teaching and learning alongside the children that attend the Frontier College programs. Fantastic relationships and learning happen when we are able to engage in a fun light atmosphere. Throughout my experience it has taught me to value those interactions where both parties are able to gain something valuable from them.

I look forward to continue volunteering with Frontier College and open to the new opportunities the future brings.