Frontier College
Encyclopedia
Frontier College is a Canadian literacy
organization
established in 1899 by Alfred Fitzpatrick
. Founded as the Reading Camp Association, Frontier College aims to combat illiteracy in Canada by providing non-formal education to those that seek assistance with their learning and have been overlooked or left behind by the formal educational system. To this end, Frontier College runs myriad English-language and French-language literacy programs for children, youth and adults in many places across Canada such as community centers, shelters, farms and prisons. It was renamed Frontier College in 1919
Since 1986, its national headquarters has been located at Gzowski House (named for the celebrated Canadian journalist, the late Peter Gzowski
) in Toronto, Ontario.
Frontier College has a hierarchical organizational structure that is centered around its national office in Toronto. It has strong, widespread presence in Ontario and Quebec, and also maintains staff that operate regional and provincial offices in other parts of Canada. It also maintains a large volunteer base through its network of Frontier College campus programs located at many universities across Canada, which recruits university students to volunteer as tutors in its programs.
in northern Ontario was dotted with isolated lumber camps that were cut off from larger society. Alfred Fitzpatrick
, a 37 year old Nova Scotian, who was then a young minister of a Presbyterian Church at Nairn Centre (located west of Sudbury, Ontario
), saw that many of the young men - who were largely new immigrants - that worked at these camps were denied the benefits of culture, education and enlightenment. Influenced by the notions of the Social Gospel
movement and the teachings of Professor George Grant at his alma mater (Queen's University
), Fitzpatrick recognized that these men deserved "not charity but social justice." His prescription was straightforward: after securing the goodwill of the lumber magnates, he would go about from lumber camp to lumber camp, and in each he would erect large tents called "Reading Tents." Each tent was then outfitted with books and stationed by Labourer-Teachers who were university students recruited to volunteer at the tents to teach the workers to read and write. Outside each tent was a sign that said "Reading Tent. All Welcome." Thus, the Reading Tent Association was born. It was later renamed Frontier College.
Over the years, with the changing face of Canada and the nature of its society and industries, Frontier College too adapted its programs in order to meet the learning needs of Canadians everywhere. In 1932, Frontier College began serving in British Columbia 'relief camps'. The range of its programs grew from serving labourers in isolated logging and mining camps or rail gangs, to assisting all constituents of Canadian society from adults working in factories and workshops, to children from low-income families needing help with their homework, street-involved youth who are determined to overcome their circumstances, and Native learners and communities.
) in organizing its tutoring programs. This approach places the student or learner at the center of the tutor-student/learner relationship where the learner, instead of the tutor/teacher, determines the goals or objectives that are to be achieved. In turn, the challenge is for the tutor/teacher to locate, organize or create and present learning material that is relevant to the student's/learner's goals, interests and experience. This relationship helps ensures that both learner and tutor are responsible partners in the learning-tutoring process.
Founder Alfred Fitzpatrick
captured the spirit of Frontier College with the following words:
"Whenever and wherever people shall have the occasion to congregate, then and there shall be the time, place and means of their education."
With the Labourer-Teacher program firmly established, Frontier College Labourer-Teachers went on to work in pioneer settlements in Northern Ontario and relief camps during the 1930s. Labourer-Teachers helped construct the Alaska Highway
during World War II and played a role in the technological transfer within Canada's workforce during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. More recently, Frontier College has sent Labourer-Teachers to work in penitentiaries and farming communities. Presently, Frontier College Labourer-Teachers work mainly with migrant workers from Mexico and the Caribbean that work on farms located in Southwestern Ontario.
Famous Frontier College Labourer-Teachers:
Frontier College began working with Aboriginal communities in the 1960s, starting with a "community education" program for the Inuit
community in Frobisher Bay (now Iqaluit). In 2006, it began managing and operating the Aboriginal Summer Literacy Camps, one of four literacy initiatives spearheaded by The Hon. James Bartleman, the 27th Lieutenant Governor
of Ontario, to support the development of literacy skills among First Nations children and youth living on isolated, fly-in only reserves in Northern Ontario. A total of 36 camps were organized that year in 28 First Nations
in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation
and Grand Council of Treaty 3
territories. In 2007, it began a partnership with the Métis Nation of Ontario
, and in 2008, extended the Aboriginal Summer Literacy Camps to other communities in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.
"Whereas in 1899 Pictou County native, Alfred Fitzpatrick, overcame discouragement from government and business to establish the Canadian Reading Camps Association; and
Whereas under Alfred Fitzpatrick's leadership, this organization grew into what is today known as Frontier College, Canada's oldest adult education institution; and Whereas in its century of operation, Frontier College has helped educate countless thousands of Canadians in railway camps, lumber woods, city streets and Aboriginal communities; Therefore be it resolved that members of this House recognize the contribution made to education and adult literacy by Alfred Fitzpatrick - one of the great Canadians born and raised in Nova Scotia."
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
organization
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
established in 1899 by Alfred Fitzpatrick
Alfred Fitzpatrick
Alfred Fitzpatrick was born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia in 1862. He attended Pictou Academy. He founded Frontier College in 1899, the oldest adult education institution in Canada.-Career:...
. Founded as the Reading Camp Association, Frontier College aims to combat illiteracy in Canada by providing non-formal education to those that seek assistance with their learning and have been overlooked or left behind by the formal educational system. To this end, Frontier College runs myriad English-language and French-language literacy programs for children, youth and adults in many places across Canada such as community centers, shelters, farms and prisons. It was renamed Frontier College in 1919
Peter Gzowski
Peter Gzowski, was a Canadian broadcaster, writer and reporter, most famous for his work on the CBC radio show Morningside. His first biographer argued that Gzowski's contribution to Canadian media must be considered in the context of efforts by a generation of Canadian nationalists to understand...
) in Toronto, Ontario.
Frontier College has a hierarchical organizational structure that is centered around its national office in Toronto. It has strong, widespread presence in Ontario and Quebec, and also maintains staff that operate regional and provincial offices in other parts of Canada. It also maintains a large volunteer base through its network of Frontier College campus programs located at many universities across Canada, which recruits university students to volunteer as tutors in its programs.
History
In 1899, the Canadian ShieldCanadian Shield
The Canadian Shield, also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien , is a vast geological shield covered by a thin layer of soil that forms the nucleus of the North American or Laurentia craton. It is an area mostly composed of igneous rock which relates to its long volcanic history...
in northern Ontario was dotted with isolated lumber camps that were cut off from larger society. Alfred Fitzpatrick
Alfred Fitzpatrick
Alfred Fitzpatrick was born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia in 1862. He attended Pictou Academy. He founded Frontier College in 1899, the oldest adult education institution in Canada.-Career:...
, a 37 year old Nova Scotian, who was then a young minister of a Presbyterian Church at Nairn Centre (located west of Sudbury, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
), saw that many of the young men - who were largely new immigrants - that worked at these camps were denied the benefits of culture, education and enlightenment. Influenced by the notions of the Social Gospel
Social Gospel
The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the early 20th century United States and Canada...
movement and the teachings of Professor George Grant at his alma mater (Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
), Fitzpatrick recognized that these men deserved "not charity but social justice." His prescription was straightforward: after securing the goodwill of the lumber magnates, he would go about from lumber camp to lumber camp, and in each he would erect large tents called "Reading Tents." Each tent was then outfitted with books and stationed by Labourer-Teachers who were university students recruited to volunteer at the tents to teach the workers to read and write. Outside each tent was a sign that said "Reading Tent. All Welcome." Thus, the Reading Tent Association was born. It was later renamed Frontier College.
Over the years, with the changing face of Canada and the nature of its society and industries, Frontier College too adapted its programs in order to meet the learning needs of Canadians everywhere. In 1932, Frontier College began serving in British Columbia 'relief camps'. The range of its programs grew from serving labourers in isolated logging and mining camps or rail gangs, to assisting all constituents of Canadian society from adults working in factories and workshops, to children from low-income families needing help with their homework, street-involved youth who are determined to overcome their circumstances, and Native learners and communities.
Educational Philosophy
True to its founding belief in universal rights to learning and education, Frontier College adheres to the principle of S.C.I.L. or Student-Centered Invidualized Learning (also known as Student-centred learningStudent-centred learning
Student-centred learning is an approach to education focusing on the needs of the students, rather than those of others involved in the educational process, such as teachers and administrators...
) in organizing its tutoring programs. This approach places the student or learner at the center of the tutor-student/learner relationship where the learner, instead of the tutor/teacher, determines the goals or objectives that are to be achieved. In turn, the challenge is for the tutor/teacher to locate, organize or create and present learning material that is relevant to the student's/learner's goals, interests and experience. This relationship helps ensures that both learner and tutor are responsible partners in the learning-tutoring process.
Labourer-Teachers
The Labourer-Teacher program is Frontier College's historical program. It began in 1902 and aimed to extend the rights to learning and education to labourers working in Canada's early mines, rail gangs and lumber camps, where the need was felt most sharply. Early Labourer-Teachers were mostly young men recruited from universities in Canada, who took up the challenge to work alongside the labourers by day and then teaching them to read and write at night.Founder Alfred Fitzpatrick
Alfred Fitzpatrick
Alfred Fitzpatrick was born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia in 1862. He attended Pictou Academy. He founded Frontier College in 1899, the oldest adult education institution in Canada.-Career:...
captured the spirit of Frontier College with the following words:
"Whenever and wherever people shall have the occasion to congregate, then and there shall be the time, place and means of their education."
Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon...
during World War II and played a role in the technological transfer within Canada's workforce during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. More recently, Frontier College has sent Labourer-Teachers to work in penitentiaries and farming communities. Presently, Frontier College Labourer-Teachers work mainly with migrant workers from Mexico and the Caribbean that work on farms located in Southwestern Ontario.
Famous Frontier College Labourer-Teachers:
- The Hon.Roy McMurtryRoy McMurtryRoland "Roy" McMurtry, OC, OOnt is a judge and former politician in Ontario, Canada and the current Chancellor of York University.-Early life:McMurtry was born in Toronto and educated at St. Andrew's College, graduating in 1950...
, retired Chief Justice of Ontario - Dr. Norman BethuneNorman BethuneHenry Norman Bethune was a Canadian physician and medical innovator. Bethune is best known for his service in war time medical units during the Spanish Civil War and with the Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
, physician, medical innovator, humanitarian - Dr. Margaret Strang, first female Labourer-Teacher
- Escott ReidEscott ReidEscott Graves Meredith Reid, CC , was a Canadian diplomat who helped shape the UN & NATO, author, international public servant and academic administrator....
, Canadian diplomat, author - The Hon. David PetersonDavid PetersonDavid Robert Peterson, PC, O.Ont was the 20th Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada, from June 26, 1985 to October 1, 1990. He was the first Liberal premier of Ontario in 42 years....
, 20th premier of Ontario - The Hon. David KilgourDavid KilgourDavid Kilgour, PC is a former Canadian politician.Kilgour graduated from the University of Manitoba in economics in 1962 and the University of Toronto law school in 1966. From crown attorney in northern Alberta to Canadian Cabinet minister, Kilgour ended his 27 year tenure in the Canadian House of...
, former federal cabinet minister - The Hon. Svend RobinsonSvend RobinsonSvend Robinson is a former Canadian politician. He was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 2004, representing the suburban Vancouver-area constituency of Burnaby for the New Democratic Party...
, former Member of Parliament
Aboriginal Communities
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
community in Frobisher Bay (now Iqaluit). In 2006, it began managing and operating the Aboriginal Summer Literacy Camps, one of four literacy initiatives spearheaded by The Hon. James Bartleman, the 27th Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of Ontario, to support the development of literacy skills among First Nations children and youth living on isolated, fly-in only reserves in Northern Ontario. A total of 36 camps were organized that year in 28 First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political organization representing 49 First Nation communities across Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 areas of northern Ontario, Canada...
and Grand Council of Treaty 3
Grand Council of Treaty 3
Grand Council of Treaty 3 is a political organization representing 24 First Nation communities across Treaty 3 areas of northern Ontario and southeastern Manitoba, Canada, and additional 4 First Nations in specific regards to their Treaty rights....
territories. In 2007, it began a partnership with the Métis Nation of Ontario
Métis Nation of Ontario
Métis Nation of Ontario is an aboriginal organization for the Métis population in Ontario.It is affiliated with the Métis National Council.-External links:*...
, and in 2008, extended the Aboriginal Summer Literacy Camps to other communities in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.
Awards
- The Companion of Frontier College honours the contributions of an individual.
- The Fitzpatrick Award, which honours the contribution to the cause of literacy by a group, organization, corporation, agency or family was named after the founder, Alfred FitzpatrickAlfred FitzpatrickAlfred Fitzpatrick was born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia in 1862. He attended Pictou Academy. He founded Frontier College in 1899, the oldest adult education institution in Canada.-Career:...
.
Honours
- Hon John HammJohn HammJohn Frederick Hamm, is a Canadian physician and politician and was the 25th Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada.Hamm, a graduate of the University of King's College and Dalhousie University, was a family doctor in his hometown of Stellarton, Nova Scotia, and the president of the Nova Scotia Medical...
, the Premier of Nova Scotia moved the adoption of the following resolution:
"Whereas in 1899 Pictou County native, Alfred Fitzpatrick, overcame discouragement from government and business to establish the Canadian Reading Camps Association; and
Whereas under Alfred Fitzpatrick's leadership, this organization grew into what is today known as Frontier College, Canada's oldest adult education institution; and Whereas in its century of operation, Frontier College has helped educate countless thousands of Canadians in railway camps, lumber woods, city streets and Aboriginal communities; Therefore be it resolved that members of this House recognize the contribution made to education and adult literacy by Alfred Fitzpatrick - one of the great Canadians born and raised in Nova Scotia."
- UNESCO recognized the Frontier College's work internationally by awarding it the 1977 Literacy Prize (also known as The Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Prize) for its "meritorious work in the field of adult education."
Further reading
- Alfred Fitzpatrick "The University in Overalls: A Plea for Part-Time Study" Thompson Educational Publishing, English, 1920 reprinted in 1999
- Alfred Fitzpatrick "The Handbook for New Canadians" to help new immigrants understand the culture and traditions of Canada.
- Larry Krotz with Erica Martin and Philip Fernandez. Frontier College Letters: One Hundred Years of Teaching, Learning and Nation Building. (Toronto: Frontier College Press) ISBN 0-921031-28-9
- James H. Morrison. "Camps & Classrooms: A Pictorial History of Frontier College". (Toronto: Frontier College Press, 1989). ISBN 0-921031-06-8
- James H. Morrison "From Alfred Fitzpatrick: Founder of Frontier College" Four East Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-920427-45-6
- Perry, Joseph Adam. "Beyond the Bunkhouse: Exploring the Learning of Frontier College Volunteer Labourer-Teachers." Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE/UT), 2008.
External links
- Frontier College
- Frontier College Heritage Minute
- Frontier College Foundation
- Interview with Peter Gzowski (CBC Digital Archives)
- Frontier College Foundation Awards