Introduction

Did you know? The volunteer tutor program model has been thriving in Canada since the late 1800s.

In 1899, teacher and reverend Alfred Fitzpatrick founded Frontier College. He sent trained individuals to logging camps, mines and railway lines to work alongside learners during the day and then teach them basic literacy on their off time. (Retrieved from https://www.unitedforliteracy.ca/About/Our-Story)

Fast-forward more than 100 years and the Tutor Program remains a viable mode of delivery for the Community Adult Learning Program. This mode of delivery is well suited for:

• Small communities who work with a small number of learners with a wide range of needs that don’t easily group together for course-based or even learning activity modes of delivery.
  
  
• Reluctant or marginalized learners who are uneasy about returning to learning. Learners who carry shame or fear about their learning abilities require a learning environment that involves building trusting relationships, has a focus on assets and skills, highly personalized learning including accommodations and supports for barriers to learning.
  
  
• Building capacity in a program to offer a broader range of learning options. Once learners build confidence in themselves as learners (or until the numbers in the program grow large enough to start a learning activity or course) they can join together for shared learning in small groups or courses.