Our History
In 1996, The Junior League of Calgary researched and identified the need to support emerging readers - students in Grades 1 and 2 who experienced difficulty reading but did not require intensive, professional support. In collaboration with the Calgary Board of Education, a program was designed to recruit and train volunteers who could deliver consistent reading support in schools. Calgary Reads was the result, and was piloted in 1998.
Calgary Reads (An Early Literacy Initiative) Society became an independent community-based not for profit society in 2001 and was recognized as a Canada Revenue Agency registered charitable organization in 2002.
We began with 25 tutors working with 40 students. We now have 250+ tutors working with 450+ students in over 65 schools in Calgary and its surroundings communities.