About Us

The Barrie-Muskoka Dyslexia Learning Centres is part of a national program initiated and supported by the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada. The Centres have received generous support from Masonic Lodges, individual donors, corporate donors and is totally dependent on donor support.
​
The Learning Centre project started in Barrie on a cold and blustery night in December 2007.  It coincided at a time when many people thought we might actually be headed into a second Great Depression.  People hastily curtailed their spending and hoarded cash.  It was not a time to be starting a new non-profit social service in the community.  All that not-with-standing Doug Jagges, a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Barrie, persevered...and despite the economic odds against starting up a new enterprise, he went ahead a did it anyway.
​
He single-handedly put together committees, he recruited men and women to serve on the planning committee, he begged, borrowed, and cajoled...and in September 2009 his dream came true, with the official opening of the Scottish Rite Learning Centre for Dyslexic Children in Barrie!
​
In 2011, Doug Jagges was cited for his pioneering work in founding the Learning Centre.  By being named the recipient of the John Ross Matheson Award by Supreme Council of Scottish Rite.  Doug has passed away but his legacy continues with the support of our Directors.
​
During 2008-2009, Donald N. Campbell, serving as the Grand Secretary - General of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council and Active Member in the Valley of Barrie provided extensive guidance to the planning committee.  

In January 2015 we opened the first satellite in Muskoka to expand our reach and help more children.  This project was led by Don Coates and Ken Veitch.

At the Learning Centres, we help children with dyslexia learn to read. Children are tutored individually utilizing the Orton Gillingham Approach that accommodates their specific learning differences in a one-to-one setting. There is no cost to the child or family. The sessions are generally held after school hours.