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History

Roots of Empathy began in Ontario with a pilot in Toronto in 1996.

Ontario became the first province to embrace Roots of Empathy programs for elementary school children and where we co-piloted the Seeds of Empathy program for children 3-5 years old in childcare centres.

Ontario is home to our international office as well as our Centre of Excellence school – a research laboratory where we test and pilot innovative practices. Visitors and media come from around the world to see excellence in action in Ontario schools.  A recent example is BBC World Hacks video which has had 24 million views worldwide, showcasing an Ontario Grade 4 classroom.

Impact

We deliver more programs and train more Instructors in Ontario than anywhere else, with strong support from 58 Ontario school boards – 76% of all boards in Ontario.

Consider these compelling statistics that underscore the connection between Roots of Empathy and positive mental health and wellbeing:

  • 85% of students: Reported that their Roots of Empathy baby helped them to understand that they have the right to be loved.
  • 92% of teachers: Agreed or strongly agreed that the Roots of Empathy program supported students’ mental health and wellbeing.
  • 93% of students: Reported that Roots of Empathy helped them to learn that everybody has feelings.

(Latest Ontario APE stats updated January 2024)

Ontario Children’s Art 

Grade 3 Student, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (2021)

I was feeling “scared because I thought that I was going to get it and die.”

“It became clear early in our virtual Roots of Empathy Recovery Program that children were hungry to talk about their fears. The basic fear of dying was shocking for Roots of Empathy Host Classroom Teachers to hear, but eight-year-old children like this little girl from Sault Ste. Marie do not have the context to understand statistics they hear in the media and don’t want to worry their parents. Discussions in their Roots of Empathy class validated their fears and allowed their classroom teacher, who was a participant in the program, to follow up and allay the child’s fears. No learning can take place in a context of fear and anxiety. Roots of Empathy freed up this Grade 3 student to learn and to realize that she was not alone with her fears.” – Founder/President Mary Gordon

Grade 1/2 Student, London, Ontario (2021)

I was feeling “sad and kinda happy at the same time I wanted to go back to school.”

Speech bubble: “But your going there soon I promise” “I just want to go to school”

“Children in primary classes generally feel excited about school. They don’t yet have the ability to understand what constitutes real risk. Through their Roots of Empathy program, they learned about their feelings and were able to cope with what we call ‘Double-Dip Feelings.’ This is the situation where children have contradictory feelings and are very confused by them. Through open discussion, it’s wonderful to witness children coming to terms with the ambiguity of life and feeling capable and competent to deal with contradictions.” – Founder/President Mary Gordon

Grade 3/4 Student, Hamilton, Ontario (2021)

To me, bullying means “making fun of someone, hurting someones feelings, excluding people, talking about someone behind there back.”

Speech Bubble: “Please give it back.” “Ha Ha Ha.”

“This student in a junior class has thought deeply about the ways that people can be bullied and how it makes them feel. Rather than sticking with the textbook discussion about what constitutes bullying, they have outlined with great clarity, the insidious ways that children are bullied, which often are invisible. This student understands the pain of exclusion, the viciousness of gossip, and the quiet suffering of hurt feelings.” – Founder/President Mary Gordon

What Ontario teachers and students say

“Roots of Empathy has allowed the children to learn about healthy growth and development. This program also allowed the students to recognize that we are all different and that we must appreciate one another's differences. The students were more sensitive to each other's feelings and circumstances. I found that they were more respectful of one another's ideas and opinions and supported one another. They were also advocating for the rights of themselves and their classmates.”

Grade 2/3 teacherPic Mobert First Nation

“I feel the children in our classroom are visibly more empathetic and have stronger emotional literacy skills...If a child is hurt or needs help on the playground, you will see a handful of my students surround the child and acknowledge, assist, problem solve, and/or seek an adult's help...It makes me proud to be their educator.”

Early Childhood Educator, KindergartenWinona, ON

“Children are often noticed hugging each other and showing concerns when they see their friend is not happy!”

Seeds of Empathy Literacy CoachCaledon, ON

“The Roots of Empathy program can teach the world "what it means to be empathetic and to put yourself in others' shoes. It also teaches the world that to make good choices you must take care of others' feelings, you must understand others' feelings, and, most of all, you must know when to say certain words. I know all this from the program. And it made me a better person.”

Grade 5 studentRichmond Hill, ON

“97% of teachers feel that the Roots of Empathy program supports the school’s curriculum.”

“91% of teachers strongly agreed or agreed that as a result of Roots of Empathy, students are more able to understand other people’s points of view.”

“92% of students reported that if they saw a friend being bullied or treated meanly, they would help them.”

To learn more about our Ontario programming, contact: 

 

Allison Wesley

awesley@rootsofempathy.org

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