The Kenora Catholic District School Board (KCDSB) is proud to be part of a growing regional movement to support youth mental health through Project 11, a classroom-based wellness program developed by the True North Youth Foundation.
The initiative was recently highlighted in the True North Youth Foundation feature story “
Winnipeg Jets Alumni & Friends, Triple P.L.A.Y. and Project 11 partner to provide mental health support for Kenora youth,” which showcases how Project 11 is making a difference in Kenora and surrounding communities. The article recognized the leadership and collaboration of local partners, including Triple P.L.A.Y. Kenora, the Winnipeg Jets Alumni & Friends, and KCDSB’s role in expanding mental health education and support for students across Northwestern Ontario.
An Intentional Start
KCDSB’s involvement with Project 11 began three years ago when Student Well-Being Coach Kellee Spendlow discovered the program through the Winnipeg Jets’ Hockey Talks initiative. Recognizing its alignment with the Board’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, the KCDSB team saw an opportunity to strengthen school-based mental health programming with a curriculum rooted in compassion, resilience, and prevention.
“We were intentional about starting small,” said Sue Devlin, KCDSB’s Mental Health Clinical Supervisor. “We began with a pilot group of educators to build internal capacity and ensure teachers felt supported and confident before implementation. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and teachers found the program easy to integrate, meaningful, and relevant to their students.”
This careful, step-by-step approach helped ensure the program could be introduced sustainably, creating a strong foundation for future growth.
Creating a Culture of Care
Through classroom participation, students have learned valuable skills to manage stress, build resilience, and understand that asking for help is a sign of strength.
“Students shared that they now understand it’s okay to ask for help and that they aren’t alone in their mental health experiences,” said Devlin. “That’s the heart of what we hoped to achieve, normalizing conversations around mental health and helping students develop lifelong coping strategies.”
Educators have also embraced the program, with many requesting additional training after seeing the positive effects on student engagement and emotional well-being.
“We’re seeing an increase in students experiencing stress and anxiety,” Devlin added. “By embedding trusted, evidence-informed mental health education into classrooms, we’re helping students develop the tools and language they need to manage their emotions in healthy ways.”
Momentum in Our Classrooms
The success of the pilot sparked genuine enthusiasm among staff, with more educators requesting to be trained and eager to bring Project 11 into their classrooms. Currently, two KCDSB schools are actively using the program, and that number is quickly growing as new training opportunities become available.
The program’s resources align with the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum, making it easy for educators to include lessons on wellness, empathy, and resilience into the school day.
“Our goal is to make Project 11 accessible to every educator who wishes to take part,” said Devlin. “We want mental health education to be part of daily learning, where every student feels seen, valued, and supported in mind, body, and spirit.”
Through this ongoing partnership with Project 11, the True North Youth Foundation, Triple P.L.A.Y. Kenora, and the Winnipeg Jets Alumni & Friends, the Kenora Catholic District School Board continues to foster a culture where wellness, compassion, and community connection are at the heart of student success.
Learn More
Read the full story on the True North Youth Foundation website:
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Winnipeg Jets Alumni & Friends, Triple P.L.A.Y. and Project 11 partner to provide mental health support for Kenora youth
