Opening Learning Pathways in Northern and Remote Communities

Across the North, students in remote and fly-in communities often have limited access to the enrichment experiences that many young people take for granted. TakingITGlobal’s Connected North program is helping change that. With support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada Initiative, Connected North brings interactive virtual field trips, guest speakers, and hands-on learning directly into K–12 classrooms in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Canada.

Expanding Possibilities Through Virtual Learning

Connected North uses two-way video conferencing to bring the world into northern classrooms, offering sessions that range from science and art to language revitalization and cultural teachings. Teachers request sessions based on their curriculum needs, and Connected North’s team matches them with Indigenous role models, artists, scientists, museums, and post-secondary partners.

This approach gives students access to learning opportunities they might otherwise never experience, from carving soapstone with Inuit artists to exploring the night sky with the first Indigenous woman in Canada to earn a PhD in astrophysics. Each session is designed to spark curiosity, strengthen identity, and make learning feel relevant and exciting.

Meeting a Critical Need in Remote and Indigenous Schools

For many northern and remote communities, geography, infrastructure gaps, and staffing shortages create barriers to learning enrichment. Connected North addresses these challenges head-on by providing:

• Live, interactive learning, increasing engagement and attendance.
• Culturally affirming programming, with more than half of all sessions delivered by Indigenous presenters.
• Curriculum-aligned content, helping teachers bring new subjects, skills, and career pathways into the classroom.

Recent program results highlight the impact: students are more motivated to attend school, more curious about new subjects, and more confident in their cultural identity and future possibilities. Teachers consistently report that Connected North sessions re-energize classrooms and inspire students to dream bigger about their futures.

Strengthening Northern Learning with Support from the Rideau Hall Foundation

Through the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada Initiative, Connected North is expanding access to high-quality, culturally grounded virtual learning for northern and remote youth. Catapult funding helps support session delivery, teacher training, and content development, ensuring classrooms across the North can access live, interactive educational experiences all year long.

Beyond financial support, Catapult connects TakingITGlobal to a national network of organizations committed to equity in learning. Together, they are helping remove barriers to education and strengthening opportunities for students in communities that have historically been underserved.