Foundation W. Launches School of the Greats in Ottawa, Launching Its Educational Mentoring Model across Canada

School of the Greats expands into English-language education, connecting elementary school students with university mentors to support learning, confidence and equal opportunity

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 30, 2026 /CNW/ -- On October 3, Foundation W. is set to launch School of the Greats, an extracurricular educational mentoring program that brings together elementary school students from underserved communities with postsecondary student mentors for homework support and hands-on science enrichment.

Launching this fall in Ottawa in partnership with the University of Ottawa, School of the Greats marks Foundation W.'s first expansion of its flagship mentoring program into an English-language education system.

The program builds on more than a decade of experience with L'École des Grands, founded in Quebec in 2015 to help create more equitable opportunities for educational success. Since then, the French-language program has supported more than 5,000 participants across Quebec and Ontario.

"Every young person should have the opportunity to believe in their abilities and succeed in school, regardless of their circumstances," says Alisha Wissanji, founder of School of the Greats. "For more than a decade, we have seen what becomes possible when elementary school students are surrounded by mentors and meaningful learning opportunities. Bringing School of the Greats into English-language education marks an important step towards reaching young people across Canada."

Participating elementary school students in the Ottawa region will spend Saturday mornings at the University of Ottawa, learning alongside volunteer university student mentors. Each session will combine academic support with hands-on science enrichment activities designed to strengthen skills, confidence and curiosity.             

The program is designed to remove practical barriers to participation. Transportation and breakfast are provided, and the program is offered free of charge, helping make participation accessible to students and families.

"The University of Ottawa is proud to partner with Foundation W. to welcome School of the Greats to our community. Mentoring creates a meaningful connection between university students and young people, while giving our students the opportunity to put their commitment into action in support of educational success. We are pleased to contribute to an initiative that promotes equal opportunity and can have a tangible impact in the Ottawa community." – Julie Cafley, Vice-President, Francophonie and external and community relations             

By bringing younger students onto a university campus and connecting them with postsecondary mentors, the program creates a double impact. For elementary school students, participation supports academic learning while helping build confidence, resilience, aspirations and greater exposure to postsecondary education. For postsecondary mentors, the experience supports educational success while fostering leadership, social engagement, personal development and a stronger connection to their community.

An Educational Model Designed to Support Both Students and Mentors     

School of the Greats is built around a simple principle: young people succeed when they have the right support, meaningful relationships and opportunities to learn and grow.             

"One of the strengths of School of the Greats is that it addresses several dimensions of educational success at once," explains Wissanji. "The program helps build protective factors around young people that support their academic perseverance and resilience over time."

Research conducted on the program has demonstrated positive outcomes for both mentees and student mentors.  For elementary school students, participation supports academic learning, confidence, resilience and exposure to postsecondary education. For postsecondary mentors, the experience fosters educational success, leadership, social engagement and personal development.

Ottawa: The First Step in a Broader Canadian Expansion 

The launch in Ottawa represents a new chapter for Foundation W. and the beginning of a broader ambition to make its educational mentoring model accessible to communities across Canada. Over the next five years, School of the Greats plans to expand throughout the English-language education system, with the goal of reaching 1 million students by 2040.              

Rather than simply replicating the program from one community to another, Foundation W. works in collaboration with local educational institutions, schools and community partners to tailor its approach to each community. This allows School of the Greats to respond to local realities while preserving the core elements of the model.

For Foundation W., this expansion also advances a broader mission: helping to prevent and reduce poverty through education by giving more young people across Canada genuine opportunities to succeed.

About School of the Greats / L'École des Grands       

School of the Greats is Foundation W.'s flagship extracurricular mentoring program, focused on homework support and hands-on science enrichment. It supports the educational success of elementary school students from underserved communities, as well as that of their postsecondary student mentors. Founded in Quebec in 2015 as L'École des Grands, the program promotes equal opportunity by providing meaningful access to educational success. Through its activities, School of the Greats helps strengthen students' literacy, numeracy and science skills, while supporting postsecondary mentors' educational success, personal development and community engagement. Since its creation, the program has supported more than 5,000 participants in Quebec and Ontario and is now present in 71% of Quebec's administrative regions. In Quebec, School of the Greats is made possible in part through the financial support of the Quebec Ministry of Higher Education, the Quebec Ministry of Education, TD Bank Group, the Desjardins Foundation, and numerous private and corporate donors. For more information, visit www.schoolofthegreats.com or follow School of the Greats on LinkedIn.

SOURCE School of the Greats

Media contact: Maude Samson, [email protected]