Case study
Our pilot program in North York
Our first four weeks at a North York residence. We're publishing the plan now and will add results once the program ends and our partner approves this page.
At a glance
- Partner
- A North York residence (named with permission)
- Format
- 4 weekly 1-hour sessions, then Tech Coffee Hour
- Group size
- Up to 16 residents
- Volunteers
- 7 to 10 trained students
The challenge
Skills that don't stick
Older adults don't lack digital-literacy classes. They lack classes where the skills are remembered. A one-off session teaches a skill, everyone goes home, and within weeks it's forgotten.
Without confidence on their devices, residents miss family video calls and photos, drift out of community life, and are the main targets of phishing texts and phone scams.
We will add what our partner's staff and residents tell us at the start of the program.
Our approach
Build the network, not just the skills
Week 1: Setup and buddies
Accessible settings on each resident's own device, and a practice buddy from day one.
Week 2: The circle grows
Youth volunteers join, pairs set personal goals, and a residents-only group chat opens.
Week 3: Shared defence
A scam-spotting game and the Pause and Check routine.
Week 4: Handoff
Certificates, a Digital Social, and resident champions launch Tech Coffee Hour.
Results
What we're measuring
Residents complete a short, anonymous survey before week 1 and after week 4. We report combined numbers only. Results appear here once the program is complete.
Partner feedback
Feedback from residents and staff will appear here, in their own words and with their permission, after the program ends.
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