Today, Lara sits down with Ali (Alison) Canning—Founder and Executive Director of Let’s Get Together, a women-led Canadian non-profit making education accessible by helping every person in Canada own a computer and closing the digital divide through reuse, repair, and refurbishment of donated tech. After growing up an introvert who struggled with focus and confidence, Ali found resilience through sports and coaching—fueling a lifelong passion for educational equity, youth leadership, and community partnerships. Over three decades, she’s supported thousands of students and families and partnered with post-secondary institutions across Ontario. She also serves as Chair of the Association of Career Educators (ACE) and champions solutions that keep tech out of landfills while getting reliable devices into learners’ hands.

In this episode, Ali makes “educational equity” practical for everyday family life—beyond buzzwords. We talk about building a real growth mindset at home (not just posters), letting youth take the lead while parents thoughtfully step back, and finding the supports (devices, skills, and community programs) that reduce stress and increase opportunity. She shares insights from her children’s story True North Friends, her collaboration with Seneca Polytechnic, and moving stories from families that remind her why this mission matters.

If navigating your teen’s education sometimes feels like a full-time job—juggling logins, devices, missing assignments, motivation dips, and budget reality—this conversation offers calm, clarity, and actionable next steps you can use right away.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• Educational equity at home: what it looks like when your child has the right tools, time, and support.

• Digital access without the waste: device reuse/repair/refurbishment that helps families and the planet.

• Real growth mindset: moving from “try harder” to “learn how” with concrete, repeatable strategies.

• Youth-led learning: why stepping back (with safety nets) builds confidence, agency, and problem-solving.

• Parent playbook: simple ways to advocate with schools and community partners—without burning bridges.

• Community power: how to find local programs, device banks, and volunteer networks that close gaps fast.

Meet our guest:

Ali (Alison) Canning is the Founder & Executive Director of Let’s Get Together, Chair of ACE, and a long-time community builder in the non-profit and education sectors. She partners with schools, post-secondary institutions, and families to promote digital equity, mental-health-informed supports, and youth leadership—diverting e-waste from landfills while getting technology into learners’ hands.

Quick wins parents can try this week:

• Access first, then expectations: secure a reliable device + a simple plan before piling on tasks.

• Growth-mindset micro-habits: swap “Try harder” for “What’s the next step?” and debrief wins weekly.

• Let youth lead (with rails): set small goals, timebox, and close with a 2-minute reflection.

• Tap community: ask your school or local orgs about refurbished device programs and workshops.

  
  

  Resources & links

• Let’s Get Together (LGT): https://www.letsgettogether.ca/

• LGT Core Crew (Ali’s bio): https://www.letsgettogether.ca/about-us/core-crew

• Seneca Polytechnic on True North Friends & growth mindset:
  https://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/news-and-events/seneca-news/seneca-research-supports-growth-mindset-in-education.html

• Education News Canada summary:
  https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/level/colleges/2/1128611/seneca-research-supports-growth-mindset-in-education.html

• LGT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsgettogether.ca/

• Ali Canning on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/alison-canning

  
  

  Stay connected!

• Parenting Ed-Ventures on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentingedventurespod/

• Tutor Teach: https://tutorteach.ca/