Westmont Prize

Canadian research on intrinsic motivation reveals what parents of curious, engaged learners do differently. Practical strategies for Victoria families.

Fraser Institute rankings don’t tell you what matters. Canadian research reveals what actually makes elementary schools effective for children ages 5-11.

Still deciding on schools for September? Research on decision-making reveals why waiting rarely brings clarity. A framework for moving forward with confidence.

Most BC educators understand the curriculum’s intent and care about it deeply. The challenge is that the curriculum describes a particular kind of learning, and the conventional classroom is organized in ways that make that learning genuinely difficult to deliver.

Something happens to a lot of students between elementary school and high school. The research has a name for it. Parents have a feeling for it. And most students, if asked directly, could describe it pretty precisely — they just rarely get asked.

What’s actually happening, in many of these cases, is chronic under-challenge. And it’s not a child problem. It’s a structural one.

Here’s what Canadian developmental researchers actually say matters most for kindergarten success.

Discover why traditional grading systems harm motivation and learning, and how competency-based assessment supports genuine mastery and lifelong learning.

Discover why giving students genuine voice and agency improves engagement, achievement, and lifelong learning. Research-backed insights for Victoria families.

Discover why outdoor learning is essential for Canadian children’s development, backed by research on mental health, physical activity, and academic success.