Core Values

We choose to share our skills and nurture them in others by making what we know accessible and unintimidating. Although the devices and software we use can sometimes be flawed and unintuitive, we know that there is a wealth of information available to help us — and those we want to help.

There are seven tenets at the core of Connected Canadians’ mission. These tenets help us frame our interactions with clients and help guide us in our roles as Technology Mentors and other roles at Connected Canadians.

• We create safe spaces

  We believe that for people to feel comfortable enough to learn skills and retain knowledge, they must feel that they are in a safe space.

• We are allies, not experts

  For our learning environments to be effective, our clients must perceive us as allies. We strive to approach our clients as practiced and prepared Technology Mentors, but also as humble, gentle, and self-aware. We show them the benefits of learning in a safe environment by acknowledging gaps in our own knowledge and how research can empower us when we don’t have a ready answer.

• We are always learning

  We are always teaching, we are always learning — and not only about technology. Our clients teach us as much as we teach them, particularly in areas such as empathy, communication, understanding, and patience. We believe that every human interaction is meaningful.

• It’s all about connection

To help our clients connect with others, we genuinely connect to the clients ourselves. This means ensuring that our clients feel listened to, happier, and energized from our interaction, regardless of how many sessions they may need to address all knowledge gaps. Technology is the means, but human connection is the all-important end.

We look for ways to grow and improve respectfully

As a human organization, we can always find ways to improve our work and our processes. We encourage feedback from all team members because they are often our best resource for determining strengths and areas for improvement. We recognize that respectful and open communication is key to a healthy environment.

• We focus on human needs, not technological tools

  We focus first on human needs, not on particular technologies. We recognize that technology is ever-changing and that procedures for using devices can and do become outdated very quickly. As such, we tailor our communication to explaining concepts rather than procedural steps. We reference practical alternatives and encourage independence, in order to make it easier for clients to perform repeatable tasks under changing circumstances.

• Kindness is beautiful

Above all else, we believe that kindness is beautiful and knows no boundaries. The Connected Canadians mission reaches across many cultures, ages groups, and origins but it’s the human element that unites us all. Helping one another is a gift that brings joy to all involved and never fails to make us better people.