Connected Canadians
Connected Canadians is a federally registered Ottawa-based charity that delivers free, volunteer-led technology training, one-on-one mentoring, and workshops to older adults across Canada, funded by donations, corporate sponsors, and government grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Connected Canadians does
Connected Canadians (legally Connected Canadians / Canadiens Branchés, BN 773974688RR0001) is a federally registered Canadian charity founded in January 2018 by Emily Jones Joanisse and Tas Damen. Headquartered at 78 George Street in Ottawa, the organization operates as a national digital inclusion charity that delivers free technology training and support to older adults across Canada. Its service model combines customized one-on-one mentoring sessions, instructor-led workshops (covering topics from basic device use to ChatGPT, online banking, accessibility, and digital end-of-life planning), social gaming sessions for remote social interaction, a curated online knowledge base, and the Connected Canadians Digital Connect mobile application. The organization has distributed over 1,000 devices with training to older Canadians in need, and operates across 50+ partner organizations including retirement residences, community groups, churches, healthcare providers (Perley Health, Bruyère, Baycrest, Montfort Hospital, Loch Lomond Villa, PAL Toronto), educational institutions (Carleton University co-op pipeline), and other nonprofits.
The underlying technology is a person-centered digital literacy delivery platform rather than a software product: a volunteer-staffed mentorship engine (40+ named technology mentors plus behind-the-scenes volunteers, supplemented by new-immigrant and service-industry mentor pipelines), a certified-mentor curriculum licensed to partner organizations, and an Alexa Smart Properties deployment capability delivered via the November 2022 partnership with Amazon Canada — making Connected Canadians the first Canadian solutions provider for Alexa in senior living properties. A new Cyber Safety Training Program with four tiers (Basics, Support & Prevention, Comprehensive, Hands-on Workshops) is launching in July 2025.
The business model is a nonprofit funding stack rather than a commercial revenue model. Individual seniors receive all services at no cost. Operating capital is assembled from individual donations (PayPal-powered, including the "We Can Help Your Mom" campaign), corporate sponsorships (multi-year packages with a downloadable sponsorship guide), organizational workshop sponsorship (retirement homes, community groups), federal grants via the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program, foundation grants (RBC funding Cyber Safety First Aid, Desjardins $20,000 in 2026, Ontario Community Foundation), and the annual Golden Gala charity event held at the Westin TwentyTwo in Ottawa. Commercial revenue flows indirectly through the Alexa Smart Properties enterprise deployment channel to senior-living operators and through the Certified Mentors training offered to partner organizations. The organization is privately held with no venture or private equity backing, governed by an independent board, and reports no publicly disclosed financials.
Connected Canadians firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Connected Canadians
- Legal name
- Connected Canadians / Canadiens Branchés
- Website
- https://connectedcanadians.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Connected Canadians is a federally registered Ottawa-based charity that delivers free, volunteer-led technology training, one-on-one mentoring, and workshops to older adults across Canada, funded by donations, corporate sponsors, and government grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Connected Canadians industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Senior Digital Literacy Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Assistive Technology & Accessible Digital Skills (EDAAAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK), Digital Access & Online Government Services for Immigrants (EDAAADAF)
Keywords
Where Connected Canadians is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Connected Canadians business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual Canadians donate to support the organization's free services for seniors. Donations can be made through the website via PayPal and are promoted through campaigns such as the 'We Can Help Your Mom' initiative.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporations sponsor workshops, programs, or the annual Golden Gala event. Sponsors receive recognition and benefits aligned with their contribution level. The organization offers a corporate sponsorship guide for interested companies.
- Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from government programs such as the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program, as well as foundations including RBC (Cyber Safety First Aid), Desjardins ($20,000 cyber safety funding in 2026), and the Ontario Community Foundation. Revenue from training programs is reinvested into free services for seniors.
- Workshop Sponsorship by Organizations: Retirement home administrators, community groups, churches, and caregivers can sponsor one or more digital literacy workshops. Sponsored workshops are free for individual seniors to attend.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free services for individual seniors |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Corporate sponsorship packages |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Connected Canadians product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Connected Canadians is a national digital inclusion charity that provides free technology training and support to older adults across Canada. Its offerings combine one-on-one remote mentorship, instructor-led digital literacy workshops, a Cyber Safety Training Program, device distribution, social gaming sessions, workplace volunteering, and a Certified Mentor training program for partner organizations, supplemented by an online Knowledge Base and the Connected Canadians Digital Connect mobile application.
Product overview
Connected Canadians / Canadiens Branchés is a national digital inclusion charity offering a suite of free technology training and support services for older adults. The organization operates a multi-channel service model combining: One-on-One Customized Training Sessions for personalized technology support; Digital Literacy Workshops covering topics from ChatGPT navigation to online banking and cyber safety; the Cyber Safety Training Program (launching July 2025) with foundational and first-aid modules; Device Programs distributing devices with training; Social Gaming Sessions for remote social interaction; Workplace Volunteering enabling corporate teams to mentor seniors; and a Volunteer and Staff Training program that certifies partner organization mentors. The Newcomer Mentorship Program recruits recent immigrants as technology mentors. An Online Knowledge Base provides self-service resources. All services are provided free of charge to individual seniors, with organizations able to sponsor workshops. The Connected Canadians Digital Connect mobile application supports service delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cyber Safety First Aid: Training program designed to empower older adults, community workers, and volunteers with knowledge and skills to stay safe online and support others at risk or affected by cybercrime.
- We Can Help Your Mom
- Connected Canadians Digital Connect
Products and services
- One-on-One Customized Training and Support Sessions Personalized individual technology training sessions in which client support specialists conduct needs assessments and work with seniors on short- and long-term digital learning goals, including FaceTime/Skype/Zoom, email, online banking, and device usage. Provided free of charge to individual seniors.
- Digital Literacy Workshops Instructor-led workshops for retirement communities, community groups, churches and caregivers, covering topics such as ChatGPT, online banking, government services, phishing scams, Zoom, digital documents, Google Maps, and accessibility-focused sessions. Workshops can hold 15 or more participants depending on format.
- Cyber Safety Training Program Comprehensive cybersecurity training program with four offerings: Cyber Safety Basics, Cyber Safety First Aid: Support & Prevention, Cyber Safety First Aid: Comprehensive, and Cyber Safety Workshops covering fraud prevention, identity theft protection, and social engineering awareness.
- Device Programs Device donation and distribution program that has helped distribute over 1,000 devices with training to older Canadians in need, including support for Alexa Smart Properties deployment in senior living properties.
- Social Gaming Sessions Remote social gaming sessions pairing volunteers with seniors to play Pictionary-style word games while connecting through video and audio chat for social interaction, typically 45 to 60 minutes in length.
- Workplace Volunteering Program Corporate volunteer program enabling employer-sponsored volunteers (e.g., from Adobe) to mentor seniors in technology at nearby retirement residences, with sessions typically 60 minutes to 4 hours in length.
- Connected Canadians Certified Mentors Training Program Training program that equips volunteers and staff of partner organizations with digital mentoring best practices and online security modules, including security assessment, practical assessment, and a Remote Mentor Training completion certificate.
- Newcomer Mentorship Program Program connecting new immigrants as technology mentors to support older adults with digital skills, providing Canadian work experience while fostering community connections.
- Online Resources / Knowledge Base Curated collection of FAQs, articles and videos developed with subject matter experts to help Canadians wherever they are located improve their digital literacy skills.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1000+ devices distributed with training to older Canadians in need
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Connected Canadians
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Connected Canadians technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Connected Canadians partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.
- Amazon CanadacoreConnected Canadians is Amazon Canada's first solutions provider for Alexa for senior living properties. Since November 2022, the organization deploys Alexa Smart Properties experiences in Canadian senior living communities, enabling residents to stay connected, informed, and entertained while improving care team productivity.
- Adobe CanadakeyKey organizational partner supporting Connected Canadians. Adobe volunteers have participated in workplace volunteering sessions with seniors at Perley Health.
- CapgeminikeyKey organizational partner supporting Connected Canadians' mission of digital inclusion for older adults.
- National Gallery of Canada (Musée des beaux-arts du Canada)keyKey organizational partner supporting Connected Canadians' digital literacy programs for seniors.
- BruyèrekeyBruyère is a key healthcare partner, hosting in-person technology workshops and volunteer sessions for seniors at Bruyère Village in Ottawa.
- Westin TwentyTwo (Venue)supportingPremium Ottawa venue hosting the annual Golden Gala charity event. The venue partnership provides the backdrop for the organization's flagship fundraising event.
- Carleton UniversitykeyAcademic partner hosting the annual TIM Showcase where Connected Canadians connects with students and alumni. Co-op students from Carleton join the organization. Emily Jones Joanisse is a professor and Director of the Sprott Social Impact Hub at Carleton.
- Perley HealthkeyPerley Health hosts workplace volunteering sessions with partners like Adobe, where volunteers support older adults with one-on-one technology assistance.
- Montfort HospitalkeyDr. John Joanisse serves as interim head of the Research Institute at Montfort Hospital. Montfort is a key partner in supporting seniors and the organization's mission.
- Deloitte CanadasupportingDeloitte is listed as a supporter partner, contributing to Connected Canadians' programs.
- Loch Lomond VillakeyLocated in Saint John, NB, Loch Lomond Villa is a partner with Connected Canadians Certified Mentors, providing digital literacy training to its residents.
- BaycrestkeyBaycrest is a partner organization with Connected Canadians Certified Mentors, providing digital literacy support to its senior clientele.
- MAX OttawasupportingMAX Ottawa partners with Connected Canadians, hosting digital literacy programs for seniors.
- BEING StudiosupportingBEING Studio in Ottawa is a partner organization with Connected Canadians Certified Mentors, supporting arts-based and inclusive digital literacy programming.
- United Way East OntariokeyUnited Way East Ontario is a key partner and funder. Emily Jones Joanisse is a member of the United Way Eastern Ontario Successful Aging Strategic Council.
- Families CanadasupportingFamilies Canada is a partner organization with Connected Canadians Certified Mentors, supporting family-oriented senior services.
- YMCA Greater Saint JohnsupportingYMCA in Greater Saint John, NB is a partner organization with Connected Canadians Certified Mentors, providing digital literacy programming.
- Top Sixty Over Sixty (T60)supportingHelen Hirsh Spence, founder of Top Sixty Over Sixty, serves as a strategic advisor to Connected Canadians. T60 focuses on retooling older adults with an entrepreneurial mindset.
- Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew CountysupportingDean Henderson, who works at the Dementia Society, serves on the Connected Canadians advisory board. The organizations collaborate on supporting seniors with dementia.
- Macadamian TechnologiessupportingFred Boulanger, President & CEO of Macadamian Technologies, serves on the Connected Canadians advisory board. Macadamian is a health-focused software consultancy.
- Giatec ScientificsupportingDobrila Rancic Moogk, VP Marketing at Giatec Scientific, serves on the Connected Canadians board of directors.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Connected Canadians competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Generations on Line: Non-profit that simplifies internet and device use for older adults through curated interfaces, training content, and partner channels (libraries, senior centers). Comparable in targeting digital literacy for seniors via intermediaries.
- Cyber-Seniors: Canadian non-profit founded around the same period offering free technology mentoring and training to older adults through intergenerational volunteers. Operates the same direct-peer matching model and is the closest mission-aligned, geography-aligned peer.
- Oasis Institute: US non-profit offering lifelong learning programs for adults 50+, including dedicated technology and digital literacy courses. Comparable beneficiary segment and educational delivery format, with a broader lifelong-learning remit.
- Senior Planet (powered by OATS): US-based Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) non-profit providing technology training, online courses, and in-person labs for older adults. Directly comparable in offering (digital skills classes, one-on-one support, cybersecurity content) and target persona (seniors 60+), though larger in scale and US-only.
- Senior Net: Long-standing non-profit providing computer and technology education to adults 50+ through volunteer-led classes, workshops, and online resources. Closely analogous delivery model and beneficiary profile, with similar reliance on volunteer instructors.
Broad incumbents
- AARP Foundation: Large US charitable arm of AARP that includes senior-focused digital skills and scam-prevention programming through its 'Senior Planet' and fraud-watch efforts. Operates as a much larger incumbent in the same digital-inclusion-for-seniors space, with deep policy influence and brand.
Others
- Public Library Digital Literacy Programs: Many Canadian and US public library systems (e.g., Toronto Public Library, Calgary Public Library) deliver free digital literacy programming and one-on-one tech help for seniors. They compete for the same beneficiary time and attention via a free, government-funded channel.
- Community Education Digital Literacy: Adult and community education providers (e.g., school-board continuing education, college continuing education departments) that offer low-cost or free computer and digital literacy courses targeting older adult learners as one of several segments.
Emerging players
- GetSetUp: Online learning platform purpose-built for older adults with live classes on tech, health, and lifestyle taught by peer educators. Competes for the same learner segment via a more scalable, for-profit SaaS model with employer and health plan distribution.
Regional players
- LinkAge (UK): UK charity focused on reducing social isolation and digital exclusion among older people through intergenerational programmes including tech training. Operates the comparable older-adult digital inclusion model but in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Connected Canadians social profiles
Digital presenceConnected Canadians compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Connected Canadians financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Connected Canadians leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Connected Canadians funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Connected Canadians M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Connected Canadians
What does Connected Canadians do?
Connected Canadians is a national digital inclusion charity that provides free technology training and support to older adults across Canada. Its offerings combine one-on-one remote mentorship, instructor-led digital literacy workshops, a Cyber Safety Training Program, device distribution, social gaming sessions, workplace volunteering, and a Certified Mentor training program for partner organizations, supplemented by an online Knowledge Base and the Connected Canadians Digital Connect mobile application.
Is Connected Canadians a public or private company?
Connected Canadians is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Connected Canadians founded?
Connected Canadians was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Connected Canadians based?
Connected Canadians is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Connected Canadians make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship, government and Foundation Grants and workshop Sponsorship by Organizations.
Who are Connected Canadians's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Generations on Line, Cyber-Seniors, Oasis Institute, Senior Planet (powered by OATS) and Senior Net. AARP Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are Public Library Digital Literacy Programs and Community Education Digital Literacy. GetSetUp is listed as an emerging player. LinkAge (UK) is listed as a regional player.
Does Connected Canadians have an API?
No public API is recorded for Connected Canadians.
What industry is Connected Canadians in?
Connected Canadians's product category is Senior Digital Literacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAIAK, Assistive Technology & Accessible Digital Skills, with a secondary code of BPAGALAK, Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.