What APGO Education Foundation does

APGO Education Foundation (APGOEF) is a Canadian registered charitable organization (CRA #84604 5052 RR0001) founded in December 2015 by Dr. Bill Pearson, the first president of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (now Professional Geoscientists Ontario). Operating from Toronto with six board directors plus three staff, the foundation exists to advance public understanding of geoscience in Ontario, support post-secondary geoscience students, and assist internationally trained geoscientists seeking P.Geo. registration in Canada.

The foundation's core product is GeoscienceINFO.com, a free public education platform launched in June 2017 that hosts interactive Ontario-focused geoscience content including GeoHikes (guided geological hiking tours), Urban GeoWalks (self-guided tours in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Sudbury, Kingston), GeoPaddles (water-based tours), GeoRoutes, GeoVideos, the Beneath Your Feet blog and podcast, and the regional Geoscience Hubs launched for the foundation's 10th anniversary. The foundation also publishes the Rocky the Raccoon children's book series (English and French) with an accompanying Grade 4 teacher's guide, and operates a scholarship program awarding two $5,000 scholarships annually to geoscience students entering fourth year at Ontario universities (APGOEF Scholarship and Dr. Robert Hodder Memorial Scholarship), plus a bursary program ($1,500–$5,000) supporting internationally trained geoscientists in completing P.Geo. registration requirements. Since 2016, the foundation has awarded 19 scholarships totaling $95,000.

APGOEF is funded through charitable donations processed via CanadaHelps (including cryptocurrency donations) and named sponsorships (William Pearson Family Fund, Dr. Arsalan Mohajer, Past Presidents PGO). It is governed by an independent board and operates separately from Professional Geoscientists Ontario, though PGO is a key content and channel partner. The foundation has built an extensive co-development network with seven Ontario universities (McMaster, Queen's, Western, Toronto, Carleton, Ottawa, Laurentian) and conservation organizations (Bruce Trail Conservancy, Niagara Geopark), and is publicly recognized through awards including the 2022 PGO Award of Merit (Dr. Carolyn Eyles) and the 2015 PDAC Distinguished Service Award (Dr. Bill Pearson).

Name

APGO Education Foundation

Legal name

APGO Education Foundation

Website

https://apgoef.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

APGO Education Foundation is a Toronto-based registered Canadian charity that delivers free public geoscience education through its GeoscienceINFO.com platform, GeoHikes, and Urban GeoWalks, plus scholarships and bursaries for Ontario geoscience students and internationally trained professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Geoscience Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Field Schools & Experiential Academic Programs (Archaeology, Ecology, etc.) (EDAIAIAG), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Mobility Grants & Short-Term Study/Travel Awards (EDAIAOAK)

Keywords

• Public geoscience education
• Geoscience scholarships
• Geoscience bursaries
• Ontario geological tours
• Earth science outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: APGOEF operates as a registered charitable organization (#84604 5052 RR0001) and accepts donations through CanadaHelps platform, including cryptocurrency donations. Donations are tax-deductible for Canadian donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The APGO Education Foundation is a registered Canadian charitable organization that advances public understanding of geoscience in Ontario through its free GeoscienceINFO.com digital platform featuring interactive GeoHikes, Urban GeoWalks, GeoPaddles, GeoRoutes, GeoVideos, blog, and podcast. It awards $5,000 scholarships to Ontario university geoscience students and $1,500–$5,000 bursaries to internationally trained geoscientists seeking P.Geo. registration, and publishes the Rocky the Raccoon children's book series for K-12 audiences.

Product overview

APGO Education Foundation operates as a unified educational platform centered around its flagship website GeoscienceINFO.com, which provides free public access to geoscience information focused on Ontario. The core product portfolio includes GeoHikes (hiking tours), Urban GeoWalks (urban geology tours), GeoPaddles (water-based tours), GeoRoutes (driving routes), GeoVideos (video content), and the Beneath Your Feet Blog and Podcast for ongoing geoscience education. The foundation also publishes children's educational materials including the Rocky the Raccoon book series available in English and French through its Kid's Zone. Financial support programs include geoscience scholarships ($5,000 awards for Ontario university students) and bursaries ($1,500-$5,000 for internationally trained geoscientists seeking P.Geo. registration). Recent expansion includes regional Geoscience Hubs and partnership-enabled educational tools like the Augmented Reality Sandbox grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GeoscienceINFO.com: Innovative website providing free, accessible, and accurate information on all aspects of geoscience, featuring GeoHikes, Urban GeoWalks, GeoPaddles, GeoRoutes, GeoVideos, GeoBlog and GeoPodcast.
• Beneath Your Feet: A Geoscience Blog

Products and services

• GeoscienceINFO.com Free, publicly accessible geoscience education website providing comprehensive content on Ontario geology with GeoRoutes, GeoHikes, Urban GeoWalks, GeoVideos, GeoBlog, GeoPodcast, and Geoscience Hubs.
• GeoHikes Virtual and physical geoscience hiking tours guiding users through geological sites along the Bruce Trail, Niagara Geopark, and other Ontario locations with interactive stops and geological information.
• Urban GeoWalks Self-guided urban geology tours that reveal the geological significance of building stones and landscape features in major Ontario urban centers.
• GeoPaddles Water-based geoscience paddling tours that explore geological features of Ontario's lakes and waterways.
• GeoRoutes Driving or walking routes to important geological locations throughout Ontario with interpretive information.
• Beneath Your Feet: A Geoscience Blog Regularly updated blog on GeoscienceINFO.com with articles on a wide range of geoscience topics featuring contributions from geoscience experts.
• Beneath Your Feet Podcast Geoscience podcast featuring interviews with geoscientists and experts on geoheritage and geoscience communication, distributed across major podcast platforms.
• Geoscience Hubs Regional geoscience content hubs on GeoscienceINFO.com aggregating comprehensive local geoscience content for specific Ontario regions.
• Rocky the Raccoon Explores the Niagara Escarpment Illustrated children's book series introducing young readers to geoscience through the adventures of Rocky the Raccoon; available in English and French with accompanying Grade 4 teacher's guide.
• Kid's Zone Dedicated child-friendly section on GeoscienceINFO.com featuring age-appropriate geoscience educational content including the Rocky the Raccoon digital book and teacher's guides.
• Geoscience Scholarships Annual financial awards of $5,000 each to two geoscience students entering their fourth year of a B.Sc. program at an Ontario university, including the APGO Education Foundation Scholarship and the Dr. Robert Hodder Memorial Scholarship.
• Geoscience Bursaries Financial awards ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 for internationally trained geoscientists to complete requirements for P.Geo. registration with Professional Geoscientists Ontario, including the PPE Exam Bursary, Past Presidents' Bursary, and Arsalan Mohajer Bursary.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 scholarships totaling $95,000 awarded since 2016 to geoscience students
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Global GeoparkmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2022MOU signed for collaboration on geopark development and geoscience education initiatives in the Niagara region.
• Mining MattersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2017MOU signed November 2017 for joint promotion of geoscience understanding and enhancement of Ontario Earth and space science curriculum resources.
• Miller Museum of Geology at Queen's UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2017APGOEF awarded $5,300 grant for installation of Permanent Augmented Reality Sandbox Display.
• Metcalfe Geoheritage Park CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2016APGOEF awarded $4,166 grant to develop QR code signage system at Canada's first municipal Geoheritage Park in Almonte, Ontario.
• Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGO is the self-regulatory organization governing professional geoscience practice in Ontario. Formerly known as Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO). PGO is an important partner and supporter of APGOEF, though APGOEF is governed by a separate independent board.
• Bruce Trail ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPGOEF partners with Bruce Trail Conservancy to present GeoHikes along the famous Bruce Trail, bringing geological and environmental information to hikers and nature enthusiasts.
• Niagara GeoparkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPGOEF partners with Niagara Geopark to develop GeoHikes in the Niagara region, highlighting over 500 million years of geological history with Niagara Falls as its beacon.
• McMaster University - School of Earth, Environment and SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with McMaster University for GeoHike development, research projects on Niagara Escarpment climate change implications, and augmented reality sandbox displays.
• Queen's University - Department of Geological Sciences and Geological EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Queen's University for GeoHike development including Charleston Lake and Bedford Mills, and installation of AR Sandbox at Miller Museum of Geology.
• Western University - Department of Earth SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Western University for Thames River GeoHike, Medway Valley and Komoka Provincial Park GeoHikes, Westminster Ponds GeoHike, and Urban GeoWalk development in London, Ontario.
• University of TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Urban GeoWalks in Toronto including Wilket Creek, Union Station to ROM, and Science Rendezvous event participation.
• PAIE (Professional Alternative Internship Experience)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), PAIE is an innovative bridge training program helping internationally-trained environmental professionals launch careers in Engineering, Geoscience, Environmental Science and Planning.
• William Pearson Family FundmajorOthersMajor sponsor of APGOEF through the William Pearson Family Fund.
• Dr. Arsalan Mohajer, P.Geo.majorOthersNamed sponsor of the Arsalan Mohajer Bursary ($5,000) supporting internationally trained geoscientists.
• Past Presidents PGOmajorOthersSponsor of the Past Presidents' Bursary ($2,500 to $5,000) supporting internationally trained geoscientists.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EdGEO: EdGEO is a Canadian program supporting Earth science teacher workshops and classroom resources. It overlaps directly with APGOEF's Kid's Zone, Grade 4 teacher's guide, and curriculum-aligned geoscience content.
• Canadian Geoscience Education Network (CGEN): CGEN is a national network of educators and organizations promoting public geoscience awareness across Canada. Both CGEN and APGOEF serve overlapping missions around K-12 and public geoscience education, making CGEN a natural national-level counterpart to APGOEF's Ontario-focused work.
• Canadian Geological Foundation: Canadian Geological Foundation is a national registered charity that funds geoscience education, outreach, and research. It is the closest national-level philanthropic counterpart to APGOEF's Ontario-focused charitable geoscience mission.
• Mining Matters: Mining Matters is a Canadian charitable organization focused on Earth science, mineral resources, and mining education for K-12 students and the public. APGOEF signed an MOU with Mining Matters in 2017 for joint promotion of geoscience understanding and Ontario curriculum resources, making them direct collaborators in the same niche.
• Science Rendezvous: Science Rendezvous is a Canadian public science festival where APGOEF actively participates with the University of Toronto. Both organizations aim to make STEM accessible to the public through free events, making them operational peers in public science outreach.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Ontario Museum (ROM): ROM is a major Toronto-based cultural and natural history institution with public Earth science exhibits and educational programming. APGOEF partners with the University of Toronto on Urban GeoWalks that connect to ROM (e.g., Union Station to ROM), sharing Toronto-based public education audiences.
• Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) / NRCan Earth Sciences: GSC is the federal agency for geoscience mapping, research, and public outreach in Canada. APGOEF draws on the same Ontario geological subject matter and complements GSC's mandate of public geoscience communication.
• Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC): PDAC is the leading national industry association for mineral exploration and development in Canada. APGOEF attends the PDAC Convention as an outreach channel and shares geoscience-promotion objectives; PDAC operates at a broader industry level rather than education-only.
• Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO): PGO is the self-regulatory body governing professional geoscience practice in Ontario. APGOEF is independently governed but explicitly aligned with PGO on scholarships, bursaries, and weekly Field Notes content — making PGO the closest institutional peer despite being a regulator rather than a foundation.

Regional players

• Earth Science Teachers' Association Ontario (ESTAO): ESTAO is an Ontario-based association supporting Earth science teachers with resources and professional development. It targets the same K-12 and educator audience as APGOEF's Kid's Zone and Grade 4 materials, operating regionally in Ontario.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/GeoscienceInfo
• Facebookfacebook.com/apgoedfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apgoedfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/geoscienceinfo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about APGO Education Foundation