How Signal Hill Is Building Hope and Resilience Across Canada

Helping students discover their worth: “You matter. Your life has value. And you are worth fighting for.” The words printed on the inside cover of Signal Hill’s Gratitude Journal recently moved a young teen to tears. These simple sentences tucked inside thousands of backpacks distributed through Surrey’s City Dream Centre and Vancouver’s City Reach are doing more than fill pages. They’re speaking life into a generation that desperately needs to hear it.

Across Canada, and now in 128 countries, teachers are using free lesson plans from Signal Hill Life Education Society to help students strengthen mental health, develop resilience, and believe in their own worth.

A Movement Rooted in Hope

Signal Hill’s Kindergarten-to-Grade-12 curriculum covers topics from kindness and courage to leadership and self-worth. Younger students learn gratitude and empathy. Middle-schoolers explore belonging and confidence. High-school lessons dive into peer pressure, mental wellness, and decision-making. “For many teachers, these are the conversations they’ve been longing to have, but haven’t known how to start,” says Janice Nikkel, Executive Director of Signal Hill. “Our lessons open space for students to talk about what’s happening inside them –  to realize they’re not alone and that their life has worth.”

The lessons are trusted, ready-to-use, and easy to integrate into existing curriculum. They’re also accessible: K-8 resources are already available in French, and Spanish translations will be completed by year’s end.

Reaching Kids Who Need It Most

Signal Hill’s resources are finding homes far beyond classrooms and into youth centres, homeschooling families, and even correctional facilities. One youth mentor, Chad, who works with incarcerated teens, uses the lessons weekly. “We talk about choices, courage, and who we want to become,” he says. “These kids are used to being told what’s wrong with them. For once, they’re hearing that their lives still matter. It’s changing the atmosphere in the room.” Moments like these drive Signal Hill’s mission: ‘to remind young people, wherever they are, that they have value and a future worth fighting for’.

Partnerships That Multiply Impact

Locally, Signal Hill partners with organizations such as City Reach Care Society and City Dream Centre to distribute Gratitude Journals and value-based activity sheets through Back-to-School backpack campaigns. These small gifts have become bridges of hope – reminders that every child is seen and their life has purpose. “Every partnership opens a door to a child who might not otherwise hear that message,” says Nikkel. “It’s incredible what happens when community groups, teachers, and parents all pull together to help kids see their worth.”

Today, Signal Hill’s free classroom resources are being used by educators in every Canadian province and U.S. state. Teachers like Stephanie, from a Christian school north of Toronto, build on the lessons by incorporating stories of faith that beautifully reinforce the values and truths already at the heart of Signal Hill’s message.

A Free Concert for a Cause

This November, Signal Hill will host a free violin-and-piano concert featuring acclaimed musicians Calvin Dyck and Carmen Hollet – a night of stories, music, and hope. The Evening of Giving aims to celebrate the impact of Signal Hill’s work and invite the community to be part of it. “The concert isn’t just about raising money,” Nikkel explains. “It’s about raising awareness and joy as we head into Christmas. We want people to experience the hope we see every day in the classrooms and communities we serve.”

Admission is free, but guests will have the opportunity to contribute toward Signal Hill’s work – helping more schools and youth programs access these life-changing resources.
https://shorturl.at/bdPQ7 An Evening of Giving: Christmas Soirée

Looking Ahead

Signal Hill continues to grow its reach through translation, new partnerships, and innovative resource development. Every dollar raised goes directly toward producing and freely distributing classroom materials that help students recognize their worth and potential.

In a world where so many young people feel invisible, Signal Hill’s message rings clear: every person matters. “We can’t fix every crisis,” Nikkel says, “but we can remind every child that their life has value. When a child knows their worth, they grow in confidence – to serve, to lead, and to learn. And that truth can change everything.” To learn more about Signal Hill’s free educational resources or to support the upcoming concert, visit www.thesignalhill.com

Pictured in the photo above: Shannon Dyck (on left), Janice Nikkel (centre), and Ellie Bellicini (right)