Canadian students relate to their 'Tiny Teacher' on the green blanket.	"Roots of Empathy can teach the world to take care of peoples' feelings and thoughts. It really teaches people how to be more kind and how to stand up for others." - Grade 7 Student, Nova Scotia

Roots of Empathy began in 1996 as a pilot program reaching 150 children in the Toronto District School Board. As of 2011, every Canadian province is taking part in Roots of Empathy. To date, Roots of Empathy has reached more than 450,000 students across the country.

Our early supporters included the Atkinson Foundation, Lawson Foundation, Maytree Foundation, the Rotary Club of Toronto and the federal government's National Literacy Secretariat. In addition, the provincial governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, as well as the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and Merrill Lynch, have been major contributors.

The program is delivered in English and French, and in urban, rural, Aboriginal and remote communities. In 2011-2012, more than 58,000 children participated in the Roots of Empathy program across Canada.