Roots of Empathy was founded to break intergenerational cycles of violence. See our Founder explain at a HundrED event.
Independent research has found that children in the Roots of Empathy program experience:
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Alberta - Roots of Empathy
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- An increase in prosocial behaviours (E.g., sharing, helping, and including)
- An increase in empathy
- A decrease in aggressive behaviours, including bullying
What can Roots of Empathy teach the world?
“Roots of Empathy can teach the world to love one another.”
– Grade 1 Student, Medicine Hat
Consider these compelling statistics that underscore the connection between Roots of Empathy and positive mental health and wellbeing:
- 86.5% of students reported that if they saw a student or friend being bullied or treated meanly, they would help them.
- 97.7% of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that the Roots of Empathy program supported students’ mental health and wellbeing.
- 100% of parents strongly agreed or agreed that seeing the children interact with their baby gave them more hope for the next generation of citizens.
(Latest Alberta APE stats updated December 2025)
Alberta Children’s Art
Grade 2 Student, Beaumont, Alberta
“How to be kind to others.”
Speech bubbles: “Do you want to play?” “Okay”
“When children are collectively exposed to social responsibility, it changes not just how they see things but also how they behave. Being able to observe that a classmate is sad and being socially responsible in helping is how we build a civil society.” – Founder/President Mary Gordon
Grade 2 Student, Vermilion, Alberta
What can Roots of Empathy teach the world? “It can teach the people how to be nice.”
Speech Bubble: “You got to stop”; “you stop”; “stop it”; “stop”; “yes”; ”no”.
“It is in childhood that children realize how to navigate relationships. Family violence doesn’t happen overnight. When children develop an understanding of how their actions affect the feelings of others, they have an opportunity to decide how to live their lives. We have stories from Canada and other countries of children explaining that they don’t want to do what their dad does, which is to hurt their mom and frighten the kids. Empathy allows children to not only understand how others feel, but to feel with them and this is transformational and lasts over time.” – Founder/President Mary Gordon
Grade 2 Student, Beaumont, Alberta
What can Roots of Empathy teach the world? “Caring for others.”
Speech Bubble: “Are you okay?”
“As children develop emotional literacy in the Roots of Empathy program, they learn more than the names of their feelings. They learn that they are not alone with their feelings and that connection through shared feelings is the answer to having relationships which contribute to a happy, and productive life.” – Founder/President Mary Gordon
Grade 2 Student, Beaumont, Alberta
“How to be kind to others.”
Speech bubbles: “Do you want to play?” “Okay”
“When children are collectively exposed to social responsibility, it changes not just how they see things but also how they behave. Being able to observe that a classmate is sad and being socially responsible in helping is how we build a civil society.” – Founder/President Mary Gordon
What Alberta teachers and students say
“Students were accepting of the emotions seen in their peers and would try to understand where they were coming from. Hardly any fights in my class this year! It's a powerful way to teach empathy! Children are very “me-centered” and this allows them to look past themselves and gain some perspective on others. Create a more understanding community.”
Grade 3 teacherBlackfalds
“Everyone needs to be loved to be able to grow. Everyone has feelings that can get hurt and they need to be treated fairly.”
Grade 7 StudentCardston
“This has been one of the best programs I have seen brought into a school in a very long time. I believe that the education students now have about caring for babies/others will be remembered and will impact their future interactions with other children. I believe that if any of them ever witness a baby being mistreated or improperly cared for, that they will step up and do the right thing. This could very likely save a child's life at some point in the future.”
Grade 4 teacherLangdon
To learn more about our Alberta programming, contact:
Sibylle Marquardt
smarquardt@rootsofempathy.org
© Roots of Empathy. Roots of Empathy Canada Charitable No. 89643 4818 RR0001. Roots of Empathy USA is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN# 981017743) Roots of Empathy New Zealand registered charity number: CC54266.