About Us

Mission

to empower children and youth to cultivate
healthy relationships through
community-based educational initiatives.

Vision

all children and youth are living,
learning, and playing
in safe and caring communities.

Started in 1998, The WITS Programs (formerly Rock Solid) Foundation is a Canadian charity dedicated to nonviolence in society, safe school and community environments for kids, and providing children with the tools to respond to negativity.

We train educators and community leaders in our whole-community approach to ending peer victimization and bullying. The award-winning WITS Programs started in Victoria and have since spread into elementary schools across Canada, into the USA, Brazil, and – most recently – Belgium.

Since 2019, WITS has brought the Pink Shirt Day messages of resilience and kindness to children and youth in a nationally-broadcast show held on the last Wednesday each February, on Canada’s Pink Shirt Day.

 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion staff training

Staff DEI Training

WITS Assembly at Lakewood Elementary

Team in Fall 2019

Team in Fall 2019

Elder discusses WITS at Kaleme Dene School

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WITS Lesson at Williamsburg Public School

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Team in 2021

2021 Staff meeting during Covid-19

WITS 2.0 new take-home card

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at the First Nations Educators conference

A recent WITS-Pick book

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I found the WITS Program to be an exceptional tool to help children to deal with peer victimization, and how important it is to treat each other with respect. I strongly encourage other schools to implement the WITS program on an annual basis.

Louie Scigliano
Principal, Glanford Middle School

Twenty-three years after the strategies were created, WITS was recognized as the leading program of its kind (Dalhousie 2016 report). There are now four Program components:

    • WITS for Kindergarten to grade 3,
    • WITS LEADS for grades 4 through 6 (or older)
    • DIRE for French Kindergarten to grade 3
    • MENTOR for French grades 4 though 6 (or older)

More than 200,000 children across Canada have been introduced to the program in every province and territory. Over 1,400 Canadian schools have started the WITS or DIRE programs and integrated it into their school culture.

The WITS Programs Foundation is a registered Canadian charity based in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Strategic Plan

Summarized as Explore, Brand, Expand, Strengthen, the board of directors of the WITS Programs Foundation has set these goals for 2024:

  • Explore opportunities to provide additional programming
  • Build brand awareness
  • Expand the WITS programs
  • Strengthen evidence-based decision making
adult woman holding books

Our Team

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Impact

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Our Story

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To learn more, contact us.

Contact Us

Certifications

Orders and supplies

1-855-858-8766
orders@witsprogram.ca

Other inquiries

1-855-858-8766
info@witsprogram.ca

Branch Addresses

398 Fraser Street
Victoria, BC V9A 6G5

25 Brookside Crossing
Huntsville, ON P1H 1C9

7849 Rue des Quatre-Vents
Laval, QC H7A 0J3

Charitable Registration and Business Number: 89138 2228 RR0001

© Copyright – WITS Programs Foundation