Founded as a charitable organization in Canada in 1988, Lions-Quest Canada is the largest provider of positive prevention programs in Canada and offers curricula and training to primary and secondary school educators and other adults in the areas of life skills/character education, violence prevention/anger management, and service learning. Through the 100 workshops conducted annually, the organization trains approximately 3,600 teachers and educators. It is estimated that these teachers work with approximately 120,000 young people each year. Since its inception, more than a million young people throughout Canada have benefited from Lions-Quest programs. To date, over 40,000 educators and other adults have participated in Lions-Quest workshops, representing about 40 percent of all kindergarten through grade eight students (young people under the age of 13 years) in schools across Canada. Parents, caregivers, and community members are actively involved in the learning experiences and as supporters of a common mission to develop healthy, capable young people of strong character. All provincial and territorial governments have authorized the use of the programs in schools.

Illustrative Programs

• Lions-Quest Skills for Growing and Skills for Adolescence help educators create a classroom environment that nurtures and enhances learning for 5 to14-year-old students. Through a series of thematic units, students develop positive behaviors such as self-discipline, good judgment, and responsibility. They practice skills and strategies to resolve conflicts; learning the importance of respecting others, and embracing a healthy, drug-free approach to life. Service learning is a key component of these programs as well.

• Lions-Quest conflict management programs help young people, ages 5 to 18, recognize that while conflict is inevitable it is our reaction and response to conflict that can change. Students are taught that there are many pathways to peace, and learn strategies to avoid anger escalating into violent behavior. Young people learn to recognize their anger signals, and find appropriate ways to respond. In addition, a focus is placed on our collective responsibility to live peaceful lives, including the roles and responsibilities of bystanders during physical or emotional bullying.

• Lions-Quest Skills for Action builds essential life and citizenship skills among teens and young adults by moving beyond the classroom and into school-based service learning. The program is rooted in the belief that young people are valuable resources who can take active and meaningful roles in addressing the issues that affect their lives, their communities, and their world. Young people learn about personal and social responsibility and their importance in communities. They take part in identifying needs to be served, develop an action plan to serve these needs, carry out the plan, reflect on this hands-on learning experience, and demonstrate what they learned to others.