Dear MindShare Community Leader,

With just 25 days to go until the 16th Canadian Educational Technology Leadership AI Summit, the excitement is building as we prepare to welcome you to Canada’s premier EdTech gathering, where innovation meets inspiration in an AI-driven world.

As educators, innovators, and changemakers across North America and beyond ramp up for back-to-school and the busy fall season, we’re thrilled to bring you this special edition of the Can/Am Report, curated to spark ideas, drive collaboration, and accelerate impact in your learning community.

This Week’s Highlights:

Our MindShareTV “Sneak Peek” Podcast Series continues with a stellar global lineup — featuring Kathy Hurley, Lisa Schmucki, and Michael Campbell — who share powerful insights on leadership, learning, and leveraging AI for good.

Plus, catch our new episodes with Peter Singh, Keith Krueger, and Cooper Sved as we explore balance, equity, and the future of learning.

In this issue, we spotlight:

• Remember Dr. Jane Goodall

• Elk Island Public Schools' C21 AI Dell Use Case on balancing curriculum development with professional judgment

• ChatGPT Study Mode as our 'AI Tool of the Month'

• Karen Hao’s investigative book on OpenAI

• The 2025 Blaschke Report on screen time

• And the State EdTech Trends Report from SETDA

• EdWeb.net Professional learning monthly Series
• Proud to partner with Media SMARTS on Media Literacy Week!

We’re also watching major developments in AI, digital wellness, game-based learning, and global partnerships reshaping both K-12 and post-secondary education.

To our valued Summit sponsors and partners, we’re incredibly grateful for your generous support. Your commitment to advancing innovation in Canadian and global education empowers us to bring together the brightest minds, boldest startups, and most impactful ideas at this year’s Canadian EdTech AI Summit.

We’re currently almost sold out, and this year’s program is shaping up to be our most dynamic yet. From the Cross-Canada Check-Up Panel with C21 and Dell Technologies to our International Closing Panel, you’ll hear how AI is transforming classrooms and systems at scale.

Let’s continue to lead with purpose, curiosity, and collaboration as we shape the future of learning together.

Until next time, keep the digital learning curve steep!

Best, R
Robert Martellacci, M.A. EdTech
Chair, 16th Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit
Founder & President, MindShare Learning Media & Consulting
Chief Digital Publisher, The MindShare Learning Report™
Founder, MindShare Workspace
CEO & Co-founder, C21 Canada

📍 mindsharelearning.ca
📧 robert@mindsharelearning.com
🐦 @MindShareLearn | @c21can | @mindsharework

Teachers play a crucial role in helping students build AI literacy, but they need more training, resources, and policy support to succeed. While AI can enhance learning, it also raises concerns around privacy, bias, academic integrity, and the potential decline of critical thinking skills. Preparing educators requires professional learning, foundational AI knowledge, ethical guidance, and collaborative spaces to design and share best practices. Strong investment in teacher preparation and support is essential to ensure students engage responsibly and equitably with AI in education.

The global game-based learning market is booming, reaching $21.3 billion in 2024 and projected to hit $80 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 15.05%. Growth is fueled by rising smartphone use, demand for personalized and interactive education, and the adoption of AR/VR technologies across schools, universities, and corporate training. North America leads the market due to strong EdTech infrastructure, while K-12 remains the largest segment, followed by higher education and expanding corporate training applications. With key players investing in gamification and immersive platforms, game-based learning is set to transform both education and workforce development worldwide.

Vedantu has raised $11 million through convertible notes led by ABC World Asia, with participation from Accel India and Omidyar Network, as part of a larger ongoing funding round. The Bengaluru-based edtech startup plans to use the funds to expand into new categories, strengthen its AI and technology investments, and pursue both organic and inorganic growth. The company, which serves over 200,000 paid students and operates 100+ hybrid centres, reported a 55% revenue increase in FY25 while cutting cash burn by 30% and turning profitable in early 2025. Vedantu is now in advanced talks with new investors for additional funding and is positioning itself for a potential IPO in 2027.

The University of Waterloo and Google have launched a $1 million partnership to establish the Google Chair in the Future of Work and Learning, led by Dr. Edith Law. The initiative, part of Waterloo’s Future of Work Institute, will support research and hands-on labs where students experiment with AI tools to explore how technology is reshaping education and career readiness. Google selected Waterloo for its strong co-op program, leading AI research, and alumni connections, with government leaders praising the collaboration as a boost to Ontario’s innovation economy. The first project, the Futures Lab, begins this month and will bring students, faculty, and Google mentors together to prototype AI-powered learning solutions.

The Weston Family Foundation has awarded $20 million to two major Canadian health research projects, each receiving $10 million in funding. At McGill University, Dr. Pedro Rosa-Neto’s team will use Canada’s first ultra-sensitive whole-body PET/CT scanner to develop next-generation biomarkers for Alzheimer’s, focusing on neuroinflammation to enable earlier diagnosis and personalized treatments. At the University of Alberta and University of Ottawa, Dr. Heather Armstrong and Dr. Alain Stintzi will create a precision nutrition tool that predicts individual responses to dietary carbohydrates, offering tailored dietary strategies to improve outcomes for people with inflammatory bowel disease. Both projects were selected for their bold, high-impact potential to transform healthcare and improve the well-being of Canadians.

The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) has secured $9.4 million in federal funding to expand its National Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) program over the next three years. The WIL Partnerships 3.0 initiative will create 8,000 new co-ops, internships, industry projects, and applied research opportunities while engaging 2,500 employers nationwide. The program focuses on strategic sectors such as clean tech, digital transformation, construction, and life sciences, strengthening Canada’s talent pipeline and ensuring students gain in-demand skills. By extending programming to 2028, BHER aims to build a stronger, more inclusive WIL ecosystem that connects employers, institutions, and learners across the country.

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