Unplugged Canada Partnership
A parent education and community engagement campaign built around a first-in-Western-Canada partnership with Unplugged Canada, designed to raise awareness of early smartphone exposure and drive measurable behaviour change.
The Challenge
Families are navigating growing pressure around children’s access to smartphones and social media, often without clear, trusted guidance on the developmental risks of early exposure. We saw an opportunity to lead proactive parent education in this space and create a campaign that would not only raise awareness, but encourage meaningful action.
The Work
One of several local news articles highlighting the partnership.
We initiated and launched a first-in-Western-Canada partnership with Unplugged Canada to support parent education across the Division on the risks of early smartphone and social media use for children. The campaign included a website landing page, social media graphics, short-form videos, monthly email communication, and promotion for expert-led parent education events.
We also tracked pledge participation by community to guide our outreach efforts. I led the initiative and helped shape how the partnership was introduced, promoted, and sustained over time.
Social media graphic used to announce the partnership
Monthly pledge progress featured in the Sturgeon Public Division Newsletter
Video outlining the harms of social media use in children.
Unplugged Canada landing page on the Sturgeon Public School Division website
The Outcome
The campaign generated strong parent engagement and measurable action in a relatively short period of time. Between June 2025 and April 2026, more than 300 parents, representing roughly 30% of Division families, signed a voluntary pledge to delay smartphone and social media use for their children. The work also created multiple opportunities for families to engage with the topic through ongoing communications, expert-led parent education events, and data-informed outreach.
Key Results: