In our modern world, privacy policies have become a ubiquitous part of our online experience. However, as Claudiu Popa, the founder of KnowledgeFlow, notes, these policies are often written in a way that is intentionally confusing and filled with legal jargon. As a result, many consumers simply skim over them, unaware of the implications of their personal information being collected and used by the companies they interact with.
Join Claudiu Popa’s presentations to the Heritage Skills Development Centre to discuss the roles of technology, such as social media and online platforms, and cybersecurity in human trafficking. View the presentation handouts here.
September 28th is International Day for Universal Access to Information! Also called Access to Information Day, this day was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2015 and was accepted by the UN General Assembly in 2019. A platform and frame for all individuals and organizations to participate in international discussions on policy and guidelines in the area of access to information.September 14th-20th is National Coding Week! ItÕs time to bring coding and digital literacy to everybody in a fun and engaging way. Learning digital skills and gaining more knowledge about it helps us make sense of the rapidly changing world around us.National Online Learning Day on September 15th celebrates the huge array of learning resources that are available to students online. The internet has revolutionized the learning process and students are thriving in the flexible environment that it offers them. This is a day for raising awareness of all of the resources and courses that are available online and to get people, young or old, investing time in their own education.No reason to feel bad about spending September 12th online because itÕs National Video Games Day! Video games originated around 1940, but today, the video game industry is an 18 billion dollar industry that constantly churns out new fun favourites for all ages. The term Òvideo gameÓ encompasses all kinds of digital games, from old-school Mario games to hot new VR ones. The huge array of video games means there will be something for everyone to play today Ñ whether itÕs an old arcade game or Fortnite. If a day alone doesnÕt appeal to you, round up some friends for a multiplayer game!September 8th is International Literacy Day! Since 1967,ÊInternational Literacy Day celebrationsÊhave taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.ÊDespite progress made, literacy challenges persist with at least 771 million young people and adults lacking basic literacy skills today.International Youth Day on August 12th focuses on the difficulties that some young people are experiencing throughout the world. International Youth Day was created by the UN to help draw awareness to a global lack of basic reading and math skills as well as childhood poverty as we strive to find solutions. A day that honours the traits of young people and that acknowledges the challenges that todayÕs fledging youth face. To support the elimination of these issues it is important that the youth is able to reach the right resources for education, wellbeing, medicine and more.Description: World Wide Web Day is a day dedicated to web browsing and is celebrated on August 1st each year. The day aims to highlight the importance of the web in improving people’s lives by facilitating communication, access to information and resources, education and empowerment.Celebrate National Dapper Your Data Day on July 18th. Although it is a relatively new commemoration, beginning in 2020, this national event aims to raise awareness of one of todayÕs most pressing concerns. Data protection and security have become increasingly important challenges in recent years. As a result, numerous organizations around the world commemorate National Dapper Your Data Day to remind consumers and officials about the significance of data security.Celebrate World Youth Skills Day on July 15th! In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 15th as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment and entrepreneurship. Since then, World Youth Skills Day has provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training institutions, organizations, policy-makers and development partners.
It’s essential to understand the importance of identity management, which involves safeguarding our digital identities as we interact, work, bank, shop, and conduct our daily activities online. Learn how to manage your online identity and the role that parents play by joining us for an engaging discussion on what we have learned through our years speaking with youth about Identity Management.
As National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the month of October promotes the importance of staying safe and secure online. ItÕs hard to imagine life without our devices, both in our professional and personal electronic lives. Cybersecurity didnÕt exist 50 years ago but, today, our world requires an ever-increasing amount of cyber protection.Each year, September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
It’s Privacy Awareness Week! Privacy Awareness Week is a global effort held in May, coordinated by members of the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA), to promote awareness of privacy issues and the importance of the protection of personal information. With so much of our personal information shared online, it’s important to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect ourselves. When companies collect our personal information, they have a responsibility to keep it safe. However, when a data breach occurs, our personal information can be exposed to hackers and other malicious attacks. So, what can we do to protect our online privacy? The first step is to be aware of the risks. Be sure to take a look at our privacy resources to learn how you can improve your cybersafety!
July 30th is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. With millions of victims worldwide, it is important that we come together to combat and raise awareness about human trafficking. To get started in learning more about human trafficking and how you can make a difference see these resources below.
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons | United NationsKnowledgeFlow – The Reality of Cyber Safety and Online HarmsKnowledgeFlow – Human Trafficking: An Immigration Lawyer’s PerspectiveKnowledgeFlow – Technology in Human TraffickingWorld Computer Literacy Day is celebrated annually on December 2nd. Instituted in 2001, the day was created as a way to increase computer literacy among people, especially women and children. Though computers have become commonplace in our futuristic world, computer literacy day reminds us to contribute our quota towards making computers accessible and easy to understand for those who may struggle with technology.November 30th is Computer Security Day! Computers, electronic devices, and smart phones have made our lives easier by making communication faster, more convenient and more efficient. At the same time, they have created many privacy and security issues. The day reminds people to stay on top of their computer security and to take steps to make their personal information and data secure.International Fraud Awareness Week is observed globally in the third week of November. This year, the event takes place from November 12thÐ18th. The aim is to raise awareness of fraud through fraud prevention campaigns and education. Fraud is pervasive in every area of human lives, and itÕs becoming more sophisticated and rewarding. Participate in International Fraud Awareness Week to learn how to protect yourself and others from fraud.November 13th is World Kindness Day! World Kindness Day is an international holiday that was formed in 1998, to promote kindness throughout the world. World Kindness Day presents us with the opportunity to reflect upon one of the most important and unifying human principles. On a day devoted to both large and small acts of kindness, try to promote and diffuse this crucial quality that brings people of every kind together.October 29th is International Internet Day! The anniversary of the first internet transmission back in 1969, has been celebrated on since 2005. It is a chance to celebrate the people who helped build the internet, while also giving us a moment to reflect on all the ways that it has changed our lives forever.October 24th-31st is Global Media and Information Literacy Week! The Global MIL Week focuses on trust and solidarity as it relates to people, media, digital platforms, governments, private sector, and non-governmental organizations. It highlights promising actions in connection with media and information literacy and how media and information literacy helps with nurturing trust and countering mistrust.World TeachersÕ Day is held annually on October 5th to celebrate all teachers around the globe. It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of theÊ1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions. It is a day to celebrate how teachers are transforming education but also to reflect on the support they need to fully deploy their talent and vocation, and to rethink the way ahead for the profession globally.October 1st is International Day of Older Persons! This day is a special day for older persons or senior citizens all over the world. In many countries, politicians make speeches, particularly those responsible for government departments that focus on senior citizens, at this time of the year. Some radios, televisions or newspapers publish interviews with senior citizens on various issues such as achievements they made to create a better society. Discussions are centred on topics such as: ageing populations and the provision of adequate healthcare for aged persons; volunteer work; social care; and ways to be more inclusive of older persons in the workforce.
A new concept in digital literacy and cybersafety training. Unlike a regular hackathon, the main focus of an UnHackathon is cybersafety. It’s about learning to be UnHackable! Participants will be given a design challenge centered on an aspect of cybersafety. Solving the challenge will require research, creativity, and innovation. Our sponsors have generously donated amazing prizes which will be awarded to winners in each age group and category.
In partnership with Information Communications Technology Council, March 28 will recognize the fact that “every day is cyberday”. This event is for teachers and students in grades K-12 and brings awareness and resources to the importance of cybersafety in the classroom and at home. Featuring live expert-led discussions, recorded content and resources ready to apply in the classroom, this event is critical for teachers across Canada.
Youth in Policing – Durham Region
Participants will learn how to protect their devices and secure their information. Attendees will discuss how they can protect their friends and families through sharing cybersafety knowledge and best practices.
Representatives from all levels of government including influencers and stakeholders are invited to join us as we discuss appropriate and meaningful action and response to state-sponsored disinformation campaigns.
Who bears responsibility/accountability for battling disinformation?
How do you DEFUSE weaponized disinformation?
What would make a ‘verified’ ‘or qualified’ disinformation expert?
What would be included in an ‘anti-disinfo-tech’ manual?
What are best practices relative to disinformation countermeasures?
Increasing Societal Resilience Through Education
Members of student bodies, university and college faculty across Canada are welcome to attend this session where we discuss disinformation spread on campus and impacts specific to the academia.
How does disinformation impact research?
How does disinformation spread in an academic environment?
How can disinformation be addressed through curriculum change?
How can higher education influence students to Recognize and Reject disinformation?
How can higher education influence staff and faculty to Recognize, Reject and DEFUSE disinformation?
Everyone is welcome to attend this session as we discuss how to Recognize and Reject disinformation. We will develop action plans for a social media campaign and other solutions aimed at educating the general public.
Discuss Disinformation vs Misinformation and their indicators.
How can we teach society to recognize and reject disinformation.
Suggest ideas for social media campaigns and other means to increase societal resilience.
How would society be different if we could eliminate disinformation?
Canada and many countries around the world celebrate Data Privacy Week the last week of January each year. What began as Data Privacy Day on January 28 to commemorate the 1981 signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection, has now been expanded into a week-long initiative.
Data Privacy Week highlights the impact technology is having on our privacy rights and underlines the importance of valuing and protecting personal information.
View these resources for teachers! Provided by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Activity sheets, videos, lesson plans and more for students in grades 4-12.
Over the years, Safer Internet Day has become a landmark event in the online safety calendar. Starting as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 and taken up by the Insafe network as one of its earliest actions in 2005, Safer Internet Day has grown beyond its traditional geographic zone and is now celebrated in approximately 180 countries and territories worldwide.
From cyberbullying to social networking to digital identity, each year Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns.
Do you have what it takes to complete the quest for digital principles? Make your way through the digital realm by answering questions, and collect coins to win points! Characters…
As part of Project DEFUSE, funded by NATO, to increase society’s resilience to disinformation, we have created the CRISP Scan to help people of all ages recognize, reject and defuse…
This helpful resource from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada provides information about protecting yourself from identity theft, what to do if you become victim, and other tips.
Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) site to learn about ongoing scams and how to protect yourself. If you or someone you know gets scammed, report it to the CAFC.
The student privacy toolkit, provided by the Parent Coalition for Student Privacy, gives parents and educators helpful information about how they can keep their children safe online. Note: As this…
This collection of resources explores many aspects of digital and media literacy. From the basics, to how youth engage with different media, to issues they may encounter. Provided by Media…
Young Minds has provided a guide with tips for parents when discussing social media with their children. Young Minds also has other resources on their site for more mental health…
Just as good citizenship is more than not breaking the law, digital citizenship is more than just avoiding harms online. Digital Citizenship Utah has complied examples of how kids have…
The STEM Fellowship program fosters inclusion and diversity in STEM fields by creating mentorship and research opportunities for students from traditionally underrepresented communities in STEM.
Since 2012, every third Friday in June has been Stop Cyberbullying Day, falling this year on June 16th. The annual event is coordinated by The Cybersmile Foundation to unite millions of people and promote a kind and inclusive internet. Cyberbullying is a specific type of bullying that occurs over digital devices through text messaging, apps, social media, forums, and online gaming communities, where people can view and share content. So, bullies usually send, post, or share negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else, causing embarrassment or humiliation. In the United States alone, 37% of youth aged 12 to 17 have been bullied online.
A very important week dedicated to schools for protecting student information. Known as Student Data Protection Week. Click here to make sure you’re keeping your students as safe as possible.
Explore these resources for parents and teachers to find educational cybersafety activities, lesson plans, posters, and more. Provided by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
This external site provides information about various online threats and internet safety, as well as teaching resources to bring cybersafety education into the classroom. Provided by the Parent Coalition for…
These lesson plans, for students in grades 6-12 , allow you to introduce cybersafety education into your classroom. Provided by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
The month of May has World Password Day. Which takes place on the first Thursday in May. Corresponding to cybersafety, meaning being secure online. How confident are you in your passwords? With passwords being your first line of defence, make sure they are as strong as possible. Click to find out how to make your passwords the strongest they can be.
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
We believe that everyone should have access to the same opportunities and resources in our field of work. Find resources and activities for women of all ages to become tech savvy and gain crucial skills.
Girl Security aims at preparing girls, women, and gender minorities for national security through informed learning and training. Learn how you can improve your cybersecurity today!
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an annual observance adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the full and equal access and participation of females in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is implemented annually by UNESCO in collaboration with UN Women. Both organizations work with national governments, intergovernmental organizations, civil society partners, universities and corporations in order to achieve the shared goal of promoting the role of women and girls in scientific fields and celebrate those already successful in the field.
International Fact-Checking Day is promoted by the International Fact-Checking Network in partnership with fact-checking organizations around the world. At IFCN, we believe that professional fact-checkers shouldn’t be the only ones debunking false information. A healthy information ecosystem requires everyone to do their part in elevating facts, since #FactCheckingisEssential.
Anti-Bullying Day is an annual event, held in Canada and other parts of the world, where people wear a pink-coloured shirt to stand against bullying. The initiative was started in Canada, where it is held on the last Wednesday of February each year.
Digital Youth Month
An annual event throughout February until March break. DYM aims to raise awareness of digital possibilities among youth under 35 years old.
Objectives
Introduce Quebec’s youth to digital literacy initiatives
Discover
digital technologies possibilities
Learn
about the new challenges in the digital age
Develop
digital abilities
Explore
tomorrow’s careers
Become aware
of digital citizenship issues
Be engaged
for a better citizen participation
Fraud Prevention Month is an annual campaign that seeks to help you recognize, reject and report fraud.
This guide outlines some of the most common scams that target newcomers to Canada; how to spot them, how to prevent them and what to do if they happen. NonProfit…
The Government of Canada has provided a range information on fraud and scams. Learn about ongoing scams, how to avoid them and how you can get involved with Fraud Prevention…
This tip sheet explains how to protect yourself from an investment scam. Be on the lookout for investments said to be risk-free or low risk and high return. Always research…
If you have been the victim of identity theft or suspect that your information may have been compromised you need to secure your accounts and information immediately. This tip sheet…
