Who We Are:
Common Compass is an Ontario-based, registered charity which partners with schools and youth organizations to strengthen social-emotional wellbeing, mental health and belonging through evidence-based workshops and training for children and youth, educators/ youth-facing staff, and parents. All of our customized programs are developed and delivered by our team of mental health and education professionals and are tailored to the unique strengths and challenges of each school or organizational community. Over the last 12 years we have worked across 8 school boards and with more than 13,000 students, parents and educators.
Our Mission:
To empower youth, their schools and communities by strengthening social emotional wellbeing and mental health. We do this through:
- Research-based, tailored programming for students, educators and parents
- Fostering systemic change through amplifying student voice, and coaching schools, and advocacy
Our Vision:
A future where every young person reaches their own potential to transform their schools and communities into places that promote belonging, inclusion and positive mental health for all.
Schools We’ve Worked With
Common Compass has had the privilege of working with hundreds of schools over the last 12 years, developing and facilitating evidence-based workshops, training, retreats and SHSM certifications. We work with students, staff and parents in schools, camps and youth organizations.
Bishop MacDonnell CHS, WCDSB,
Bishop Redding, HCDSB, Bishop Tonnos High School, HWCDSB, Cardinal Ambrozic S.S., DPCDSB,
Cardinal Carter S.S., YCDSB, Carleton Village, TDSB, Cathedral High School, HWCDSB, Claireville PS, TDSB, Cordella PS, TDS, Corpus Christi S.S., HCDSB,
Dr. Frank J Hayden Secondary School, PDSB, Elora PS, UGDSB, Etobicoke School of the Arts, TDSB, Father McGivney Catholic Academy, YCDSB,
Henry Hudson, TDSB, Holy Name of Mary S.S., DPCDSB, Howard Jr., TDSB, Humberside Collegiate, TDSB, James Cardinal McGuigan, TCDSB,
Lakeshore Collegiate, TDSB, Leaside High School, TDSB, Maple Leaf PS, TDSB, Monarch Park Collegiate, TDSB, Neil McNeil High School, TCDSB,
Newtonbrook High School, TDSB, Northern S.S., TDSB, Notre Dame S.S., DPCDSB, Our Lady of Lourdes CHS, WCDSB, Pelmo Park, TDSB,
Phillip Pocock S.S., DPCDSB, Rawlinson Community School, TDSB, Regal Rd., TDSB, Sacred Heart Secondary School, YCDSB,
Silverthorn Collegiate, TDSB, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, DPCDSB, St. Andrew’s, TDSB, St. Benedict S.S., WCDSB, St. Edmund Campion, DPCDSB,
St. Francis de Sales, TCDSB, St. Francis Xavier, HCDSB, St. Ignatius of Loyola, HCDSB, St. James CHS, WCDSB, St. Maximillian Kolbe S.S., YCDSB,
St. Paul S.S., DPCDSB, St. Raphael’s, HCDSB, St. Robert S.S., YCDSB, St. Thomas Aquinas, HCDSB, Stephen Lewis Secondary School, PDSB,
Sunnylea Junior School, TDSB, The Bishop Strachan School, The Country Day School, Wellington Heights S.S., UGDSB, York Mills, TDSB,
Zion Heights Middle School, TDSB
Bishop MacDonnell CHS, WCDSB,
Bishop Redding, HCDSB, Bishop Tonnos High School, HWCDSB, Cardinal Ambrozic S.S., DPCDSB,
Cardinal Carter S.S., YCDSB, Carleton Village, TDSB, Cathedral High School, HWCDSB, Claireville PS, TDSB, Cordella PS, TDS, Corpus Christi S.S., HCDSB,
Dr. Frank J Hayden Secondary School, PDSB, Elora PS, UGDSB, Etobicoke School of the Arts, TDSB, Father McGivney Catholic Academy, YCDSB,
Henry Hudson, TDSB, Holy Name of Mary S.S., DPCDSB, Howard Jr., TDSB, Humberside Collegiate, TDSB, James Cardinal McGuigan, TCDSB,
Lakeshore Collegiate, TDSB, Leaside High School, TDSB, Maple Leaf PS, TDSB, Monarch Park Collegiate, TDSB, Neil McNeil High School, TCDSB,
Newtonbrook High School, TDSB, Northern S.S., TDSB, Notre Dame S.S., DPCDSB, Our Lady of Lourdes CHS, WCDSB, Pelmo Park, TDSB,
Phillip Pocock S.S., DPCDSB, Rawlinson Community School, TDSB, Regal Rd., TDSB, Sacred Heart Secondary School, YCDSB,
Silverthorn Collegiate, TDSB, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, DPCDSB, St. Andrew’s, TDSB, St. Benedict S.S., WCDSB, St. Edmund Campion, DPCDSB,
St. Francis de Sales, TCDSB, St. Francis Xavier, HCDSB, St. Ignatius of Loyola, HCDSB, St. James CHS, WCDSB, St. Maximillian Kolbe S.S., YCDSB,
St. Paul S.S., DPCDSB, St. Raphael’s, HCDSB, St. Robert S.S., YCDSB, St. Thomas Aquinas, HCDSB, Stephen Lewis Secondary School, PDSB,
Sunnylea Junior School, TDSB, The Bishop Strachan School, The Country Day School, Wellington Heights S.S., UGDSB, York Mills, TDSB,
Zion Heights Middle School, TDSB
Cardinal Carter S.S., YCDSB, Carleton Village, TDSB, Cathedral High School, HWCDSB, Claireville PS, TDSB, Cordella PS, TDS, Corpus Christi S.S., HCDSB,
Dr. Frank J Hayden Secondary School, PDSB, Elora PS, UGDSB, Etobicoke School of the Arts, TDSB, Father McGivney Catholic Academy, YCDSB,
Henry Hudson, TDSB, Holy Name of Mary S.S., DPCDSB, Howard Jr., TDSB, Humberside Collegiate, TDSB, James Cardinal McGuigan, TCDSB,
Lakeshore Collegiate, TDSB, Leaside High School, TDSB, Maple Leaf PS, TDSB, Monarch Park Collegiate, TDSB, Neil McNeil High School, TCDSB,
Newtonbrook High School, TDSB, Northern S.S., TDSB, Notre Dame S.S., DPCDSB, Our Lady of Lourdes CHS, WCDSB, Pelmo Park, TDSB,
Phillip Pocock S.S., DPCDSB, Rawlinson Community School, TDSB, Regal Rd., TDSB, Sacred Heart Secondary School, YCDSB,
Silverthorn Collegiate, TDSB, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, DPCDSB, St. Andrew’s, TDSB, St. Benedict S.S., WCDSB, St. Edmund Campion, DPCDSB,
St. Francis de Sales, TCDSB, St. Francis Xavier, HCDSB, St. Ignatius of Loyola, HCDSB, St. James CHS, WCDSB, St. Maximillian Kolbe S.S., YCDSB,
St. Paul S.S., DPCDSB, St. Raphael’s, HCDSB, St. Robert S.S., YCDSB, St. Thomas Aquinas, HCDSB, Stephen Lewis Secondary School, PDSB,
Sunnylea Junior School, TDSB, The Bishop Strachan School, The Country Day School, Wellington Heights S.S., UGDSB, York Mills, TDSB,
Zion Heights Middle School, TDSB
Cardinal Carter S.S., YCDSB, Carleton Village, TDSB, Cathedral High School, HWCDSB, Claireville PS, TDSB, Cordella PS, TDS, Corpus Christi S.S., HCDSB,
Dr. Frank J Hayden Secondary School, PDSB, Elora PS, UGDSB, Etobicoke School of the Arts, TDSB, Father McGivney Catholic Academy, YCDSB,
Henry Hudson, TDSB, Holy Name of Mary S.S., DPCDSB, Howard Jr., TDSB, Humberside Collegiate, TDSB, James Cardinal McGuigan, TCDSB,
Lakeshore Collegiate, TDSB, Leaside High School, TDSB, Maple Leaf PS, TDSB, Monarch Park Collegiate, TDSB, Neil McNeil High School, TCDSB,
Newtonbrook High School, TDSB, Northern S.S., TDSB, Notre Dame S.S., DPCDSB, Our Lady of Lourdes CHS, WCDSB, Pelmo Park, TDSB,
Phillip Pocock S.S., DPCDSB, Rawlinson Community School, TDSB, Regal Rd., TDSB, Sacred Heart Secondary School, YCDSB,
Silverthorn Collegiate, TDSB, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, DPCDSB, St. Andrew’s, TDSB, St. Benedict S.S., WCDSB, St. Edmund Campion, DPCDSB,
St. Francis de Sales, TCDSB, St. Francis Xavier, HCDSB, St. Ignatius of Loyola, HCDSB, St. James CHS, WCDSB, St. Maximillian Kolbe S.S., YCDSB,
St. Paul S.S., DPCDSB, St. Raphael’s, HCDSB, St. Robert S.S., YCDSB, St. Thomas Aquinas, HCDSB, Stephen Lewis Secondary School, PDSB,
Sunnylea Junior School, TDSB, The Bishop Strachan School, The Country Day School, Wellington Heights S.S., UGDSB, York Mills, TDSB,
Zion Heights Middle School, TDSB
What Students Have to Say
I liked the mentality that you had regarding procrastination in that procrastination is normal and it happens to everyone because it creates a positive environment in which noone is shamed for a behaviour that is common in many people.
I loved how perfectionism in procrastinators was talked about, because many people procrastinate because of perfectionism.
That certain terms like procrastination are not about laziness but instead more have to do with fear. Also that it becomes less fearful if you start it early.
I learned about privilege and how you don’t choose the power you’re born with but you choose how you use it.
This program helped me realize my feelings and emotions. Previous to this, it was hard to understand how I was feeling, why I was feeling and how to cope with it. [At the Common Compass program], I was able to learn how to cope, how to understand, and how to help myself overcome these challenges
It was great! Lots of energy and we learned without realizing it.
What Educators Have to Say
Working with Common Compass has been a great experience. Their custom created programs were thoughtfully designed to support students and newcomers, creating safe spaces for learning, growth, and connection. Their approach is not only inclusive but also impactful, fostering a sense of belonging and confidence in participants.
Common Compass facilitators created an atmosphere where people felt comfortable to share. This isn’t easy given the amount of stigma there still is about mental health. It says a lot about the facilitators that they were so quickly able to help people feel comfortable to share.
We loved the hands on group work in the sessions with students. They were engaged, moving, and doing a ton of hands on learning. We know this is how kids learn- so this was amazing to see.
They created a staff survey, to get a sense about how we manage student anxiety, student issues, with regards to student mental health and wellbeing. Common Compass took our feedback, took our suggestions about what we felt the needs were. They designed a program that was highly engaging. There just isn’t all the money to go around to fund programs for mental health and wellbeing, so we have to call upon other supports like Common Compass to fill in the gap.
I thought a lot of parents came out of the parent presentations. Any time you can get parents being more involved, it’s a good thing. The ability to to engage people, whether its students, parents or communities, I think is a critical service that is being offered. I think that is something that is valuable and needs to be supported.
I am writing to recommend Leisha Zamecnik as an outstanding resource and facilitator. She succeeded in bringing a diverse group together, engaging them in common activities and reflection and motivating them to carry on the message of the day in their own school communities.
The facilitator was confident and knew what she was doing. She was collaborative and listened to others opinions in the group.
Leisha was AMAZING! She was bubbly, kind and I can tell she really enjoys and is dedicated to what she does.
Leisha’s enthusiastic attitude allowed students to reflect on their own strengths and abilities to do what they loved and let their passion lead the way. I found the content a great way to further the student’s thinking, as well as to instill a sense of confidence and optimism in the students that participated.