Igniting Learning at Nightwind Treatment Centre

Ignite Centre for eLearning offers an unique educational program, both online and face to face,  designed to meet the individualized learning needs of youth. The online approach allows students to access learning and amplify academic choices available to them from others on our teaching team who may not be face to face with the student. In addition this provides an opportunity for continuity of learning for students to continue online after their tenure at the treatment centre.

Providing numeracy and literacy skills, digital literacy, and credits from the CTS curriculum and locally developed courses which align with cultural practices (beading, Grandfather teachings, fashions and more) toward graduation are all areas which help our youth heal and move forward with their life positively. Their individualized circumstances require program flexibility to meet their academic needs while achieving student learning outcomes.

Ignite provides high levels of support accompanied with high expectations to support student success. Having served diverse groups of students requiring different levels of flexibility, course loads, and learning accommodations, many of our students who have historically been deemed as “at-risk” of being unsuccessful in school have found a safe space to experience success in many different ways.

All high school students are enrolled in courses at their level, earning high school credits toward the Alberta High School Diploma, the High School Certificate of Completion, or course completions/credits needed for specific post-secondary education programs.

The program at Nightwind was initiated in September 2024 because t was believed that Ignite’s program was well equipped to provide the care, compassion, and high level of teaching expertise through our hybrid approach to instruction.

The primary reason for the youth to be at Nightwind is for treatment and recovery. While healing is their core mission, Ignite continues to work on ensuring high levels of completion, retention, and achievement for our Indigenous students by ensuring supports are in place at the point of registration.

As a guiding philosophy, we recognize the essential message articulated by The Honorable Murray Sinclair in his work with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: 

While past educational institutions were instrumental in transmitting intergenerational trauma, the path to health lies in reclaiming an education based on empowerment, belonging, and cultural strength. For this reason, we hold the conviction that culturally-responsive education is medicine—a vital component of the healing process that empowers our youth to define their own strong course for the future.