From 2024–2026, Project 11’s high school curriculum, first developed during the pandemic, was refreshed to reflect feedback from student and teacher surveys, as well as the growing understanding of mental health and the diverse needs of today’s students. The refreshed lessons and videos build on the familiar, easy-to-navigate format while moving beyond the original remote, single-presenter delivery to feature more engaging representation from peers, educators, and community specialists. The updated curriculum offers relevant, inclusive, and trauma-informed content that supports Manitoba’s Health Education learning outcomes. It explores a range of important topics, including grief, sleep, relationships and boundaries, digital citizenship, substance use, emotional well-being, and sense of self.

Yes!

Independent evaluation of Project 11’s high school pilot curriculum (Grades 9-12) by Dr. Aynslie Hinds, Professor of Quantitative Research Methods in the Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) program at the University of Winnipeg, in 2021 and 2022 of the high school (Grades 9-12) program found strong evidence that Project 11 positively impacts high school students’ mental health and well-being. Students demonstrated growth in their knowledge, coping strategies, emotional awareness, relationships, classroom behaviour, and willingness to reflect on and share their feelings. Teachers also reported positive changes in student behaviour, focus, emotional expression, anxiety, and use of coping strategies. 

Feedback from both students and teachers was overwhelmingly positive. Students described gaining practical knowledge, skills, and strategies for caring for their mental health, while teachers reported feeling more comfortable having conversations about mental health. More than half of students said they would recommend Project 11 to others, highlighting the value they found in the program. 

During the 2025-2026 school year, Project 11’s middle years curriculum, which began being developed in 2013, has been refreshed to reflect evolving conversations around mental health and the changing needs and experiences of students. Updated lessons and videos maintain the familiar, easy-to-follow format while providing current, inclusive, trauma-informed content aligned with Manitoba’s Health Education outcomes, with expanded topics such as grief, sleep, relationships and boundaries, digital citizenship, substance use, emotions, and sense of self. 

Yes!

Dr. Rob Santos with Healthy Child Manitoba’s evaluation of Project 11’s middle years pilot curriculum (Grades 5-8) found significant improvements in students’ social-emotional well-being and relationships. Teachers reported increased prosocial behaviours, along with significant decreases in hyperactivity, peer relationship problems, and other emotional and behavioural difficulties. Students also reported fewer emotional and conduct difficulties, stronger peer relationships, greater school connectedness, and increased support from trusted adults. 

Project 11 also supported meaningful progress for student wellness, with 43% of children who had experienced significant difficulties before the program moving into a healthier range of social and emotional well-being following their participation. Together, these findings provide strong evidence that Project 11 helps students build positive relationships, strengthen their connection to school, and develop the social-emotional skills that support their well-being. 

Starting in 2027, Project 11’s early years curriculum will be refreshed to ensure it continues to meet the needs of today’s students and educators. Informed by student and teacher feedback, evolving conversations around mental health, and classroom experiences, the refresh will introduce new topics and engaging updates to favourite lessons while continuing to prioritize inclusive, trauma-informed learning with the strong curricular connections teachers have learned to count on. 

Yes!

Evaluation of Project 11’s early years pilot curriculum (Grades K-4) by Dr. Depeng Jiang of the University of Manitoba with Government of Manitoba’s long-term, cross-departmental prevention strategy group Health Child Manitoba, found significant improvements in students’ overall difficulties and social-emotional functioning following the program. According to reporting teachers, students experienced fewer peer relationship challenges and fewer signs of hyperactivity, including restlessness and difficulty focusing. Teachers also reported continued improvement or maintenance of these gains at follow-up. At the same time, teachers observed increases in positive, prosocial behaviours, including kindness, helpfulness, sharing, and willingness to support others. 

Importantly, these changes were not just statistically significant but also reduced the proportion of students experiencing difficulties at levels that require extra support or intervention following Project 11, while positive social behaviours increased. Together, these findings provide strong evidence that Project 11 can support students’ social-emotional development, relationships, classroom functioning, and overall well-being. 

Reaching out is an important step to take and one that takes courage. A list of emergency numbers, community organizations and resources is provided on our RESOURCES page under the sub-heading ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. We encourage you to connect with trusted adults and professionals in your life, (doctors, teachers, coaches, community leaders, etc.) as you navigate these resources. Take a deep breath. You can do this.

Project 11 is inspired and created in honour of #11, Rick Rypien, former player of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose. It was his desire that young people would know that they aren’t alone in dealing with the challenges they face, that they’d learn positive coping strategies to deal with those challenges and that they would have a better understanding of mental health overall. Visit the Project 11 ABOUT page to learn more about Rick’s story and to watch TSN’s Believe in Ryp video. Please note that this video is most suited for a mature audience

Oui! Project 11 lessons are available in both English and French from kindergarten to Grade 12. Soon we will be sharing the curriculum from kindergarten to Grade 8 in Ukrainian too!

Project 11 can be found in all school divisions and districts across Manitoba many of which are rural classrooms! With the addition of virtual training sessions, we continue to connect with more and more participants from rural communities throughout Manitoba. Project 11 is being delivered in classrooms outside the province too, in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northern Ontario, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Minnesota, Australia and even the Himalayas!