See Different is a national youth education initiative of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) that offers free training, networking, and grants to youth in Canada aged 15-26.
Our purpose
To create and sustain a national network of youth changemakers who are dedicated to understanding and addressing systemic barriers to inclusion in Canadian society.
Our mission
To equip youth in Canada with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to create positive social change in their communities.
"The facilitator, Ashley, was super nice and knew what she was doing. She made me feel comfortable to share and participate during the activities and I didn’t feel judged. The content was well written and explained and the activities we did helped with learning." - Camilla, Alberta
What we offer
Personalized learning experiences, allowing students to engage with content in ways that resonate with their individual strengths and aspirations.
An action-oriented approach focused on group discussions and collaborative learning.
Connections with other youth from across the country who are passionate about DEI, and networking opportunities with professionals working in DEI related roles.
A credential for youth to use when applying for future educational or professional opportunities.
Competitive grants for participants to implement Changemaker projects in their schools or communities.
Ashley Sheppard
Program Manager and Lead Facilitator
Ashley Sheppard (she/her) is a Mi’kmaw and Ukrainian educator and scholar who believes that learning is most powerful when rooted in land, culture, and community. Mi’kmaw through her father’s family from St. George’s Bay, Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland), and Ukrainian through her mother’s family, she was raised in Alberta until 15, when her family moved home to Newfoundland. That return marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of cultural reclamation, language learning, and commitment to relational accountability.
Ashley is the Manager and Lead Facilitator of CCDI’s youth education initiative, See Different, a certification program and national network for youth in Canada aged 15-26. In this role, she designs and delivers interactive programs that help young people across Canada build leadership skills, challenge inequity, and create change in their schools and communities.
She holds a master’s degree in international relations from McMaster University and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education at Ontario Tech University, with a focus on Indigenous youth, digital belonging, and community-driven learning spaces. Multilingual and multicultural, Ashley spent over six years living and working abroad, where she learned to speak French, Spanish, and Japanese. She is currently working hard to learn Mi’kmaw.
Now living in Nova Scotia with her partner and their two dogs, Millie and Watson, Ashley brings heart, humour, and a deep commitment to creating spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and trusted to lead on their own terms.
The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) is a national charity established in 2013 with the mandate of building a more inclusive Canada.
CCDI envisions a world where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect and where everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources. They believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice are essential for building strong and healthy workplaces, schools, and communities.
They are committed to advocating for these values through education, training, and action. By promoting understanding and inclusivity, CCDI strives to create a more equitable and just society for all.
Their vision is a world where people are valued and celebrated for all their dimensions of diversity. Their mission is to help build a more inclusive Canada by bringing together and supporting people to become change agents through thought leadership, research, education, and action.
_edited_edited.jpg)
They provide
-
Networking & learning events in cities across Canada
-
Live and interactive webinars
-
Employer Partner Program
-
Canada’s largest e-library on diversity and equity
-
Cutting-edge reports and toolkits (www.ccdi.ca)
See Different and CCDI acknowledge this land, now known as Canada, as the land of the First Peoples (Nations), Inuit, and Métis. We respect and affirm the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land. We pay homage to them, past, present and future, as they continue to work, educate and contribute to the strength of this country. Thank you for the privilege of living and learning in this place.
In recognition of the Truth as retold by thousands, and as we endeavour to walk the path towards Reconciliation, See Different and CCDI believe that transformation is necessary. We are committed to reflecting a more truthful and inclusive history of the diverse Indigenous Peoples in Canada, the realities of residential schools, the systemic racism faced by Indigenous communities past and present, and the ongoing impacts these continue to have on workplaces and communities across Canada. We work with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Community partners to co-create solutions and to guide us in this work. We will continue to deepen and steward all our relationships as they help us to fulfill our mandate of educating organizations – including our own – towards reconciliation.
