our history

2010: Our Origin

Jack’s Legacy Begins: After the tragic loss of Jack Windeler, his family and friends come  together, sparking a movement to change the conversation around youth mental health. 

First Jack Ride

Pedaling for Change: The first-ever Jack Ride unites a community of change-makers dedicated to raising awareness and funds for youth mental health.

The Birth of Jack.org

Our Mission Takes Shape: Jack.org is born as a pilot project to ensure no young person feels  alone in their mental health journey.

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2013: Expanding Voices

Jack Talks Launch: We kick off our Jack Talks program, bringing peer-to-peer mental health education to schools and communities across Canada.

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2014: Growing Our Community

Jack Chapters Expand The first Jack Chapters are established, empowering young leaders to take action in their communities.

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2017: A National Movement

Reaching New Heights: Jack.org expands to every province and territory in Canada, becoming a truly national movement for youth mental health.

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2019: Digital Innovation

Be There is launched: The digital learning resource provides young people with 5 Golden Rules and real-life scenarios to learn how to support friends and peers through mental health challenges.

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2020: Resilience in Action

Navigating the Pandemic: Amidst the challenges of COVID-19, the Jack.org community rallies to support virtual programming and digital resources, ensuring continued support and connection for youth across the country.

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2023: Expanding The Mental Health Conversation

Resources for Indigenous Youth: Jack.org launches tailored programs for Indigenous youth, ensuring mental health conversations are culturally relevant and inclusive.

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2024: 15 Years Strong

A Milestone Year: We celebrate 15 years of Jack Ride, bringing our incredible community together to support programs to reach more youth than ever before.

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And Beyond:

The journey doesn’t stop here. Our path has been filled with incredible stories and moments of growth, resilience, and unity. As we look ahead, we’re more determined than ever to continue driving change.