History

The Edify Foundation was founded in May 2023 by a group of university students from UBC and SFU. The idea emerged from ongoing conversations with high school students, newcomers, and younger peers who felt unprepared for key aspects of life beyond high school, particularly in areas of career planning, university applications, financial literacy, and health and wellness.

The founding team recognized that while academic resources were widely available, accessible and standardized guidance on essential life skills was lacking, especially for students without strong support systems at home. The risk was not only to individual students’ confidence and future prospects, but to the broader community if an entire generation entered adulthood without adequate preparation.

Edify’s insight was that the solution didn’t require extensive planning, just clear, practical guidance delivered by relatable peers who had recently navigated the same path. What began as a grassroots initiative quickly evolved into a structured program of workshops, panel discussions, and digital resources designed to empower youth with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to take charge of their future. With this mission in mind, the Edify Foundation was launched to bridge critical gaps and ensure that every student can make informed, empowered decisions about their post-secondary journey and beyond.