Education & Film
Docs For Schools: Expanding Access to Canadian Stories in Classrooms
This month, we are working with Hot Docs to expand the Docs For Schools program, highlighting the short films in the Citizen Minutes series. These films give educators an accessible way to bring real Canadian stories into the classroom and spark meaningful discussion.
About Citizen Minutes
Citizen Minutes is a curated collection of short Canadian documentaries by filmmakers from across the country. Each film is under 12 minutes and classroom ready, making them easy to use without extensive preparation.
The series is designed to spark discussion, encourage critical thinking, and inspire civic awareness. It is best suited for Grades 7 and up, using personal stories to explore real issues affecting communities across Canada.
Topics Students Are Exploring
In the current collection, Citizen Minutes 3, students engage with topics such as:
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Accessibility and disability rights (A Stop Gap Measure)
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Identity, representation, and belonging (Becoming Ruby)
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Political polarization and democratic dialogue (Crossing the Divide)
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Immigration, resilience, and community support (Hommes-relais)
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Mental health and community innovation (La femme équi-LIBRE)
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Indigenous leadership, education, and reconciliation (Red Girl Rising)
These films help students better understand complex social issues while encouraging empathy and reflection.
A Resource for Educators Across Canada
Docs For Schools is well known in Ontario, but Citizen Minutes is available free to educators across Canada. The program includes:
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Free access to all films
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Curriculum linked educator guides
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Ready to use classroom activities with no prep required
This makes it easy to bring high quality Canadian content into the classroom while meeting learning goals.
Bringing These Stories to More Classrooms
The GMP team is connecting with educators, school administrators, parent councils, and community partners to bring these resources to more classrooms. Teachers are often looking for Canadian perspectives that reflect students’ lived experiences, and Citizen Minutes helps meet that need. Students also respond strongly to stories that feel close to home and show how people in their communities are creating change.
How to Get Started
Teachers, and parents who want these films in their schools, can visit citizenminutes.ca to download curriculum guides and watch any of the 21 short films.
Programs like Citizen Minutes help students see that the issues shaping Canada are not distant. They are happening in our own communities, and they are stories worth exploring.
