FAQ - Questions & Answers

Are these seminars done online or does someone deliver them in person?

Through multimedia seminars and the best available expertise, we bring web safety education directly to schools and local communities within the Greater Toronto Area.

Do you have a minimum and a maximum for audience size?

We have a minimum audience size of 50 people for our presentations. There is no maximum audience size for any of our presentations. The more people in the audience, the better!

Is the Elementary School presentation appropriate for grade levels 5 and under?

No, since we tailor our seminars to age-specific needs, the topics covered in our Elementary School presentation is specifically suited for Grades 6 to 8. The content may be too mature for Grades 5 and under as it deals with topics like sexting and sexual predators.

Are your seminars free or do I need to pay a fee?

Our seminars are free, but we do accept donations, large or small. Through the generous donations from sponsors, institutions and communities, Kiwi Seminars has been able to deliver Internet safety seminars to thousands free of charge. The costs associated for each seminar range anywhere from $250 to $500, depending on location and the event. Your donation will help us to develop our content and continue to bring Internet safety education and awareness directly to schools and local communities, where it is needed most.

How far in advance do I need to book a seminar?

The earlier you book, the better we can accommodate your requested date(s). We recommend advance booking of at least three to four weeks prior to the seminar date.

Do you deliver seminars outside of the Greater Toronto Area and Canada?

As we are a non-profit organization, we do not have any chapters set up outside of Toronto at the time. Currently, we are only able to provide free, local seminars to schools, communities and parent groups within the Greater Toronto Area. If you are interested in opening up a chapter in your area, please contact the President of Kiwi Seminars, Patti Vincent by phone (1-877-737-7197 toll free, 905-940-6349 local) or by email (pattiv@kiwiseminars.com).

Who funds your organization?

Our entire program is supported by the generous contributions of our sponsors, individual donors, businesses, institutions and communities. Due to their financial support, we are able to deliver seminars to schools and communities free of charge.

What makes you experts in Internet safety?

We work in partnership with our sister organization Kiwi Commons, who provides us with all our materials and resources. Kiwi Commons, is able to ensure quality content that is up-to-date, age-specific and relevant through the guidance of an expert panel. Kiwi Commons expert panel represents a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds from educators to law enforcement. It features Robin Sax - acclaimed author, child advocate, speaker and legal analyst, as well as Dr. Ken Marek - an esteemed Child and Adolescent Psychologist. For more information on Kiwi Commons' expert panel, click here.

How did Kiwi Seminars come about?

The organization was founded by William H. Madden - a 40-year veteran in education, with over 10 years of experience as a vice-principal with the North York Board of Education and six years of experience as a teacher and department head. The need for Internet safety education became apparent to William Madden after being confronted with an increasing number of parent call-ins and student conflicts concerning issues like cyber bullying, sexting and online predators.

And while school curricula treated digital literacy as an educational priority, students lacked the knowledge required to enable them to use digital technologies safely and responsibly. Many teachers and parents felt ill-equipped to deliver lessons on e-safety, leaving children at risk to online threats. Recognizing the disconnect between schools and Internet safety education, William Madden founded Kiwi Seminars in 2008. Kiwi Seminars was established to bring Internet safety education directly to educators, parents and youths alike through the provision of school and community seminars. To date, we have brought Internet safety awareness to thousands.

I've never heard of Kiwi Seminars before. Do you have any references or testimonials?

All of our seminars have been well-received by our audiences. You can view some of our testimonials on our website here.

Do you offer presentations in the evening?

Yes, we offer evening presentations by request. We take into account the work schedules of parents and educators, and try to accommodate our adult seminars accordingly.

Are you in need of any presenters?

Yes, we are always looking for new presenters who are passionate about the topic of Internet safety to join our team. Please send us a cover letter and your C.V. to info@kiwiseminars.com

What equipment will be required for the seminar?

For standard seminars, we just require three things: a projector screen, a projector stand and an extension chord.

Would you be willing to participate as an exhibitor at trade shows or fairs?

Yes, absolutely. Each request will be reviewed and decided on a case-by-case basis. Please send us information on what the event would involve, as well as our role in the event.

What kinds of topics do you cover in your seminars?

For comprehensive overviews of our presentations' objectives, approach and content, please see our website here.

Do you deliver seminars to individual classes?

Yes, just as long as your audience size meets our minimum requirement of 50 people.