20 Years of myBlueprint: Building the Future, Together

Back in 2005, three friends and I, alumni of York Region District School Board, Toronto District School Board, and Western University, set out to solve a challenge we remembered from our own time in school: how do you help students make sense of their future?

We didn’t have a business plan or a roadmap. Just a deep belief that there had to be a better way to support students in planning ahead. So we got working on a project at Ivey Business School at Western University to figure it out. With a small investment from friends and family, Eric Silber and I launched myBlueprint from my parents’ Toronto basement—guided by the idea that every student deserves tools that empower them to make informed, confident decisions about their education and career.

Now, two decades later, I find myself reflecting with gratitude and excitement. What started as a research project has grown into a Canada-wide platform that supports over 1.5 million students every year in partnership with 200+ school districts, 250+ independent schools, and five provincial Ministries of Education.

We’ve come a long way. But in many ways, we’re just getting started.

From Course Planning to Competency Development

myBlueprint's initial focus was clear: support students in discovering who they are, identifying what they want to do, and building a plan to get there. That foundation helped us become Canada’s leader in career-life planning and high school course selection. Along with the help of a deeply dedicated team, we can proudly boast a 100% retention rate with our Ontario school district partners over the past 15+ years.

As we grew alongside the education system, we started to see a meaningful shift happening. The world was changing. Post-secondary pathways were diversifying. And the skills needed to thrive, like collaboration, reflection, and adaptability, weren’t always being captured by traditional tools.

From classroom visits to consultations with education stakeholders, we heard a consistent message: students need more than just plans. They need to understand their strengths, reflect on their progress, and be able to communicate what they’re capable of.

That led us to expand our platform. We introduced student portfolios and self-reflection features, giving students new ways to document and celebrate their growth. We saw firsthand how powerful it was when students were recognized not just for what they completed, but for how they grew along the way.

And then, we decided to go further.

The Launch of SpacesEDU

In 2022, we launched the first iteration of a stand-alone competency-based education (CBE) platform, SpacesEDU, built to showcase student growth over time. We’re excited to see SpacesEDU implemented in hundreds of schools across North America to help students:

• Demonstrate mastery through multimedia evidence

• Receive personalized feedback

• Reflect on their learning journey over time 

Educators use it to make learning visible. Families use it to stay connected. And districts use it to align student work with broader goals around skill development and future readiness.

It wasn’t a departure from our roots in career education. It was a deepening of our purpose, helping students become more confident, capable, and future-ready by making their learning journeys visible and meaningful.

Looking Ahead: Building What Students Need Next

As we mark our 20th anniversary, we’re entering an exciting new chapter.

We’re taking everything we’ve learned over the past two decades, insights from thousands of educators, millions of student interactions, and deep relationships with district and ministry partners, and using that knowledge to shape what comes next.

Our vision is to create a unified, future-focused platform that:

• Puts learner profiles at the center

• Elevates both academic achievement and real-world skills

• Helps students understand and communicate who they are and what they can do

• Supports educators in delivering more personalized and meaningful learning experiences

We’re not just building tools. We’re building the foundation for a generation of students who are ready for a fast-changing world, one where adaptability, reflection, and lifelong learning matter as much as credentials.

The Journey Ahead

None of this would be possible without the incredible students, educators, partners, and employees who support our vision every step of the way.

From our very first school district partner in 2005, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, to surpassing 1,000,000+ annual active student users in March 2020, our growth has always been rooted in collaboration and feedback.

To the students who have used myBlueprint to plan, explore, reflect, and grow, you are the reason we do this work.

And to our team, many of whom have been with us for 5, 8 or even 10+ years, thank you for your dedication to building a better future for students.

Here’s to the next 20 years, and to continuing our mission to ensure that every student is seen, supported, and equipped to thrive in school, in life, and beyond!