AI for Youth: An Evening for Curious Minds

A free evening for families to explore AI together, built for the kids and teens growing up with it, and the parents figuring it out alongside them.

September 15, 2026 at 5PM in Downtown Montreal

Learn, Explore, and Build, through hands-on, accessible activities

AI is already part of everyday life for kids and teens. This is a chance for families to explore it together, whether you're curious, excited, uncertain, or have real concerns, all of that is welcome here.

Digital Moment, a national charity that's engaged with young people across Canada over 1 million times in the last 13 years through digital and AI literacy programs, is hosting an evening where families with kids and teens ages 8 to 17 explore AI in three ways: Learn, Explore, and Build, through hands-on, accessible activities.

For many, AI means a chatbot or a recommendation feed. There's more to it than that. This evening gives you the chance to meet the researchers, entrepreneurs, and engineers actually building it, ask real questions, and push back where it matters, not to convince anyone to use more AI.

Who this evening is for

This is a family event for kids and teens ages 8 to 17, built for every level of curiosity, kids who already love tech, teens with real questions, and parents who just want to understand what their kids are encountering every day. Activities are adapted by age, so an 8-year-old and a 17-year-old won't have the same experience, but everyone's part of the same evening. Find the section below that speaks to you.

Teacher in front of the classroom taking questions with kids raising their hands
Section 1

For parents and guardians

You're not just dropping your kids off, you're part of the evening too.
• A session just for parents, plus age-grouped talks
• Ask your questions to researchers, entrepreneurs, and engineers
• A supervised evening, see what your kids explore firsthand
• Meet Mila's robot dog and other hands-on AI demos

Participants under 15 must be registered by, and accompanied by, a parent or guardian.

KIDS CODING AT WORK IN CLASS 9 MICROBIT
Section 2

For kids and teens (ages 8–17)

This isn't a lecture, it's your chance to actually try things out.
• Talks that get into what AI can actually do
• Meet entrepreneurs, researchers, and engineers working in AI
• See AI applied to creativity, the environment, and daily life
• Meet Mila's robot dog and try hands-on AI challenges

Ages 15–17 can register directly. Under 15? You'll just need to share a parent or guardian's name and email so they can complete your registration.

Agenda

This September, Montreal becomes a gathering point for people across Canada's AI landscape. We think kids, teens, and their families belong in that moment too, not on the sidelines of it.

The evening is free and bilingual, with light snacks provided, and activities adapted across the full age range so everyone finds something that fits.
5:00 PM

Doors open

at Esplanade Tranquille, 1442 rue Clark, Montreal

Explore and Build stations open, and AI Passports are handed out at check-in.

5:25 PM

Opening words

A quick welcome to kick off the evening.

5:30 PM

How Do Robots Learn?

Ages 8–17, in English

Allison Cohen from Valence walks through how AI systems actually learn, and where humans still make the decisions.

6:00 PM

Comment utiliser l'IA?

Ages 13–17, in French

Youssef H. Badawy from Pratt & Whitney offers a practical look at using AI well: asking better questions and thinking critically about its answers.

6:30 PM

Peux-tu battre l'IA?

Ages 8–12, in French

Roy Eyono from Mila leads a fun, interactive talk on where AI gets things right, where it gets things wrong, and why.

7:00 PM

Parent Debate: AI & Our Kids

For parents, in French

Allison Meyssonnier from Mila leads a structured discussion for parents on how AI is showing up in kids' lives, followed by open Q&A.

7:45 PM

Wrap-up heads-up

A heads-up 15 minutes before the evening wraps, handy if you're planning around bedtime.

8:00 PM

Event closes

How the evening works

Move between talks, stations, and hands-on challenges at your own pace, there's no fixed schedule to follow. Come for the parts that interest you most, and stay for whatever else catches your attention along the way.

Join us at AI for Youth!

Check out our "AI in Your Everyday Life" Hub

Every time you scroll, like, or pause, AI is learning. This resource hub explains what AI knows, how it works, and how to use it responsibly.

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