People living with low income are far more likely to lack the devices and connectivity that everything from job applications to healthcare now assumes you have. The reSTART program is how reBOOT Canada addresses that problem. Here’s how it works, and what participants have told us about the difference it makes.
What is reSTART?
reSTART is reBOOT Canada’s refurbished computer program, designed for individuals and families who rely on provincial and federal income assistance. For a fee of $195 (Standard) or $295 (Premium), participants receive a fully refurbished, typically enterprise-grade, laptop that has been professionally inspected and tested, secured with NIST 800-88 certified data destruction protocols, rebuilt with a current licensed copy of Windows, and loaded with a standard software suite including LibreOffice, Firefox, VLC, Foxit Reader, Zoom and Chrome. The fee may be covered by a sponsor, agency or the end user themselves. All revenues from these fees are directed back into the program, without exception, supporting the program’s long-term sustainability. We’ve been operating reSTART without interruption since 2015. Every reSTART device goes through a documented inspection process covering physical condition, CPU generation (minimum 6th gen Intel), RAM, storage, battery health, webcam, Wi-Fi, keyboard, and all I/O ports. Devices that fall below minimum specifications don’t ship. Battery capacity below 65% of design rating triggers a replacement. Every build is signed off by a technician, accompanied by a startup guide and warrantied for 90 days. The program reflects reBOOT Canada’s broader mission: making computers and digital access available to everyone in Canada, regardless of income or where you live.
What Participants Tell Us
We recently heard back from a cohort of reSTART participants. A few themes came through clearly. Education was the most consistent. Participants described using their computers to complete college assignments, take online exams, study from home, and enroll in courses they couldn’t otherwise access. One participant wrote: “Before, I had to go to the library or stay late at school to study and complete my work. Thanks to reBOOT, I now have more time to spend with my children, and my grades have also improved.” Another is preparing to write the CISSP certification exam after using their laptop to learn Python and update their technical skills. A third credited the program with making it possible to enroll in post-secondary at all. Employment and economic mobility came up nearly as often. Participants described job searching, writing resumes and cover letters, and applying for positions online. One noted that in today’s labour market, job postings and applications are almost entirely digital — without a computer, the process becomes significantly harder. Another used their device to track income taxes and correspond with prospective employers. Someone completed their online driver’s education through their reSTART laptop and now has a licence. Health and social connection also featured prominently. Several participants described staying in contact with medical teams, attending virtual appointments, and accessing services online. One noted that their computer helped them secure full funding for a health-related need through digital correspondence with their care team. Others described staying connected with family and a reduction in isolation.
Newcomers to Canada highlighted the program’s value for settlement — learning ESL, researching unfamiliar systems, staying connected to community, and navigating the administrative complexity of arriving in a new country. Personal goals appeared as well. One participant used their laptop to organize their writing and prepare to publish a second book. Others described the straightforward but meaningful relief of handling online banking, ordering essentials, and managing daily life from home.
Why It Matters
Canada’s social support infrastructure has moved largely online. Employment Insurance, tax filing, benefit enrollment, healthcare, and similar systems assume digital access. For someone without a functioning computer, navigating them takes considerably more time and effort.
reSTART is designed to reduce that friction. The way the total cost of the unit is shared by reBOOT Canada, donors, agencies, sponsors, and the actual end-user supports a sustainable and reliable program model. That constraint shapes how we build and vet devices. Your generous support in the form of computer donations help us ensure reSTART participants get the best possible device within the constraints of a viable, sustainable program.
What the Program Offers
When we consider what reSTART delivers: a quality-assured, professionally refurbished device at a price point accessible on income assistance, backed by an organization with 30 years of operational experience, it holds up well against alternatives. For most participants, the alternative isn’t a new laptop. It’s shared access at a library, or a smartphone that can’t run desktop software, or nothing at all. For someone trying to finish a college program, find work, manage a health condition, or raise children while navigating systems that assume constant connectivity, having a reliable computer is a practical necessity. reSTART is one way to make that possible.
reBOOT Canada is a registered national charity (CRA# 89111 4043 RR0001) founded in 1995. The reSTART program is available to individuals and families relying on social assistance. For more information, contact restart@rebootcanada.ca or visit rebootcanada.ca/restart.