The arena was full of excited local students who were invited by the Toronto Maple Leafs to join them for the morning. In total, 458 students from Monck Public School, Watt Public School, Macaulay Public School, Moose Deer Point First Nation and Huntsville High School cheered as they watched the athletes perform, jumped to catch flying t-shirts and overall, took part in a field trip they’ll never forget.

“Thank you to the Toronto Maple Leafs for an unbelievable day at the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre,” said Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney. “Not only did you take the time to connect with your youngest fans, you gave them memories that will last a lifetime. The town is honoured to have hosted you in the facility and looks forward to seeing you again here soon. All the best on the season ahead.”

The Muskoka Lumber Arena is an NHL-sized rink that can accommodate just over 1,000 fans. This, paired with the facilities’ state-of-the-art amenities, allows the town to host high-caliber athletes and events.

Join the Town of Bracebridge for the official grand opening of the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. A formal event will be held out front of the facility (weather permitting) with remarks from Mayor Maloney, invited dignitaries and sponsors. Following the event, members of the community are invited to participate in a tour of the facility.

What’s up, Bracebridge 👋 @CarltonTheBear pic.twitter.com/P2f5s34ay9

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 2, 2024

To learn more about the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre, visit engagebracebridge.ca.

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Sixty-five per cent of students define themselves as financially unstable and nearly half (45 per cent) are currently unable to adequately cover basic needs such as food and housing. Over a third (37%) of students also regularly compare their financial situation to others, with 28 per cent feeling inadequate around those who appear to be financially better off. Of the students surveyed, 64 per cent have some form of a budget to track their monthly expenses but less than half (41 per cent) say they are able to follow it on a regular basis.

Although many students do have a budget in place, 61 per cent say they wish they knew more about budgeting and financial planning strategies, and almost half (46 per cent) would like to learn more about savings and investment vehicles such as RRSPs and GICs. Interestingly, one in five (20%) of students now primarily get their financial advice from social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

“Our survey shows that many Canadian post-secondary students wish they knew more about budgeting and managing their finances, and it’s encouraging to see them interested in seeking advice,” said Emily Ross, VP, Everyday Advice Journey at TD. “That said, it’s prudent for students to exercise some caution when taking financial advice from certain sources on social media platforms, which are often unvetted and untailored to each individual and their unique circumstances.”

Majority of parents providing significant financial support, but acknowledge their child needs to improve their spending habits

When looking at it from the parents’ perspective, 94 per cent of parents of post-secondary students say they provide some level of financial support to their child, with 58 per cent saying they provide a significant amount of support.

Parents are also apprehensive about their child’s budgeting capabilities with 87 per cent believing it needs improvement. Key areas for improvement parents identified include:

• Developing better spending habits (60 per cent)
• Better financial literacy (42 per cent)
• Less reliance on their parents for financial support (37 per cent)
• Using financial apps to track their budget (27 per cent)

“Coming out of the survey, we can see that Canadian parents recognize areas in their children’s financial knowledge and spending habits that could use some improvement,” adds Ross. “At TD, we understand that this can be challenging when faced with the financial pressures that come with post-secondary studies and are here to provide solutions that can ease this burden for parents, while also helping to educate students. Our team of certified professionals and budgeting tools can support parents and students who want to reprioritize their savings and successfully navigate the costs of higher education with greater confidence and less stress.”

Helping post-secondary students and parents prepare for the future

TD offers a number of tools and resources to help students and parents with budgeting and financial planning for post-secondary education:

• TD Student Budget Calculator is designed to help students manage their finances more effectively by inputting various sources of income and expenses, such as part-time job earnings, financial aid, tuition, textbooks, and other living costs to see where money is going and where spending may need to be adjusted.
• TD MySpend allows users to control their savings and spending by tracking daily and monthly cash flow, creating a wish list of savings goals and getting insights to help make these goals a reality.
• The TD Student Advice Hub helps students navigate their financial journey while in school and beyond through a variety of financial literacy planning tools and advice.

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The poll reveals that around two-thirds (64 per cent) consider themselves to be financially literate—three-quarters (75 per cent) describe their parents as being the same, but three-fifths (60 per cent) are less confident in the financial literacy of their peers, indicating that they think the group as a whole is struggling.

Do students get a passing grade?

• Only one in ten (10 per cent) grade themselves an “A” on financial independence
• The highest proportion (32 per cent) of students give themselves a “C” grade
• Just 6 per cent assign themselves an “F”

Regardless of where they land on financial literacy or independence, most of Canada’s post-secondary students indicated that they practice fiscally responsible behaviours, such as:

• Knowing and understanding credit scores (80 per cent)
• Tracking their spending (78 per cent)
• Understanding credit card interest (76 per cent)

“While Canadian post-secondary students are financially responsible, they’re hard on themselves and their peers when it comes to understanding personal finance,” says Jimmy Dinh, Managing Director and Head, Simplii Financial. “Many of them also expect to face more financial challenges with today’s higher cost of living.”

For many students, their upbringing may have helped instill these fiscally responsible behaviours—three in five (60 per cent) feel their financial education has prepared them well for adulthood. The results imply that Canada’s post-secondary students are, on balance, receiving adequate financial education and training, but reliance on loved ones for financial support may be driven in larger part by the job market for post-secondary students.

More than half of students (57 per cent) expect it to be challenging to find employment, co-ops, or internships next summer, and a majority (55 per cent) think it will be difficult to secure part-time employment during the school year to help offset their expenses. Almost half (45 per cent) feel that their earnings from their summer employment won’t cover the cost of living during the school year.

Some tips from Simplii Financial on how students can manage the cost of living include:

• Using student discounts – Many universities and colleges publish discounts in their student handbooks, plus if your student card isn’t cutting it, programs like Student Price Card may also be worth a look.
• Leveraging cash-back offers – Right now Simplii Financial has a $500 cash-back offer for new clients, and it could be the difference between financial independence or relying on the “bank of mom and dad.”
• Focusing on networking – Finding a summer job or part-time employment the usual way can be a big demand on your time, so networking with professors or other professionals could be just what you need to bag a research position or summer co-op.

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The Ontario government is providing new student supports and updating curriculum for the 2023-24 school year. These actions will refocus school boards on the development of foundational skills in reading, writing and math, supported by almost $700 million more in base education funding, $109 million in a new strategy to boost literacy rates, and the hiring of 2,000 more educators.

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Breakfast Club of Canada is launching its important Back-to-School fundraising campaign to be able to meet the ever-growing demand for school nutrition programs.

Once again this year, the Club and its numerous partners will reach hundreds of thousands of children from coast-to-coast-to-coast and help them start their day with a complete and nutritious breakfast. A commitment that is all the more necessary as the current socio-economic situation is increasing the needs in the community as well as the cost of food and transportation that continues to rise. In recent years, the Club has seen a significant increase in schools across Canada requesting support for a complete school nutrition program. The number of requests to implement a breakfast program is constantly growing.

Furthermore, according to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, in 2022, 1.8 million children, compared to 1,4 million children in 2021, live in a food insecure household.

“At Breakfast Club of Canada, we are committed to our role as a national player in the school nutrition ecosystem across Canada, and we approach it each year with renewed ambition,” stated Tommy Kulczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer at Breakfast Club of Canada. “Our Back-to-School fundraising initiatives are crucial as we are currently experiencing a perfect storm of obstacles making the number of schools wanting to provide nutritious breakfasts to their students increase each day.”

Throughout the upcoming year, the Club’s budget will only allow for the maintenance of existing programs with very few new programs in schools that will be put in place. Without the help of generous donors, partners and governments, the number of schools requesting support from the Club continues to grow.

“Our message is simple: as you prepare for the start of the school year, we ask that you take a minute to think about the children who will go to school hungry. We hope that a donation at the start of the school year becomes the simplest and most natural gesture of the back-to-school ritual. Indeed, providing breakfast at school is the easiest way to help all children reach their full potential,” explains Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director, Government Relations at Breakfast Club of Canada.

School nutrition programs are recognized for their many beneficial impacts on children, school environments and local communities. Members and partners of various initiatives, including the School Meals Coalition and the World Food Program run by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, state that these programs, including breakfast programs, contribute positively to the education, health and well-being of children, as well as to economic development and to community food systems.

In fact, more than 900 schools recently reported to the Club that the most significant impacts they have observed through their programs include improving learning capacities and/or academic achievement (31.4%)*, meeting students’ basic need for food and/or reducing hunger (22.8%)*, ensuring students have reliable access to nutritious/varied meals/food (21.8%)*, building a positive school climate, positive relationships/interactions and/or a sense of community and belonging (19.7%)*, improved mental health, well-being, mood and/or behaviour (12.3%)* and providing a safe, inclusive and destigmatized environment (12.1%)*.

“Every day we see the real impact a nutritious breakfast can have on a child’s life,” says Judith Barry. “Never before has investing in school nutrition programs been so critical. It is for these reasons that we count on the support of individuals, our partners and governments to help children because success tomorrow starts with a breakfast today.”

The Back-to-School campaign, Breakfast Club of Canada’s largest fundraising campaign, will run until September 30, 2023. To donate online: visit www.breakfastclubcanada.org/bts2023/. To make a donation via text message: text CLUB to 20222.

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As the use of AI, including ChatGPT, continues to grow, students are experiencing a significant change in their study methods across various programs of study. The research report reveals a shift in academic behavior, with over 40% of students acknowledging that they have personally witnessed instances of cheating facilitated by AI tools within the past year.

Another concerning revelation from the study is the willingness among students to consider cheating. Approximately 26% of respondents indicated that they are more likely to consider cheating tools like essay mills and AI writing software that have become more widespread and accessible. This trend highlights the relationship between technological advancements and ethical decision-making within education.

Of particular concern is the observation that graduate students, a demographic widely regarded for their commitment to academic rigor, are significantly impacted by these trends. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of graduate students reported witnessing cheating behaviors. It is possible that graduate students report witnessing more cheating as some fulfill the role of Tutorial Lead and Teaching Assistants for undergraduate classes.

The study also shows the tension surrounding AI. Balancing the impact of new learning technologies’ ability to help students flourish with the potential to facilitate cheating is not new, the release of ChatGPT has brought this tension into focus and given post-secondary institutions a lot to consider as they head into the 2023-2024 academic year.

The research report offers a call to action for educators and policymakers to address the growing complexities surrounding AI, academic integrity, and cheating in higher education. It serves as a catalyst for ongoing discussions that seek to strike a balance between technological progress and preserving the fundamental tenets of education.

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Working at Six Mile Lake Provincial Park is a great way to meet new people and get in some fishing, hiking, or paddling after a shift. Students have the opportunity to contribute to the protection and operation of this beautiful park. A variety of positions are currently available, any interested applicants can email their résumé OntarioParksJobs@ontario.cato start the application process.

For more information on working at Ontario Parks please visit OntarioParks.com/careers.

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ORIGIN is an Indigenous-owned and operated company which focused on innovating the process of recruitment and selection while developing localized workforce and partnership strategies. The company has travelled to more than 30 First Nations communities in the North, delivering training services with their mobile heavy equipment simulator classroom.

Britt had 10 students from Grades 6-8 participate in the event where they learned how to drive machines safely, how big machines work, the safety rules when driving machines and about various trades through virtual reality (VR).

Roy Desjardins, Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) coordinator and dual credit teacher said, “This is the first year we have been able to get the VR simulator trailer and I wanted to make sure one of our more rural schools got the chance. Britt has a small student population, so we were able to ensure most of the senior students had a chance to try out the simulator.”

Britt Public School Vice-Principal Marlene Michaelis said, “It was an opportunity to look closely at skilled trades they may be interested in. The Grade 8 students were able to view a virtual reality experience that showcased several trades through a 360-degree program.”

In addition to the heavy equipment simulations, ORIGIN offers virtual reality experiences in several trades including wildlife biologist, millwright, autobody repair and aircraft engineer to name just a few.

“The Grades 6, 7, and 8 students spent a great deal of the day on the simulators, working an excavator and driving a loader. A few Grade 5 students were invited to try the machines, as well,” Michaelis said. “Many of the students were interested in learning more about the trades that they had been completely unfamiliar with. As our students venture forth into high school, they are more informed as to their options for the future.”

Britt student Myra said, “It was so cool! We learned how to drive big machines safely. They even said they actually train people on those games. There were a lot of different jobs to look through.”

Fellow student Paige said, “The chairs moved. It was so hard. I hit a pipe and the entire chair moved. I started to dig slower after that!”

Student Aiyana also had her eyes opened to the different career possibilities in the trades, stating, “I didn’t know that hairdressing was a trade!”

“Did you know that we don’t have to go to college or university?” student Donny said. “We can start working in an apprenticeship right away. We can get paid to learn.”

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Georgian and Toronto Hydro have a long-standing partnership and are united in their shared humanitarian values that promote education as the great equalizer for students, especially for those dealing with significant physical, emotional and financial duress due to circumstances beyond their control.

“The Electrical Engineering programs offered by Georgian College train future talent to fill critical roles that are needed more than ever in the energy sector and beyond as we prepare for an electrified future,” said Anthony Haines, President and CEO, Toronto Hydro. “These awards provide support to students who will go on to make valuable contributions to our industry, and Toronto Hydro is pleased to assist newcomers to Canada joining us from Ukraine.”

Georgian will launch the Toronto Hydro Ukrainian Student Entrance Bursary this spring for incoming international students who self-identify as being impacted by the conflict in Ukraine and are pursuing studies in an eligible full-time program. These programs include electrical engineering technician and technologist diploma programs and a number of programs in the Skilled Trades area. Eight bursaries are available, with a value of $5,000 each. Students accepted to one of the eligible programs will receive a direct communication from Georgian about the award opportunity.

“We welcome the support provided by Toronto Hydro to encourage and assist Georgian students displaced by the ongoing attacks on the Ukraine,” said Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College. “We know that global political conflicts and disruptions impact many Georgian students and their families. Our college community strives to work alongside our committed partners to develop meaningful opportunities that remove barriers and promote greater student success. Thank you, Toronto Hydro.”

Toronto Hydro is also investing in Georgian’s new International Bursary Fund for Political Unrest. The bursary fund is open to current international students experiencing financial hardship due to political or financial unrest in their home county, and Toronto Hydro’s support will be available for students pursuing any year in electrical engineering diploma programs at Georgian. The value of the available bursaries is dependent upon

the student’s financial need, and the number of students that apply for assistance. Applications will open in the fall and students can learn more by visiting GeorgianCollege.ca/awards.

Toronto Hydro and Georgian have been collaborative partners for over a decade and are committed to help aspiring students reach their educational and careers goals within the energy and technical trades sector. To learn more about the partnership and to discover the full complement of student awards offered to Georgian students, visit Toronto Hydro partnership – Georgian College.

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“We’re committed to delivering an unrivaled student experience for all of our students, no matter where they come from,” said Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College. “As our international student population has grown, our services have also expanded, and at the same time there is always more we can do to help facilitate academic, career and personal success.”

The standards build on existing programs and services and cover everything from the marketing of programs in other countries to targeted assistance to help students adapt to life in Ontario. The standards incorporate best practices from other jurisdictions and align with similar standards in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Georgian’s commitments, as well as each signatory college’s commitments, include:

1. Ensuring the marketing of programs to international students is accurate and transparent.
2. Requiring international agents working for Georgian to have completed a sector-endorsed agent training program.
3. Ensuring information about services, supports and facilities is provided to students before they arrive in Ontario and once they are in the province. This would include information about mental health and well-being, student housing and employment opportunities.
4. Providing targeted assistance to help international students adjust to a new environment.

In addition to these commitments, Georgian formed an International Student Support & Settlement Task Force in 2021 to identify and close gaps in support and settlement services, as well as to develop a strong community network of newcomer service providers across all Georgian campuses.

In the coming months, the college sector will provide details about its quality assurance process to conduct regular audits of each signatory college’s fulfillment of the standards.

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