Newsroom - Other News

People with low incomes, Aboriginal peoples, racialized groups and youth are falling behind on key quality of life indicators, says a report released today by the Institute of Wellbeing, How are Canadians Really doing? A Closer Look at Select Groups. Women in poor neighbourhoods have 25% higher odds of having a premature birth; Aboriginal people are almost four times more likely to live in a crowded dwelling; visible minority or racialized groups are three times more likely to be poor due to low wages, social exclusion and racialization in the labour market; and earnings of young adults relative to other earners have been falling over the past 20 years. Click here for a fact sheet or download the full report.

Foundation staff member Violetta Ilkiw writes about the emergence of the youth led sector, published in a recent issue of The Philanthropist http://www.thephilanthropist.ca/index.php/phil/article/view/810

Here’s her summary: “A number of years ago, I tried to explain to a colleague that there was an emerging youth-led sector and why this was exciting. Today, I believe this so-called youth-led sector is no longer emerging. It is here. Now what are emerging are the inevitable changes that will come to the nonprofit and social service sector as a whole. Through a series of interviews with leaders who provide capacity support to youth and youth-led organizations, this article touches broadly on some of the issues surfacing in the growing youth-led field.”

The funds ensure that CYBF continues to help aspiring young entrepreneurs open businesses in communities across Canada, creating jobs while strengthening Canada's economic recovery. The initiative provides economic stimulus by enabling the launch of an estimated 500 new businesses over the next year. These businesses will generate an estimated 2,500 new jobs and $63 million in revenues within three years. More information on CYBF at www.cybf.ca

Read the reflections of Abe Drennan and Kent Rutledge on a gathering held to discuss Youth Social Infrastructure in Bancroft ON at the beginning of May (PDF)

People for Education has released its 2010 Annual report on Ontario’s publicly funded schools. You can access the full report here http://www.peopleforeducation.com/annualreport/ONpublicschools2010

Some highlights:

Student success:

Ontario has more university graduates as a percentage of the population than any other province in Canada. The percentage of Grade 3 and Grade 6 students receiving level 2 or better (60% or above) on EQAO reading and math tests has remained steady at between 86% and 89% since 2004/05.

Declining enrolment/school closings:

This year, the average elementary school in Ontario has 314 students, 14% fewer than when Ontario’s Education Funding Formula was developed in 1997/98.

32 schools closed across the province in 2009. A further 160 are slated or recommended to close over the next three years, representing the largest increase in school...

Through case studies, stories, activities, real life lessons and practical recommendations, this Guidebook offers insights and tools to bring youth engagement to life in organizations and communities.

http://www.youthscape.ca/LearningCentre_Changing%20the%20Landscape.html

Minister Laurel Broten recently announced the beginning of a province-wide engagement process to develop a Youth Policy Framework, a recommendation of the Review of the Roots of Youth Violence report http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/youthandthelaw/roots/index.aspx  tabled in 2008.

The Framework will create an evidence-based resource to be used to better understand the developmental needs of young individuals and the kinds of opportunities they need to ensure their success - as youth and through their transition to adulthood. 

Young people will be engaged throughout the development of this work.  The Ministry has launched a recruitment campaign to establish a Youth Development Committee, a team of young people aged 18-25, who will work with the Ministry to make sure that the diverse voices of youth are heard in this process...

In 2006, FYI developed a Scholarship Program in commemoration of Jamal Hemmings and Amon Beckles, two Toronto youth who were both tragically lost to gun violence in November 2005. Jamal and Amon were participants in FYI’s daily programs and will be remembered for their positive, vibrant personalities and dance skills. FYI honours their memory through the FYI Scholarship Program.

The FYI Scholarship Program serves as a momentous way for the community to recognize and show commitment towards young people.  FYI believes that it is crucial to invest in young people to generate youth leadership and healthy communities. ...