Although the new school year is still weeks away, back-to-school displays are up at most retailers and parents are out looking for deals. “It’s a very long list, a lot of erasers, sharpies, sketch books, highlighters, Scotch tape” said shopper Sophie Sabbagh. “I’m buying for two and it was about $130, and I’m not even done yet.” Parent Abou Sane says parents don’t have a choice but to try to fulfill school supply lists sent by teachers. “If there’s something missing the teachers will send home a note to let us know, so we have to buy them,” she said. More families are having difficulties affording all the necessary supplies for their children, according to Anne-Mare Ethier, Executive Director of Regroupement Partage. “When you have to choose between paying your bills, paying your rent or feeding your family, you know, school supplies are down the list,” Ethier said. Each year the non-profit has its Operation Sac a Dos campaign, which outfits children in need with a new lunch box and backpack, filled with everything from calculators to pens to art supplies. Since the pandemic, Ethier said there has been a steep increase in demand for their services, including in households where both parents are employed. “This year we’re helping 12,000 kids throughout the province, but this is not nearly as close as the demand,” Ethier said. “We could be helping six times that many children.” The value of goods children receive from Operation Sac a Dos is $185, but the cost of sending kids back to school is far more, according to the Retail Council of Canada. It estimates the average cost, including electronics, is between $600 and $750 per child. Santo Ligotti, VP of marketing for the agency, said its annual survey of 1,400 Canadian parents revealed they are feeling the financial pressure. “When we looked at the themes coming out that survey, definitely affordability was the defining issue,” he said. “In fact, more than 9 in 10 parents said it feels more expensive this year with 53 per cent telling us it’s a lot more expensive.” With other factors like soaring fuel and housing costs adding to the pressure, Ethier said it’s important that there are programs that relieve the burden for both parents and children, so they can start the school year without stress or the stigma of not having the supplies they need. “It gives them a lot of confidence. It puts them on the same pedestal as their friends when they start the year.
