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Raising Canada 2021: Recovering from the Impacts of COVID-19
As kids head back to school this week, Children First Canada has released its annual Raising Canada report that tracks the top 10 threats to childhood in Canada. This year's report reveals alarming statistics about the health and well-being of children, confirming that the pandemic has accelerated and amplified each of the threats.
Kids are in crisis and have experienced widespread violations of their human rights.
This year’s report comes as Canadians head to the polls to elect a new federal government. Yet party platforms have largely ignored children’s issues, with the exception of child care.
“Kids can’t vote, but they are citizens with rights, and they need to be prioritized," says Sara Austin, founder and CEO of Children First Canada. "We hope that Canadians both young and old will use the upcoming election to reach out to the federal leaders and their local candidates and demand action. We owe that to children.”
Click here to read our statement. To access the full Raising Canada 2021 report, click the button below.
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Join the conversation
We invite you to a digital Raising Canada event on October 6 at 1 p.m. ET to take a deeper look at the issue affecting Canada's youngest citizens.
Our interactive event will include:
- A panel discussion about this year’s top 10 threats to childhood in Canada
- Insights from child health experts, thought leaders, advocates and children themselves
- Policy solutions to address the emerging threats and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19
Speakers:
Dr. Katharine Smart, President 2021-2022, Canadian Medical Association, and a pediatrician in Whitehorse, Yukon
Naki Osutei, Associate Vice-President, Social Impact (Canada), Global Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank
Dr. Alika Lafontaine, President Elect, Canadian Medical Association, and Indigenous Health Advocate, Anesthesiologist, Grand Prairie, Alberta
Rae Steeves, Climate/Social Justice Activist, Author and member of the Young Canadians’ Parliament
Amber Mac, Speaker, Author, Host Entrepreneur (Raising Canada Event Moderator)
Don’t miss your chance to participate in this important event!
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Children's voices matter!
Young people’s perspectives are often excluded from research, reports and policy deliberations. For this reason, we engaged with children and youth in a variety of ways to produce this year's Raising Canada report. The artwork pictured here was submitted by a kindergarten student along with this quote:
“I feel sad and bored because I can’t do fun stuff.”
– Jack, 5, Alberta
Read the full report for more artistic expressions from kids and youth about their experiences during the pandemic.
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It's time for Canada to take a stand
The Raising Canada 2021 report is released with joint calls to action signed by the Council of Champions – which includes leaders of children’s hospitals, charities, and research institutes across the country – calling on federal and provincial leaders to prioritize the needs of children and youth.
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Spread the word on social media
Kids are in crisis. The urgency to support children and youth has never been greater. We’re urging all Canadians to put #ChildrenFirst – and we’re urging the federal and provincial governments to put #ChildrenAtTheHeart of Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plans. Will you help us to spread the word? Download our social media toolkit for sample posts, graphics, and more!
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Get the facts
Did you know that almost one in five children lives in poverty? And suicide remains a leading cause of death for children and youth aged 10-19 (Statistics Canada). Check out our infographic for more facts about the top 10 threats facing kids and the impacts of COVID-19.
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