At a school in Moncton, N.B., the doors to the gymnasium opened at 9 a.m. sharp on Aug. 19. Inside, students, parents and community members were greeted by a spread of second-hand clothes, backpacks, shoes, boots and books. Music played over the speaker; kids were in high spirits.
Queen Elizabeth School was hosting its first-ever back-to-school shop, an initiative spearheaded by vice-principal Kyle Bishop and the owner of a local consignment store in nearby Riverview, N.B., called Ready, Set, Grow.
The shop gave families a chance to choose from donated items ahead of the first day of school — without paying a cent.
“Our parents do the best that they can with the reality that they have,” Bishop said, adding the school has a large newcomer population. “And so when this opportunity came up, I just thought of all the families that this could benefit immensely.”
As inflation continues to put pressure on the cost of just about everything — from food to clothes to school supplies — Canadians across the country are preparing for the back-to-school season by turning to second-hand options as a way to save money.
Students select backpacks at a back-to-school-event at North Central Family Centre in Regina last week. Free backpacks and school supplies were offered following a donation drive. (Adam Bent/CBC)
In a questionnaire from NerdWallet, a personal finance company, 27 per cent of respondents said they will spend less on school supplies this year compared with previous years due to inflation, while 20 per cent said they had plans to purchase or buy back-to-school items second hand.
Conducted by the Harris Poll, the survey included 303 Canadian adults and is considered accurate within 6.4 per cent.
“It was a good way to start the school year, regardless of anything,” Bishop said. “Just to have teachers and the administration talk with parents, see the kids that we haven’t seen in a couple months, see if they’re excited for school.”
‘Everyone’s really feeling the pinch’
As parents across the country say they’re struggling with back-to-school costs, community organizations are trying to meet a demand that is outpacing donations.
One Calgary organization said the demand for backpacks jumped by 76 per cent this year, while the founder of a charity that operates across Newfoundland and Labrador said more than 260 people have registered — and 200 more are on a waiting list — for the organization’s back-to-school necessities program.
A line snaked outside the entrance to the Cape Breton Regional Library in Sydney, N.S., one morning last week, as the branch hosted its first kids’ “clothing swap” — where a donation gets you a shopping voucher.
On this particular day, that criteria didn’t apply, as parents and children rummaged through clothes before the beginning of the school year.
Sydney resident Natasha Kinslow, who was there with her son, said affordability has been extra challenging this year.
“Everything costs a lot. It’s overpriced. Everything. Especially being a single mom, it’s hard,” Kinslow said, adding that the clothing swap likely saved her a lot of money.
Jannette Vusich, assistant regional program co-ordinator at the Cape Breton Regional Library in Sydney, N.S., organizes donation inventory during a ‘clothing swap’ for kids last week. (CBC)
Jannette Vusich, assistant regional program co-ordinator at the library, previously organized two adult clothing swaps thanks to demand from patrons. More than 300 people attended those events, she said.
Vusich said the library received hundreds, possibly thousands, of donated items.
“There were kids with every parent, and they were going through and finding their own clothes — and they were very excited to show us the cute things they found,” she said.
“Everyone’s really feeling the pinch, and people have been telling us how excited they are to have this option available,” Vusich said, noting that library patrons and other non-profits that the library works with have stressed the financial pressures Canadians are facing.
WATCH | How to deal with back-to-school costs in this economy:
Grappling with back-to-school expenses in a tough economy
19 days ago
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The rising cost of everything is forcing some families to make difficult choices, and school supplies are just adding to the troubles. Even charitable organizations have been forced to cut back.
Vusich said she thinks there’s been a gradual shift away from the stigma of poverty and that events like the one held at the library help because the whole community participates.
Thrifting has become trendy, especially among teenagers, she said, and people are generally looking for more sustainable alternatives to fast fashion — where cheap clothes are mass produced quickly and then discarded.
“I think everyone is taking home $100, $150 worth of clothing, and we really hope it helps our community with their back-to-school needs,” Vusich said.
Changing attitudes toward buying second hand
The mentality toward second-hand shopping has changed significantly over the last few years — “not just because people are looking to save money, but people want to recycle,” said Barry Choi, a Toronto-based personal finance expert.
“Anyone who’s got young children realize they grow so quickly, so why buy these [new] clothes that they’re just going to outgrow within a few months?”
Toronto-based personal finance expert Barry Choi said that his top recommendation to parents is to make a list before shopping for back-to-school clothes and supplies. (CBC)
For families who are shopping for back-to-school items, Choi said his No. 1 recommendation is to make a list beforehand and ensure you don’t already have the things your child says they need.
“The last thing you want is to show up at the store. You start shopping, you and your spouse [are] like, ‘Oh, do we need this or do we need this, do we need that?’ And you end up buying all these things that you already have.”
For Bishop, the vice-principal in Moncton, the back-to-school shop is just one way that the school can help its community during times of financial duress.
The school also partners with other community organizations to host a school supplies drive, as well as breakfast and lunch programs. It’s hoping to turn the back-to-school shop into a seasonal event.
“Kids go [to school] to learn. That’s extremely important,” Bishop said.
“But we are part of the community and we support the community, not just in academics but in all facets of a child’s life.”
TORONTO – Canada Goose Holdings Inc. says it has signed a deal that will result in the creation of its first eyewear collection.
The deal announced on Thursday by the Toronto-based luxury apparel company comes in the form of an exclusive, long-term global licensing agreement with Marchon Eyewear Inc.
The terms and value of the agreement were not disclosed, but Marchon produces eyewear for brands including Lacoste, Nike, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Longchamp and Zeiss.
Marchon plans to roll out both sunglasses and optical wear under the Canada Goose name next spring, starting in North America.
Canada Goose says the eyewear will be sold through optical retailers, department stores, Canada Goose shops and its website.
Canada Goose CEO Dani Reiss told The Canadian Press in August that he envisioned his company eventually expanding into eyewear and luggage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Almost seven years since news broke of an alleged conspiracy to fix the price of packaged bread across Canada, the saga isn’t over: the Competition Bureau continues to investigate the companies that may have been involved, and two class-action lawsuits continue to work their way through the courts.
Here’s a timeline of key events in the bread price-fixing case.
Oct. 31, 2017: The Competition Bureau says it’s investigating allegations of bread price-fixing and that it was granted search warrants in the case. Several grocers confirm they are co-operating in the probe.
Dec. 19, 2017: Loblaw and George Weston say they participated in an “industry-wide price-fixing arrangement” to raise the price of packaged bread. The companies say they have been co-operating in the Competition Bureau’s investigation since March 2015, when they self-reported to the bureau upon discovering anti-competitive behaviour, and are receiving immunity from prosecution. They announce they are offering $25 gift cards to customers amid the ongoing investigation into alleged bread price-fixing.
Jan. 31, 2018: In court documents, the Competition Bureau says at least $1.50 was added to the price of a loaf of bread between about 2001 and 2016.
Dec. 20, 2019: A class-action lawsuit in a Quebec court against multiple grocers and food companies is certified against a number of companies allegedly involved in bread price-fixing, including Loblaw, George Weston, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart Canada, Canada Bread and Giant Tiger (which have all denied involvement, except for Loblaw and George Weston, which later settled with the plaintiffs).
Dec. 31, 2021: A class-action lawsuit in an Ontario court covering all Canadian residents except those in Quebec who bought packaged bread from a company named in the suit is certified against roughly the same group of companies.
June 21, 2023: Bakery giant Canada Bread Co. is fined $50 million after pleading guilty to four counts of price-fixing under the Competition Act as part of the Competition Bureau’s ongoing investigation.
Oct. 25 2023: Canada Bread files a statement of defence in the Ontario class action denying participating in the alleged conspiracy and saying any anti-competitive behaviour it participated in was at the direction and to the benefit of its then-majority owner Maple Leaf Foods, which is not a defendant in the case (neither is its current owner Grupo Bimbo). Maple Leaf calls Canada Bread’s accusations “baseless.”
Dec. 20, 2023: Metro files new documents in the Ontario class action accusing Loblaw and its parent company George Weston of conspiring to implicate it in the alleged scheme, denying involvement. Sobeys has made a similar claim. The two companies deny the allegations.
July 25, 2024: Loblaw and George Weston say they agreed to pay a combined $500 million to settle both the Ontario and Quebec class-action lawsuits. Loblaw’s share of the settlement includes a $96-million credit for the gift cards it gave out years earlier.
Sept. 12, 2024: Canada Bread files new documents in Ontario court as part of the class action, claiming Maple Leaf used it as a “shield” to avoid liability in the alleged scheme. Maple Leaf was a majority shareholder of Canada Bread until 2014, and the company claims it’s liable for any price-fixing activity. Maple Leaf refutes the claims.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:L, TSX:MFI, TSX:MRU, TSX:EMP.A, TSX:WN)
TORONTO – TD Bank Group, which is mired in a money laundering scandal in the U.S., says chief executive Bharat Masrani will retire next year.
Masrani, who will retire officially on April 10, 2025, says the bank’s, “anti-money laundering challenges,” took place on his watch and he takes full responsibility.
The bank named Raymond Chun, TD’s group head, Canadian personal banking, as his successor.
As part of a transition plan, Chun will become chief operating officer on Nov. 1 before taking over the top job when Masrani steps down at the bank’s annual meeting next year.
TD also announced that Riaz Ahmed, group head, wholesale banking and president and CEO of TD Securities, will retire at the end of January 2025.
TD has taken billions in charges related to ongoing U.S. investigations into the failure of its anti-money laundering program.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
