Affordability top of mind for these Hamilton, Kitchener parents as school returns

Children in Ontario return to the classroom this week and with rising costs, back-to-school shopping can be a big blow to parents' bank accounts. 

"We've done a lot of clothing drives just to cut down on money," Arlene Nancekivell said.

Nancekivell, who was visiting Hamilton in the final days of summer from Kitchener-Waterloo, told CBC Hamilton she has been getting hand-me-down clothes for her two children and has had to cut back on their extracurricular activities. 

Some kids like eight-year-old Noah Lyons in Hamilton are excited to be back in school this week, to see friends and to put on a pair of new sneakers. But figures released by Statistics Canada in August show that the price of many school-related items, such as stationery supplies, lunch box food staples and after-school activities have gone up this year. 

That, coupled with the growing cost of items and services stemming from rising inflation rates means this September's back-to-school season is hitting some parents harder.

That's why groups around the city have been running backpack drives in the final weeks of summer.

In Hamilton's east end last week, volunteers helped send backpacks full of school supplies to elementary schools across Hamilton, Stoney Creek and Niagara as part of Operation Backpack. 

"We started in 2010 with 92 backpacks. We're up to 1,500 right now," said Darren Green, president of the Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council.

'The need is growing'

The event is put on by a combination of retirees, local steelworker unions and companies, as well as the CFL Players Association.

Around 500 backpacks were being handed out to students in need through St. Matthew's House, a social service agency in Hamilton's north end that provides childcare.

The others were being delivered to 29 elementary schools and one high school. Green said next year, they will expand to donate school supplies to more high schools. 

ArcelorMittal human resources representative Nadia Jamal said she has seen the need grow over the years. 

"Last year we supported 18 schools and this year we are at 30 schools, so it's more than double — and the need is growing," she said. 

Jamal, who has a son in Grade 12 and a daughter in Grade 7, said the backpacks provide a little bit of relief for parents who are trying to make ends meet — a struggle she says she understands. 

"The school supplies for my kids, the backpack — everything adds up to your monthly bills," she said.

The Retail Council of Canada says it is seeing the pressures of inflation translate how people are spending their money. 

In a survey released last month, it found the number of people planning to spend less than $50 on school shopping has gone up by 3.4 per cent compared to 2022.

It says that could be "indicative of the tightening of purse strings due to the prevailing economic conditions."

Since the pandemic, Jamal said she has had to tighten her purse strings and watch her finances more carefully.  

"Cost is unbelievable. Everything, the basic needs are in high prices," she said. "I don't want to say [my family is] struggling, but we are."