STC, PotashCorp equip kids for start of new school year
- Fraser Needham | August 31, 2015
With back to school just around the corner, the Saskatoon Tribal Council and Potash Corporation are doing their part to ensure students are prepared.
On Thursday, August 27, STC and PotashCorp gave away about 500 backpacks to students to help them start the school year off on the right foot.
The backpacks contain various supplies students will need for school.
Roughly 250 of the backpacks were given out to Kindergarten to Grade 5 students and the other 250 to those in Grades 6 to 12.
Demand actually outstripped supply and some students are on a waiting list for the backpacks.
The event was part of STC’s annual carnival at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge in Saskatoon.
PotashCorp director of Aboriginal strategy Leanne Bellegarde says the company believes it is important to try to eliminate as many barriers as possible to inner-city kids achieving an education.
“With PotashCorp and our partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council, Aboriginal participation in the future is about closing the education gap,” she says. “And something as simple as a backpack full of school supplies really does empower young people and excite them about going to school. It’s important that you start early and keep that excitement and enthusiasm going. So, it’s a big part of ensuring young people are making their way to the education system.”
STC Chief Felix Thomas adds the tribal council recognizes many families in the core communities are living on limited incomes and any help they can get to ensure their children are prepared for the new school year is much appreciated.
“A lot of these people in the core communities do have a fixed income and a lot of times it adds to the stress of daily living,” he says. “And, when it’s back to school, they need these things and if their kids don’t get them they are not properly equipped. So, we wanted to make sure that they do go back and that they have the same supplies as everyone else.”
For those students who were not able to obtain backpacks, they have been asked to return on Monday at which time they will be outfitted.
STC’s daylong annual carnival included a number of games and activities for children and included participation by Saskatoon Police, Saskatoon Fire Department and SaskEnergy.