Aliénor Rougeot almost considered giving up. Rougeot says that after she saw the early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, her fight for climate change legislation became an even more daunting task. “I almost thought, like, ‘Should I stop climate activism?’” she said. “Because [the pandemic] just set us back a whole lot in terms of pursuing environmental regulations, since [governments] have to put money elsewhere. This is just so big.” Rougeot, 21, has been a climate activist since she was a young child. She credits her mother for helping her get started. Growing up, Rougeout’s mother only allowed her to use the computer to read or watch educational content. “The…

The number of people who are experiencing food insecurity in Canada is increasing as a result of this pandemic.  According to a recent report by the non-profit Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC), one in seven Canadians are experiencing food insecurity in the country. The CFCC de nes food insecurity as not being able to “afford adequate or secure access to food.” “Food insecurity is not simply about a lack of food. Its ripple effects are wide and far-reaching, affecting physical and mental health, social connection and community, employment and aspirations, family life and more,” penned CEO Nick Saul and Dr. Kwame McKenzie in their report.” Executive Director of Feed Ontario, Carolyn Stewart-Stockwell, expresses similar…

By now, we all know of George Floyd. We know how he died. We know how one of the police officers, Derek Chauvin, had his knee pressed on Floyd’s neck for at least eight minutes during the arrest, as three other officers stood by and did nothing. We know Floyd’s last words: “I can’t breathe.” And we know the global impact Floyd’s death has made, with young people at the forefront of it. We’ve seen the protests and marches happening around the world, including here in Canada, a country built on systemic racism toward Black and Indigenous communities. The looming question begs: Now what? How can we, young people, keep…

We cannot deny that racism has always been — and continues to be — prevalent in Canada. What we can do is act on it. Educating ourselves is a good starting point.  Here are forms of media (books, podcasts, social media accounts, websites) that highlight racism’s impact on Black and Indigenous communities in Canada. Books: The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power by Desmond Cole Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present by Robyn Maynard Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada by Rodney Diverlus, Sandy Hudson and Syrus Marcus Ware BlackLife: Post-BLM and the Struggle for Freedom by Rinaldo Walcott…

Growing up in Canada, Justine Abigail Yu is always exploring her identity.  “Being a Filipina-Canadian, [you feel] this sort of push and pull being in between these two places, these two cultures,” Yu said. Yu knew she wasn’t alone in this. Growing up in Markham, Yu was surrounded by a very diverse community. “Some of my best friends are Vietnamese, Chinese. I grew up with Italians, people from the Caribbean, all over the place,” she said. “And I know we all have so much in common. The more I spoke about my experiences with living in between cultures, I realized how a lot of these things are actually common.” As a result,…