Community Highlights
Pathways Programming Across the Country in 2023
Preparing Rexdale Youth for Success Beyond High School
To succeed in Canada’s increasingly competitive job market, youth living in low-income communities need clear, practical guidance to navigate high school and maintain a strong vision of future career opportunities.
Pathways Rexdale staff supported Grade 10 and 11 students by organizing a program called Grade 12 & Beyond, featuring information sessions covering various fields of study in post-secondary education and related career paths.
The sessions discussed career paths and required skills, salaries, and entry requirements for post-secondary programs, with a second in-person event focused on skilled trades. Students also had the opportunity to connect with post-secondary facilitators to gain insights into university or college life. For participating students, these sessions exposed them to diverse career options and provided valuable insights for their future career planning.
Addressing Food Insecurity Through Partnerships in Scarborough Village
To extend their capacity to address community priorities, Pathways Scarborough Village focuses on creating wraparound services by building partnerships.
To address food insecurity, YouthLink, Pathways’ Program Partner in Scarborough Village, connected with Second Harvest to host a donation table in the program space, providing canned food and non-perishable goods for families to take home. This semester, the team is also organizing cooking programming on the same evenings as tutoring, so that students can learn how to make healthy snacks and share them with their peers.
Bite-Sized Learning: Cookies and Consent at Pathways Vancouver
Students at Pathways Vancouver participated in Cookies and Consent, an activity designed to help youth learn about consent and sexual exploitation in an engaging and accessible way.
The activity involved a trivia-style game where every correct answer contributed an ingredient into a cookie mixture—with students enjoying the cookies with staff at the end of the game. The game helped to relieve awkwardness around the topic and make the conversation more comfortable and engaging for students, making it easier for them to ask questions, share thoughts, and absorb critical information.
A Decade of Impact at Pathways Shawinigan
Pathways Shawinigan recently celebrated their 10-year program anniversary, marking a decade of impact in the community.
For the past 10 years, program staff in Shawinigan have been committed to building and maintaining strong relationships with community members to provide holistic support to students, including working with schools and the school board to help students stay on track with school. Pathways Shawinigan celebrated this milestone with a graduation gala—an opportunity to recognize the achievements of students and celebrate the commitment from staff. The gala also provided an opportunity to thank Pathways Shawinigan’s partners by showcasing the impact they’ve made on students’ lives and to increase the program’s visibility in the community.
Personalized Programming for Spryfield Youth
At Pathways Spryfield, the team is committed to continuously innovating program supports to address the unique needs of the students they serve.
Last year, they launched a new mentoring group designed to foster deeper engagement with students who are on a non-traditional learning path at school. Many of the students have an adjusted curriculum based on their learning needs, meaning they have fewer opportunities to socialize during Pathways tutoring. To address this challenge, staff created personalized engagement plans to enhance these students’ learning experiences at Pathways.
The mentoring group, called To Be Determined, meets weekly to participate in team-bonding activities in a quiet setting. It’s an accessible solution for youth to build peer support systems while also creating a channel of communication for the team to better understand their interests. This group has been fundamental for shaping new discussions about students’ career goals and post-secondary plans, and in providing mentoring opportunities to bolster their independent living skills.
Supporting Financial Literacy at Pathways Joliette
Young people living in low-income communities often face barriers to long-term financial well-being. The Pathways Program provides access to financial literacy programming to help students navigate their options for education, choose between careers, and manage their money long-term.
In partnership with Desjardins, Pathways Joliette offered students a workshop called Personal Finances: I’m in Charge. The workshop aims to equip young people with financial health through a series of modules, including cell phone account management and credit management.
Helping Saint John Students Develop Independence Through Culinary Arts
Pathways Saint John students participated in Far Away Kitchen, a youth-led culinary program. Youth created cultural dishes and sold them at their local farmers’ market to support the Saint John community. They were trained by certified food handlers and applied professional culinary standards within the workplace. The activity started when one youth expressed an interest in culinary arts to staff. The program has played a role in helping students to become more self-sufficient, with opportunities to take on responsibilities such as food prep, grocery shopping, and selecting a market venue.
