More Canadian students expected to go to school hungry this year than ever before

As Canadian students get back to the classroom, a record number of them will be accessing the school breakfast program this year, according to the Breakfast Club of Canada.

As students head back to class, a record number are going to be accessing the breakfast program this school year across Canada.

Breakfast Club of Canada, the country’s largest school food provider, reports it is seeing a record number of children attending supported breakfast programs.

They estimate that at least one in three children in the country is experiencing food insecurity, leading to more pressure on organizations like theirs.

“Since the pandemic … we’ve seen more than a 30 per cent increase in program attendance. So, it means that in every school class or every school each morning, there’s 30 per cent more kids needing a breakfast,” said Francois Jolicoeur, Breakfast Club of Canada’s director of programs.

Add on inflation and tariffs leading to sky-high grocery prices, and Jolicoeur says running a breakfast program is costing more than it used to.

Right now, the organization and its partners serve around 650,000 kids across Canada daily. However, Jolicoeur estimates that, due to increased demand, there are roughly 800,000 kids unable to benefit from their program.

Jolicoeur emphasized the importance of ensuring every child has a meal to start the day, regardless of their background.

“I challenge everyone that’s listening to us to just try and not have breakfast in the morning and go to work and not eat until 12 o’clock and see how that works for them in terms of, ‘Am I productive? Do I have the right level of attention?’ That’s also true for kids.”