What We Do

Raising Canada

Launched in 2018, Raising Canada is an annual series of reports that track the top 10 threats to childhood. The report sheds light on the reality that one-third of kids in Canada do not enjoy a safe and healthy childhood. For more than a decade, the state of childhood in Canada has been on the decline. Canada ranks 30th out of 38 affluent nations for protecting the well-being of children, according to UNICEF – a significant drop from 12th place in 2007. As a country, we have been going in the wrong direction for far too long.

Recovering from the Impacts of COVID-19

Raising Canada 2022 is the fifth in an annual series of reports that track the top 10 threats to childhood. This year, the report highlights how the pandemic has amplified and accelerated the top 10 threats facing kids across the country. The data also reveals that equity-deserving children and youth are facing the greatest impacts of the pandemic – including young First Nations, Métis and Inuit children, people from racialized communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and young people with disabilities.

What’s inside:

  • The latest data on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on kids in Canada

  • An equity, diversity and inclusion lens applied throughout the report

  • An analysis of the interconnection between threats

  • Artistic expressions and quotes from children across Canada

  • Recommendations and calls to action for the Government of Canada

Click here for previous reports.

View the 2022 Raising Canada event below:

Event Speakers

Naki Osutei

Associate Vice-President, Social Impact (Canada), TD Bank

Opening Remarks

Rhiannon Rosalind

President and CEO, The Economic Club of Canada, Founder of The Jr. Economic Club of Canada, CEO & Co-Founder of The Global Institute for Conscious Economics (GICE), and Member of the Council of Champions at Children First Canada

Moderator

Lynn Barr-Telford

Assistant Chief Statistician of the Social, Health and Labour Statistics Field at Statistics Canada

Sara Austin

Founder and CEO of Children First Canada

Thalia Bueno

Thalia Bueno

Youth Advisory Council Member, Children First Canada

Dr. Joanna Henderson

Director, Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health, CAMH

André Picard

Health reporter and columnist for The Globe and Mail

Moderator

Michelle Mobarrez

District Vice President, Calgary Central, TD

Opening Remarks

Alana Riley

Alana Riley

Senior Vice-President, IG Wealth Management

Dr. Susanne Benseler

Director, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Husky Energy Chair in Child and Maternal Health, and Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair in Pediatric Research

Sara Austin

Sara Austin

Founder and CEO of Children First Canada

Kiran Layal

Director of Brand Management, SureCall

Azaad Gill

Youth Panelist

Kluane Adamek

Yukon Regional Chief, Assembly of First Nations

Calls to Action

The Raising Canada 2022 report is released with joint calls to action signed by the Council of Champions. Together, we are urging Canadians and the federal government to invest in the lives of all 8 million kids in Canada and address the inequities faced by young people today.

Children First Canada acknowledges the generous financial support of the following organizations, which helped make the Raising Canada report possible.

  • TD Bank Group
  • The Government of Canada through the Intersectoral Action Fund
  • Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute
  • SickKids Hospital
  • SureCall
  • Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)
  • McMaster Children’s Hospital
  • IG Wealth Management
  • Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Children First Canada gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Statistics Canada to the Raising Canada report.

Presenting Partner

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Take Care

Take Action!

Help spread the word about the top 10 threats to childhood and the impacts of COVID-19. Don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered. Check out our social media toolkit for tips on how you can raise awareness.

Top 10 Threats to childhood in Canada

Get the Facts

Did you know that almost one in five children lives in poverty? Check out our infographic for more statistics about the top 10 threats facing kids and the impacts of COVID-19.

Drawing Contest

A Better Canada For Kids Drawing Contest

Children First Canada is launching a drawing contest for children 13 and under across Canada. Selected artwork will win some great prizes and be featured in our upcoming Raising Canada report, due out later this year.

Upcoming Events

Nov. 20

National Child Day 2022

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Oct. 06

Raising Canada 2022

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Learn More

Drawing Contest

Call for Artwork | Raising Canada

A BETTER CANADA FOR KIDS DRAWING CONTEST Children First Canada is launching a drawing contest for children 18 and under across Canada.  Selected artwork will win some great prizes and be featured in our upcoming Raising Canada report, due out later this year.   Children are asked to think about how...

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Event Partners and Sponsors

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