Next Gen Insider

Morgan Sharp reports from Toronto on the city's young population and their civic engagement and impact on the local institutions that make democracy function.

Canada's National Observer is a proud participant of the Local Journalism Initiative, which supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.

531 Articles

Women’s team needs Canadians’ support after threat of legal action sends players back to the field: university coach

Soccer fans are throwing their support behind the Canadian women's team as players return to the field Thursday after walking off the job.

Nairah Ahmed

February 16th 2023

‘Largest birthday party ever’: Admirers young and old celebrate life of beloved Mississauga mayor

On what would have been former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion’s 102nd birthday, legions of admirers gathered to celebrate her life at a state funeral.

Nairah Ahmed

February 15th 2023

Looks and tastes like salmon — but it never swam a day in its life

Imagine a whole cut of salmon hitting the pan, releasing its unique aromas, turning semi-translucent and flaking as it cooks. Now imagine that salmon never swam in the water.

Morgan Sharp

February 2nd 2023

Toronto students turn school grounds into thriving urban farm, workshop and event space

Here are all the facilities Dan Kunanec’s green industries, design and hospitality programs at Don Mills CI in Toronto have built up around the school.

Morgan Sharp

January 19th 2023

Don Mills school program shows students a greener way forward

The green industries program at Don Mills Collegiate Institute has grown steadily over the 20-plus years that teacher Dan Kunanec has put into the urban innovation project, which each year sends dozens of high school students on their way to environmentally sustainable careers.

Morgan Sharp

January 19th 2023

Toronto District School Board says high school students can learn virtually in 2023-24

Fully virtual school will remain an option for high school students in the Toronto District School Board for the 2023-24 school year, with the country’s largest board saying it is offering online-only education next year as a choice of learning model, not a pandemic response.

Morgan Sharp

January 12th 2023

Future Sound 6ix offers musical insight to often sidelined Toronto youth

The two-day pilot workshop gave about a dozen racialized, female-identified and gender-non-conforming high school students the chance to create their own electronic music and get familiar with high-end equipment.

Morgan Sharp

January 11th 2023

Amid elections, school shutdowns and a climate crisis, Toronto youth did it for themselves in 2022

Young people emerged from COVID-19 restrictions this year to join projects fighting food and housing insecurity, get involved in the summer’s provincial election and take the Ontario government to court over climate change.

Morgan Sharp

January 3rd 2023

Financial literacy key to equity for students behind Target Alpha

Sharing the knowledge and power of financial literacy can help lift up marginalized students and communities, says Angelika Bell.

Morgan Sharp

December 30th 2022

Toronto District School Board shutters schools ahead of nasty holiday storm

Schools across Toronto will shut down for the holiday break a day early, district school boards said late Thursday afternoon as a massive storm threatens several days of intense weather.

Morgan Sharp

December 22nd 2022

Toronto orchestra tells queer stories, celebrates community

The Queer Songbook Orchestra’s youth contingent only got a handful of hours to rehearse together before Tuesday's holiday fundraiser, but that's part of the impromptu joy in its community building by founder Shaun Brodie.

Morgan Sharp

December 20th 2022

Co-ordinated effort required to fix problems at Toronto school, youth advocate says

A complex but solvable crisis at a recently merged Toronto high school requires co-ordinated effort and time to fix, the executive director of a nearby youth outreach organization says.

Morgan Sharp

December 15th 2022

Changes coming to Ontario tech curriculum in bid to meet labour needs

The Ontario government is revising its high school technology curriculum as part of an effort to prepare students for a changing workforce.

Morgan Sharp

December 13th 2022

Canada’s higher-education research and development funding inches up, thanks to federal cash

Funding for research and development at Canada’s post-secondary institutions inched up to $15.9 billion in 2020-21, a 0.5 per cent increase from the prior year.

Morgan Sharp

December 12th 2022

Parents, teachers, students want more climate change education, poll shows

A national poll shows Canadians are more engaged and eager to improve the ways we teach and learn about how to deal with climate change.

Morgan Sharp

December 8th 2022