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

Climate activists target banks funding oil and gas in global day of action

The global climate justice movement focused its protest energy directly on big banks who bankroll new and expanded fossil fuel projects on Friday, with Royal Bank of Canada marked as enemy No. 1 in actions across Canada.

October 29th 2021

Ignite Fair for high school volunteers expands and goes interactive

The fair to help high school students in and around Toronto connect with volunteer opportunities expanded in its second virtual iteration to offer an interactive experience to three times as many youth as its real-life events and across a wider geographical area.

Morgan Sharp

October 29th 2021

Ontario doesn’t require vaccines in schools. But science advisers, school board are pushing for shots

The deadlines the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) announced in an email Wednesday were a delay on its original plan, while Premier Doug Ford remains committed to making such inoculations voluntary — for education staff and students.

Morgan Sharp

October 28th 2021

U of Toronto to divest its endowment of fossil fuels

The University of Toronto will get rid of its direct fossil fuel investments within a year and indirect ones by no later than 2030 and direct 10 per cent of its $4-billion fund to sustainable investments, a major win for climate activists.

Morgan Sharp

October 27th 2021

Youth asked to challenge Canada’s history — one story at a time

Youth advocacy group Shake Up The Establishment has launched its “Righting History” platform on which marginalized communities can share stories and narratives that challenge the mainstream history of Canada.

Morgan Sharp

October 27th 2021

Pre-COP26 youth summit unveils its list of demands

Almost 400 young people who met earlier this month in Milan have released a 44-page manifesto with a list of climate action demands and an insistence on being heard a week ahead of COP26.

COP26: Uniting the World to Tackle Climate Change

Morgan Sharp

October 26th 2021

ROM exhibit paints a picture of youth and the pandemic

The young people who contributed their artwork to a Royal Ontario Museum exhibition opening this weekend in Toronto expressed frustration and sadness about the COVID-19 pandemic through art, but also gratitude and resilience.

Morgan Sharp

October 22nd 2021

Trans health care on Queen’s Park agenda with NDP bill

A private member’s bill looking to expand trans health care in Ontario now awaits the consideration of a standing committee on social policy at Queen’s Park, with advocates hopeful of it passing before next year’s provincial election.

Morgan Sharp

October 21st 2021

My Public Living Room shows how to give and take care

The latest installations from "Making With Place" create gathering spaces for young racialized men to discuss how to better give and receive care.

Morgan Sharp

October 20th 2021

Pfizer seeks Canada’s approval for COVID-19 vaccine for kids

Pfizer-BioNTech sought Canadian approval for its COVID-19 vaccine to be used for children aged five to 11 on Monday, starting a process to protect elementary school students more fully from the virus.

Morgan Sharp

October 18th 2021

Fix food insecurity to help first-year undergrads, prof says

One in five Canadian students moving from high school to university are dealing with food insecurity, a recent study found, a stress its author says puts those undergrads at risk of languishing from the start or ultimately dropping out.

Morgan Sharp

October 18th 2021

On campus, COP26 is far from some Toronto students’ minds

Young climate strikers express a mix of anger and optimism when speaking about environmental politics, but for students not engaged in the climate movement, it’s more like resigned indifference.

Morgan Sharp

October 15th 2021

Labour market bounces back to pre-COVID levels

The Canadian workforce changed a lot in September, with a return to schools helping more parents take full-time work while trimming the participation of returning students.

Morgan Sharp

October 8th 2021

What is ecocide, and why does it matter?

The folks behind the push to make ecocide a crime say a global law would create real consequences for those who cause severe environmental harm, and this young Canadian is making their case ahead of the COP26 global climate conference next month.

Morgan Sharp

October 7th 2021

Canadian delegates worry some voices 'weren't heard' at youth climate conference

Two young people who represented Canada at the recent pre-COP youth climate conference in Milan, Italy, found chaos and platitudes at an event billed as beyond all that.

COP26: Uniting the World to Tackle Climate Change

October 6th 2021