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

Ontario delays March break for schools amid COVID variant concerns

March break will have to wait until April for Ontario students, the province’s education minister says, as the government aims to limit travel amid a drop in COVID-19 cases but as risks from new virus variants loom.

Coronavirus in Canada

Morgan Sharp

February 11th 2021

Searching for Toronto’s ‘hidden homeless’ LGBTQ+ youth during COVID-19

The York region bordering Toronto has a large semi-rural section where housing and youth services are harder to access, a problem compounded for young queer folk at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Morgan Sharp

February 11th 2021

Black medical student’s last-ditch crowdfunding campaign sparks calls for change

In December, Noroh Dakim, 23, turned to GoFundMe to raise a staggering $89,376 to cover outstanding tuition fees at the University of Toronto.

Kelly Bennett

February 11th 2021

BIPOC Capital wants interest-free loans for racialized business owners

The young founders of BIPOC Capital are pushing for Ottawa to allocate funds to an interest-free loan program for small- and medium-sized businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and other people of colour, plus mentorship and other support to help them thrive.

Morgan Sharp

February 9th 2021

Insurance costs during COVID burning up bar owners' bottom line

They’ve been closed or reduced to serving the odd overpriced takeout beer for most of 2020, but bar owners are still paying liability insurance as though drunken patrons are stumbling downstairs to the bathrooms, if they can retain coverage at all.

Morgan Sharp

February 8th 2021

Teens lose work as part-time retail jobs vanish

The latest monthly jobs data shows tens of thousands of teens lost work in January as part-time retail jobs disappeared, especially in Ontario and Quebec as second wave lockdown tightened.

Morgan Sharp

February 5th 2021

Afrocentric Ideals gathering at McMaster University

Online magazine bringing African culture to young audience

Calling themselves TRAD, they’ve launched an online magazine that weaves together videos, art, poetry and live virtual gatherings to examine big questions through the lenses of philosophy and the arts.

Kelly Bennett

February 5th 2021

Schools in and around COVID-weary Toronto to reopen Feb. 16

Public health authorities in Toronto, Peel and York asked the education ministry to keep classrooms in their regions closed until after the Family Day long weekend.

Coronavirus in Canada

Morgan Sharp

February 3rd 2021

Young athletes help Parkdale residents stay healthy and connected during COVID-19 winter

Varsity athlete Stella Isaac was a prime recruit for Debbie King’s #ParkdaleFitPlay, a month-long online effort to get the neighbourhood engaged and active in the cold and dark of winter under lockdown.

Morgan Sharp

February 3rd 2021

Laurentian U files for creditor protection as COVID pandemic bites

Sudbury’s Laurentian University has filed for creditor protection, as the COVID-19 pandemic hits post-secondary institutions with a need to spend on online learning and cuts to tuition fee volumes.

Morgan Sharp

February 1st 2021

Ontario still hoping for Feb. 10 school reopening around Toronto

The province’s education minister says schools in COVID-19 hot spots in and around Toronto should be planning for a return to classrooms at a yet-to-be-determined date.

Morgan Sharp

February 1st 2021

Sisters tap generations of home cooking to survive the pandemic

Ontario sisters Jenny and Clarissa Vasquez opened a tamale pop-up sales business, joining the legions of young people innovating in tough times.

Kelly Bennett

January 29th 2021

Independent theatre, actors look through COVID-19’s window of opportunity

For Cass Van Wyck and Luis Fernandes at Assembly Theatre, an independent performance space in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood, tight budgets and low overheads were a staple of life well before a pandemic upended their plans for 2020.

Morgan Sharp

January 29th 2021

Toronto yoga studio owner trying all the moves to hang on during Covid-19

Rachelle Wintzen had just reopened her boutique yoga studio after dropping $150,000 on a major renovation when it was forced to close again last March. She has been accumulating more debt and hustling to hang on ever since.

Morgan Sharp

January 28th 2021

Brampton teen part of youth-led movement to eliminate AIDS

Young people from around Toronto and elsewhere are using the downtime of the pandemic to work on projects to fight the stigma around HIV and AIDS and to support those living with the conditions.

Morgan Sharp

January 27th 2021