Ontario to Boost Active Transportation, Breakfast Programs

Ontario is investing in new and expanded well-being programs for students across the province, to ensure that young people can reach their full potential and thrive inside and outside the classroom.

Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education, was at St. Paul Catholic School in Toronto today to mark the first day of school and announce new funding for initiatives  that boost the physical and emotional well-being of Ontario students.  “As we begin this new school year, these new investments and initiatives will strengthen the well-being of all students in our schools,” Hunter said.

The new and expanded initiatives include:

• Funding for active transportation, including walking school buses and biking to school programs that create more physical activity opportunities for students.
• Doubling funding for school boards to support local well-being priorities, including school breakfast programs, bullying prevention, recreational activities, and staff professional development.
• Increasing funding for School Mental Health ASSIST – a provincial support team that provides leadership, resources, and other support to help boards promote student mental health and well-being across Ontario.
• New and expanded programming to support staff well-being and violence prevention in the classroom.

Supporting the well-being of students, educators and staff is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.