We’re through September and already into mid-fall! Here are three stories that Helix is following right now: Finally, check out People For Education’s new report on what we know (and don’t!) about Canadian schools. Worth a read!
As Canada’s Parliament prepares for the fall session, let’s hope that Parliamentarians re-engage on a number of important issues and bills that were before the House before the summer recess, and, for some, that were in motion before the April 2025 election. One of these crucial bills was Bill C273, which was brought forward by former NDP MP, Peter Julien. Bill C273 would have prohibited corporal punishment in Canada, and repealed section 43 of the criminal code. It made it out of committee and was heading back to the House for a final vote when Parliament was prorogued. While Mr. …
The Helix Foundation is pleased to endorse the 5Rights Foundation’s submission to the Canadian Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s development of children’s privacy code. So many aspects of children’s lives today are connected to the digital world- think of school, home, friendships, hobbies and more. Contrary to what some adults think, children and youth care very much about privacy and having their right to information protected. Technology companies encourage children to share a lot of data, and it can be hard for children and youth to use digital tools in the way they want to without sharing this data. The …
Our Story and Impact Helix was founded in 2020 with the vision of contributing to a deeper understanding of youth resilience through research, advocacy, programming, and public dialogue. As the COVID-19 pandemic intensified, young people transitioning out of the care system were met with impossible choices: remain in unstable or unsupportive foster care situations, or ‘age out’ into a world dramatically altered by crisis. While many organizations mobilized quickly to provide support, significant gaps persisted. In response to these gaps, we founded the Helix Foundation—an initiative grounded in research, collaboration, and a commitment to trust-based support with youth and partner …
Social Media Use and Mental Health Among Young Canadians: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic affected various aspects of life and gave many a break from their regular lifestyles while also creating deep social, economic, political and health issues for people of all ages. As traditional social interactions became restricted due to lockdowns and social distancing measures, social media emerged as a platform for maintaining connections and accessing information/news around the world. However, the increased reliance on social media also brought upon significant concerns regarding its impact on mental health. This report aims to explore the relationship between …
Help Participate in Our Youth Survey! This survey aims to collect data on social media usage among youth and assess its impact on their mental health. By gathering information on the frequency, duration, and nature of social media interactions, along with self-reported mental health indicators, the survey seeks to identify patterns and correlations. The goal is to understand how different aspects of social media engagement influence emotional well-being, stress levels, self-esteem, and overall mental health. The data collected in this survey is anonymous and will inform our understanding of the role social media plays in youth mental health and how interventions …
Exploring The Different Meanings of Resilience Resilience is a complex term, although it fundamentally is the ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adversities. (More information on its universal definition and importance can be found here). However, its definition and application can vary significantly depending on the context in which it is considered, and can be explored through several lenses: climate change, personal development, and community strength. In this blog post, I will highlight how resilience is used to signify its importance, allowing us to gain a better understanding of how resilience plays a crucial role across a few …
The Importance of Resilience in Education In today’s world, the ability to adapt, recover, and thrive despite adversity is essential. This quality, known as resilience, is increasingly recognized as a critical component of student development. The Ontario Curriculum, among other educational frameworks, has underscored the importance of fostering resilience in students from an early age. This blog post explores why resilience is crucial in the curriculum and how it is being integrated across various subjects and grade levels at a provincial level. Understanding ResilienceResilience is often described as the capacity to “bounce back” from difficulties. It involves a range of …
A new year is a good time to think about the past and the future. Helix is excited about a number of initiatives on the horizon in 2024.
“Literacy, broadly conceived as the basic knowledge and skills needed by all in a rapidly changing world, is a fundamental human right.” So reads Resolution 11 of UNESCO’s 1997 Hamburg Declaration on Adult Learning. Literacy affects all aspects of daily life, from the economic to the social, political to cultural. While we think of Canada as a country that has high literacy rates, in reality, the situation is more nuanced. For example, newcomers and Indigenous peoples often have lower literacy rates than the general population; StatsCanada reports that “Aboriginal people have lower literacy and numeracy scores than their non-Aboriginal counterparts,” …