Families embrace back-to-school traditions amidst anxieties

Across Canada, families are enacting rituals to mark the start of the school year, balancing excitement with the anxieties of new beginnings.

Libby Barnicke in Toronto lines up her sons for an annual back-to-school photo, a tradition she views as a fresh start. Sonali Trivedi, also in Toronto, compiles video messages from loved ones for her daughter Aadhya, who is beginning kindergarten, and focuses on preparing her for the routines of school.

Taylor, a 12-year-old from Toronto, is transitioning to an all-boys private middle school, anticipating new sports and clubs but also more challenging exams. His mother, Libby, is helping him learn to navigate public transit independently and manage his own schedule. Arshia Purohit Singh, a 13-year-old from Vancouver, is starting high school in a more academically rigorous International Baccalaureate program, eager for new challenges and opportunities. Her mother, Sophia, has instilled strong organizational habits to help her balance her commitments.

In British Columbia, Nick Erickson, 41, is beginning a new career as a high school teacher after graduating from the Indigenous Teacher Education Program at the University of British Columbia. He hopes to serve as a positive role model for his Indigenous students, drawing on his own life experiences and a desire to create a welcoming classroom. His wife, Marsha, also completed the program and will be starting her teaching career alongside him.