Back to school means back to basics this fall as Canadians come up against high prices

At a school in Moncton, N.B., the doors to the gymnasium opened at 9 a.m. sharp on Aug. 19. Inside, students, parents and community members were greeted by a spread of second-hand clothes, backpacks, shoes, boots and books. Music played over the speaker; kids were in high spirits.

Queen Elizabeth School was hosting its first-ever back-to-school shop, an initiative spearheaded by vice-principal Kyle Bishop and the owner of a local consignment store in nearby Riverview, N.B., called Ready, Set, Grow.

The shop gave families a chance to choose from donated items ahead of the first day of school — without paying a cent.

"Our parents do the best that they can with the reality that they have," Bishop said, adding the school has a large newcomer population. "And so when this opportunity came up, I just thought of all the families that this could benefit immensely."

As inflation continues to put pressure on the cost of just about everything — from food to clothes to school supplies — Canadians across the country are preparing for the back-to-school season by turning to second-hand options as a way to save money.

Several recent surveys indicate that parents are being more mindful of back-to-school costs this year.

In a questionnaire from NerdWallet, a personal finance company, 27 per cent of respondents said they will spend less on school supplies this year compared with previous years due to inflation, while 20 per cent said they had plans to purchase or buy back-to-school items second hand.

Conducted by the Harris Poll, the survey included 303 Canadian adults and is considered accurate within 6.4 per cent.

"It was a good way to start the school year, regardless of anything," Bishop said. "Just to have teachers and the administration talk with parents, see the kids that we haven't seen in a couple months, see if they're excited for school."

As parents across the country say they're struggling with back-to-school costs, community organizations are trying to meet a demand that is outpacing donations.

One Calgary organization said the demand for backpacks jumped by 76 per cent this year, while the founder of a charity that operates across Newfoundland and Labrador said more than 260 people have registered — and 200 more are on a waiting list — for the organization's back-to-school necessities program.

A line snaked outside the entrance to the Cape Breton Regional Library in Sydney, N.S., one morning last week, as the branch hosted its first kids' "clothing swap" — where a donation gets you a shopping voucher.

On this particular day, that criteria didn't apply, as parents and children rummaged through clothes before the beginning of the school year.

Sydney resident Natasha Kinslow, who was there with her son, said affordability has been extra challenging this year.