Is Post-Secondary Education Worth the Cost?
Is Post-Secondary Education Worth the Cost? By: Iris Peña In an era of rising tuition costs and an evolving economy, an essential question lingers: Is post-secondary education still worth the cost in Canada? The Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation (CST) and Dr. Nathaniel Barr’s new report responds with a clear answer – post-secondary education provides strong benefits despite the burden of student debt. Peter Lewis, President and CEO of CST, shares his insight, findings from the research, and advice for parents — speaking both as an industry leader and as a parent himself.Career and Income Benefits of Higher Education An individual with higher education is more likely to earn a higher income throughout their lifetime and enjoy greater career stability. Research also shows that post-secondary education offers some protection against economic downturns. While it doesn’t guarantee security, it often acts as a buffer during challenging times.Health and Social Benefits of Higher Education Beyond financial benefits, higher education contributes to shaping critical aspects of life. “When you look at the body of evidence, you can see that having a higher education produces better health outcomes, produces longer lifespans, produces individuals who are more civically engaged,” Peter Lewis, President and CEO of CST, said. University graduates typically live up to eight years longer compared to those who didn’t finish high school. Although this isn’t universal, graduates are more likely to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as being less likely to smoke. From a social perspective, they are also more involved in their communities and more active in charitable giving.The Hidden Weight of Student Debt in Canada The average student debt for a university graduate is about $28,000 for a bachelor’s degree. For community college graduates, the average is closer to $15,000. This debt can heavily impact the start of adult life.Financial and Mental Health Strain “I would say that the most concerning trend we've seen is that sort of persistently, stubbornly high rate of debt for students who are graduating out of university at the moment,” Lewis explained. According to the report, high debt levels are tied to multiple concerns, including mental health challenges. The study refers to this as a “bandwidth tax,” which contributes to higher levels of anxiety and depression.Life Milestones Delayed Debt also forces many young adults to postpone important milestones. For instance:29% delay buying a home 20% delay starting a business 15% delay having childrenAnabelle Hsiao, a fourth-year computer science student, says she feels pressure to pursue a
6 Back-To-School Essentials For All Ages
6 Back-To-School Essentials For All Ages By: Iris Pena Summer is wrapping up and parents are scrambling to prepare for the back-to-school season. Whether you're sending your teen off to university or your little one to daycare — we got you covered with these must-have essentials for all ages. ASUS ROG Strix OLED MonitorThe ASUS ROG Strix OLED Monitor is the ultimate upgrade for your tech-savvy teen! With a wide range of connectivity options and compatibility that easily integrates with all their devices — they will love using this for tackling homework and fun gaming. Stop by any Best Buy Canada store or visit bestbuy.ca to pick up the ASUS ROG Strix OLED Monitor, along with all your back-t0-school essentials. Need some inspiration? Best Buy also has a back-to-school guide online to start the year with products sure to make the grade! Ninja Crispi Portable Air Fryer & Cooking SystemWill your teen be sharing a dorm kitchen with limited space? The Ninja Crispi Portable Air Fryer & Cooking System is the perfect cooking tool for them to bring along; an all-in-one system, designed to nest inside each other. All of the accessories are also dishwasher safe for easy clean up. From an air fryer pancake breakfast to frozen chicken fingers for dinner, the durable glassware can handle extreme temperature changes, fit for every meal! Check the Ninja Crispi off of your back to school checklist -- ninjakitchen.ca. Lodge Vest and Elba Jacket from Canada Goose Keep your teen warm and cozy this upcoming fall season with Canada Goose! This lightweight, windproof, and fully packable Lodge Vest features a drawcord at the hem to customize the fit. A perfect addition to your teen boy's cool outfits during those chilly walks to morning classes. For your teen girl, Canada Goose has a stylish option; a soft and ultra-light fabric Elba Jacket that features cinched cuffs, and a drawcord bubble. Shop online or in store at Canada Goose for a new back to school wardrobe. New La Vie En Rose BraThe new La Vie en Rose bra will have your teen girl stepping into the new school year with confidence and support. School activities require many movements. This lightly lined contour bra offers full-coverage with soft foam cups to keep her comfortable all school year long! Huggies Little Movers 360 Diaper PantsDrop your little one off at daycare with Huggies Little Movers 360 Diaper Pants. Effectively designed to keep
4 Skincare Products to Brighten Your Skin This Fall Season
4 Skincare Products to Brighten Your Skin This Fall Season By: Iris PeñaFall is just around the corner! Time to prepare for the changing season. Cooler temperatures and low humidity can lead to dry skin and that unwanted dull complexion. Luckily, Vivier has the perfect solution – cruelty-free skincare products to brighten your skin! HEXAM ($62 CAD)One crucial thing that is needed for fall (and for ALL seasons!) is an effective cleanser. As the temperatures drop, the air can cause your skin to become sensitive and in need of some TLC. Hexam is the answer to your prayers! A gentle, medical-grade cleanser that gets rid of all the gunk (dirt, oil, and environmental impurities), while avoiding stripping your skin. This holy grail is formulated with hexamidine, an antimicrobial and antibacterial agent that purifies pores without drying your skin. Perfect for sensitive or reactive skin. Get ready for the emollient properties that leave you with extra soft skin all season long. Lexxel ($124 CAD)Dreading the flaky and itchy skin that fall brings? Fight off the itch with Lexxel — a soothing moisturizer with hexamidine and avocado oil. Your skin will thank you for the gentle moisture that protects against chapping, cracking, and roughness. Lexxel provides the hydration you deserve, while relieving itching and calming irritation. It's fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, which is ideal for dry or sensitive skin. Ultra Hydrating Mask ($86 CAD) If you suffer from dehydrated skin during the fall, Vivier has your back! Treat your skin to this Ultra Hydrating Mask with vitamin E, sweet almond extract, and shea butter. Let your skin indulge in its maximum hydration effect. Enter the new season with a youthful glow – the mask reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to make your skin appear healthy and firm. Weekly use of this nourishing mask will maintain softness and suppleness. Ditch the tired skin, and embrace your glow up!Age-Defying Body Lotion ($96 CAD) From rushed mornings to late-night chaos, the Age-Defying Body Lotion is there to hydrate your skin every step of the way. Formulated with peptides and antioxidants, this silky smooth remedy visibly firms and tones the skin for a fresh fall look. Your skin doesn’t have to suffer through seasonal changes. The right skincare routine and products will keep you radiant as the leaves change!
Walmart’s Back to School Must-Haves
Walmart's Back to School Must-HavesAs the joys of summer turn into moving out for post-secondary school, Walmart has all of the essentials to kick off your teen’s year right. From stationery and gadgets, to dorm room must-haves and apparel. Bring on the new school year with style and confidence! BIC Extra Smooth Pastel Mechanical Pencils with Erasers, 24-Count Pack ($7.98 CAD) BIC Extra Smooth Pastel Mechanical Pencils are the perfect addition to every student’s pencil case. Its smooth, dark writing with medium point (0.7 mm) is ideal for writing study and lecture notes. The high-quality lead provides smudge free writing for neat homework. Reebok Paige Backpack with Coin Pocket ($34.97 CAD)Lightweight, durable, and built to last, the Reebok Paige Backpack is ready for every school year. It features a spacious interior, exterior zip, mesh pockets, and a handy coin pocket. It is also water-resistant for a safe and secure place to hold your teen’s lunch, notebooks, technology and many other important school essentials. Jetstream Insulated Lunch Bag (7.88 CAD) This cute and stylish lunch bag features a roomy compartment to hold all the yummy snacks, insulated lining to keep food fresh, and a wipeable interior for easy clean up. Comes in 6 fun colours and designs — because every student deserves a little lunchtime cheer! Mainstays 2PK 24 oz S/S Chug Bottle Pink ($19.88 CAD) Hydration is one of the most important things students must maintain in order to function effectively throughout school. Mainstays' 2-pack stainless steel water bottles will keep your teen refreshed all year long. A durable, BPA-free bottle, leak-proof lid, and sweat-proof design. From the lecture room to the library, to work or the gym, this bottle will keep drinks cold for hours. Mainstays PL Strawberry Cushion (21.97 CAD) This adorable strawberry cushion offers a super soft and extra cozy touch to your teen’s new dorm! Made from durable fabric and 100% recycled polyester filling.BLACK + DECKER 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker in Stainless Steel (59.98 CAD)Coffee is a college student’s best friend, especially during those 8 am classes. The BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker allows your teen to make fresh coffee during early mornings or for late night study sessions. The convenient features are a gamechanger: Sneak-A-Cup Technology (fill your cup before brewing ends), the 12-Cup Duralife glass carafe, and a washable brew basket. Mainstays 2-Slice Toaster with 6 Shade Settings and Removable Crumb Tray ($9.98 CAD)Students can make delicious sandwiches for lunch with the Mainstays 2-slice
Starved For Perfection: My Struggle With Male Anorexia
I was 20 when I developed anorexia. It came in quietly and completely unnoticed at first. I was in my first year of college and I had a huge crush on one of my classmates. I got the classic love-sick puppy symptoms. Butterflies in my stomach, lost in a haze of romantic daydreams and literally unable to eat anything.
4 Places to Get Your Last-Minute Christmas Gifts
4 Places to Get Your Last-Minute Christmas Gifts by Rachel Naud This year, if you’re asking Santa for more time to get your shopping done, we’re here to help! We know between finishing up work, school concerts, holiday parties and decorating, finding time to shop can be impossible. But if the days have slipped away from you and you just realized you have more shopping items to pick up than days left before Christmas, we've got you covered with some last-minute gift ideas for everyone on your list! Children BelieveAs parents of teens, we always want to instill the value of giving back every holiday season. Sometimes this means dropping random gift cards in strangers’ mailboxes and sometimes this means researching different charities to give back to and deciding on one together. If you have a teen coming home from university, we're sure you're excited to get in the kitchen and cook for them and share a delicious and nutritious meal together. And while we may take this for granted, there are many children who go hungry. In fact, every 10 seconds a child loses their life to malnutrition — that’s over 3 million a year! That’s why, this year, it's a good idea to support Children Believe and its initiative to support children in communities that need it most by purchasing school meals. We also love this as a gift idea for that person who values helping others in need, as you can make a donation in their name! Canadians are very giving people and even despite the current economic climate, a survey conducted by Children Believe found that 3 in 4 Canadians would choose to actively purchase a gift to help others and make a difference. Check it out here.HomeSense This is the time of year when we’re often getting together for cocktail parties, dinners and parties. If you’ve ever hosted a holiday soiree, you know how much work it is, which is why it's nice to bring a gift to the hostess and host of the party to show my gratitude and appreciation. It's always fun to find gifts that are unique and that the hostess will love — and use! — long after everyone goes home for the night. The first place to go to find some amazing gifts is HomeSense because you can pick up some quality décor and entertaining essentials at amazing prices. And the best part? You don’t have to sacrifice
Huggies Sound of a Hug Nurtures Mom and Baby
Huggies has come up with an innovative idea that will save many parents from sleepless nights — Huggies Sound of a Hug.
Making Melodies and Memories in Music City
Making Melodies and Memories in Music City By Rosalind Stefanac Home to country legends and modern music mavens, Nashville is one of those eternally vibrant cities that will leave you singing, regardless of your musical tastes. Not only is Music City—as it’s known world-wide—the ultimate interactive music lesson for you and your teen, it’s filled with interesting landmarks, funky neighbourhoods to explore and delicious southern fare (bring on the fried chicken!). Here’s a look at why Nashville is a real treat for adults and teens alike. WHAT TO DO Nashville’s museums are among the best we’ve visited across North America. We started at the Country Museum Hall of Fame, a 350,000 square-foot mecca of artifacts and information related to country music displayed in exhibits that kept our attention throughout. For Swifties, the museum’s Taylor Swift Education Center has song-writing stations where you can draw inspiration from Taylor’s own process to write lyrics and create melodies. There is also a Taylor Swift replica tour bus where visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at life on the road, with audio and video clips of Taylor discussing her touring experiences. For another enlightening experience, check out the National Museum of African American Music where you and your teen can learn and listen to music spanning multiple decades and genres, from Duke Ellington to Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé. Upon entering, we each got a wristband we could scan at various exhibits to create our own personalized music journey to download and review later. There are numerous interactive stations here where we tried instruments, recorded music and made beats. Video clips and tutorials explain the art of music production in an engaging way that teens will relate to. For a change of pace, try a workshop at Hatch Show Print, one of America’s oldest working letterpress poster shops. It has been operating since 1879 and creates show posters for major entertainers. We got a hands-on demonstration on the print-making process (they even mix their ink by hand), and made our own souvenir prints to take home. WHERE TO GO No visit to Nashville is complete without a visit to the Grand Ole Opry for a live performance. Started as a radio broadcast in 1925, the Opry is now an entertainment phenomenon featuring weekly performances by music legends and new artists alike. On top of seeing some amazing performers, we booked a behind-the-scenes tour for a chance to explore the backstage dressing rooms and “artist’s
Top Chef Canada judge Mark McEwan on food, f-bombs and the famed franchise
Top Chef Canada judge Mark McEwan on food, f-bombs and the famed franchise By Amartya Smaran For over 10 seasons, Food Network’s Top Chef Canada entertained its fanbase and managed to carve a niche for itself as the go-to culinary competition show on Canadian TV. This fall, Top Chef Canada season 11 is all set to premiere on October 14, with ten well-accomplished competitors from all over Canada eyeing the title. Ahead of the show’s big premiere, INBETWEEN Magazine sat down with the show’s head judge and Toronto-based chef and restaurateur, Mark McEwan, to dig deeper into what makes Top Chef Canada a binge-worthy show. Balance, confidence, and determination are the top three qualities that Chef Mark McEwan looks for in contestants. Asked about what puts him off while judging a contestant, McEwan remarked, “I get a little put off by people when some of the chefs get a little cocky and think they’re much better than they are and produce food that’s not very good.” McEwan said he could give some harsh criticism but wouldn’t throw F-bombs at anybody about their food. “People wouldn’t buy that from me(laughs). Throwing plates across the kitchen? That’s not happening,” enthused McEwan. All the contestants on the show are experienced chefs with an impressive portfolio. Being a head judge on a prestigious show like Top Chef Canada is a huge responsibility. So, we wondered if that makes McEwan a tad stressful. “I think it’s pretty easy,” said the chef with a smile, “Because I know what I am talking about. All I have to do is taste food and tell you what I think. They do my hair, dress me, and put make-up on me. We have a lot of fun when we produce the show.” The restaurateur made it very clear that he doesn’t pull any favourites. For McEwan, it’s all about cooking, and that’s the end game. The only stress the chef ever faces is when he feels things are not going in the right direction. “You have to tell the right story, and I think the audience wants the right story,” shared McEwan. Celebrating the diverse heritage in the Canadian culinary space is one of the top-selling points of Top Chef Canada. The chef told us he likes authentic national cooking rather than fusion cooking. “We always have those conversations about what Canadian cuisine is, but it’s hard to define as it’s a patchwork of international cuisines. Because
Trick-or-Treat in Style with Squishmallows Treat Pails!
Trick-or-Treat in Style with Squishmallows Treat Pails from Jazwares! by INBETWEEN Magazine Want to make Halloween a little more special this year? Up your kid’s trick-or-treating game with the Squishmallows Treat Pails. Leave it to Emily the Black Cat, Callum the Green Monster or Wakisha the Pink Devil to give your Halloween tradition a much-needed **upgrade** Just in time for the fright season, Sqishmallows is joining in the fun with its very own Halloween Squad. Made from high-quality, ultrasoft materials, Original Squishmallows Treat Pails are perfect for costume parties, trick-or-treating, or decorations. They feature a velvety exterior, a sturdy handle, and ample space for all your kid’s treats. Choose from Emily the Black Bat, Callum the Green Monster, or Wakisha the Pink Devil! Grab them at select Costco Canada locations now!