Improving the Odds for Success at School
Presentation by Larry Macdonald
Chairman, Vermilion Energy
United Way Worldwide Leadership Council Member
Million Dollar Roundtable Donor
All That Kids Can Be
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Education in Canada
 Kindergarten to Grade 12 model followed by post-secondary
 Provincial and territorial jurisdiction (exception Indigenous education)
 Graduation requirement, testing, and kindergarten start age may vary
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Canada earns an “A” for its high school completion
rate.
Canada ranks second out of 16 peer countries in high
school completion.
A 2014 OECD study ranks Canada very favourable
when it comes to educational equity.
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 However, 1 in 10 Canadians do not have a high school diploma.
 Graduation rates vary greatly between provinces and territories,
and community by community.
 School dropout rate can reach almost 40% in the most
disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
 Further improving Canada’s high-school completion rate is key to
ensuring that most citizens have the basic skills to participate
actively in society.
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 Indigenous peoples are facing an educational crisis.
 Less than 75% of Indigenous peoples living off reserves have a
high school diploma or equivalent.
 Of the on-reserve Indigenous peoples , 48% of adults under 30
years old have not completed high school, more than double the
rate in the rest of the Canadian population.
 Improving educational outcomes is critical if we are to address the
persistence of poverty, unemployment, addictions, and mental
health concerns that prevent people from realizing their potential.
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Well-educated citizens are more actively
engaged in society
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A full spectrum of building blocks help children
grow up to be healthy, caring and responsible.
United Way Centraide works to develop a
community of supports that help enable the
healthy development of children and youth, from
birth to adulthood.
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• Early Years example – BC’s Early Childhood Development Provincial
Partnership “Success by Six”
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There is hope, thanks to the work of
United Way Centraides across Canada
and around the world!
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