Peel Region at a Glance

Melissa ToneySupervisor, Human Services, Region of Peel

October 16, 2013

Making Connections: Collectively supporting marginalized and racialized Peel youth to succeed

Why Racialized and Marginalized Youth?

• Peel youth overall do well compared to Ontario youth

• Not the case for some marginalized and racialized youth in Peel

• Need for targeted investments

Peel Region

> 1.3 Million (2011)> 1.5 Million (2031 projected)

In Peel, Children and Youth to age 24 equal 34 % of the overall population (close to 460,000)

(Statistics Canada, 2011 Census)

Peel’s Young Population

Children & Youth (0-24)

Percentage of total population 2011

Projected

2041

In Peel 34%(459,970)

31%(618,230)

In Toronto 23.8%(649,540)

26%(894,160)

General Concerns

• In 2010, 30 % of children in Peel not developmentally ready to enter school

• In 2011, 32% of students grades 7 to 12 overweight or obese

• Many youth engage in risky behaviours• In 2011, – 45 % of females and 25 % of males surveyed reported

feeling stressed “always” or “often”; and – 23.6% of females and 12.5% of males reported feeling

unhappy or depressed “always” or “often”(Peel Public Health “Growing up in Peel”, 2013)

General Concerns

• Peel has more low-income families compared to Ontario

• Recent immigrants have lower income and higher unemployment rates than non-immigrants

• Peel has pockets of risk for youth and their families: – high poverty, – high density, – settlement issues, – crime, – housing issues, – challenges associated with racial identity, and– challenges with employment and educational

attainment.

Voices of Peel Youth