Quebec has rolled out a province‑wide backpack supply drive in 2026, targeting 12,000 students who lack essential school materials. The effort, known as Opération sac à dos, aims to deliver backpacks filled with basic supplies to children from financially constrained households, ensuring they start the school year equipped.
Anne-Marie Éthier, representing the nonprofit Regroupement Partage, is overseeing the distribution network that will reach schools across the province. The organization coordinates with local partners to identify families in need and to organize the collection and delivery of the backpacks. The initiative is timed to coincide with the start of the academic calendar, allowing the supplies to be used from the first day of classes.
CBC Montreal Daybreak reporter Sean Henry highlighted the program’s scale, noting that the 12,000‑student target reflects a coordinated response to ongoing concerns about material shortages in Quebec’s education system. The coverage underscores how the provincial effort complements existing community programs, creating a unified front to address the gap between school requirements and family resources.
Opération sac à dos builds on previous years’ campaigns that have distributed similar kits to students in remote and urban areas. By standardizing the contents of each backpack, the program simplifies logistics and ensures that every child receives a consistent set of items, such as notebooks, pens, and pencils. The focus remains on removing barriers that could impede learning, especially for those who might otherwise miss out on essential tools.
The launch has been welcomed by educators and parents alike, who see the provision of supplies as a tangible step toward equitable education. As the backpacks are handed out throughout Quebec, officials hope the initiative will set a precedent for future community‑driven support efforts aimed at safeguarding the academic success of the province’s most vulnerable students.