• WHEN CHILDREN SUCCEED

    Closing the education gap for children who live in poverty.

  • STRENGTHENING THE PATHWAYS TO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

  • COMMUNITY HUBS

    Schools that serve low-income neighbourhoods require additional resources that contribute to the wellbeing of the children and their education success.

  • COLLECTIVE IMPACT

    Working with business, government, donors and non-profits throughout the region to improve quality of life for our most vulnerable.

Who is BCAPI?

WE ARE A POVERTY-REDUCTION CATALYST.

Established in 1997, BCAPI is driven by the belief that ‘breaking the cycle of poverty’ is vital for our society to thrive and that tackling this stubborn complex problem requires collective leadership by business, community and government. Knowing that children and youth are most ‘at risk’ and that their wellbeing and education success are fundamental to life success, leaders in Saint John NB are working together to help every child succeed - from cradle to career. One vision, a bold action plan, and a set of clearly defined outcomes are creating the changes that engage the whole community in preparing every child. The collective work closes the education and employment gap for vulnerable children, supports the families, and strengthens the capacity of our city and our province to thrive well into the future.  The return on investment is outstanding and lasting.

GET INVOLVED TODAY

Saint John’s
Poverty Reduction Journey

  • According to taxfiler data, 13.4% of those living in the Saint John Census Metropolitan Area (16,600 people) live in poverty. This represents a 20% decline in poverty rate (or 4,100 fewer people) since 2000.

  • Today, 19% of children and teens (4,780) in Saint John CMA live in poverty compared with 24% in 2000.

  • Generational poverty in Saint John continues to be concentrated in 5 inner-city neighbourhoods.

  • High school graduation rates in Saint John’s 5 priority neighbourhoods  have been improving over the past decade but continue to be well below the School District average.

  • In Saint John (CMA), 1 in 7 youth aged 15-24 are not in employment, education or training – significantly more than the Canadian average of 1 in 11.

  • Over the past seven years, the percent of children entering Kindergarten at the appropriate level of development has been accelerating in the 5 priority neighbourhoods, but is still well below the school district average.

  • Saint John’s collective efforts have been gradually closing the education gap for vulnerable children but there is more to do.

In 2021, with the support of J.D. Irving, Limited, we engaged Deloitte to conduct a study of Saint John’s Poverty Reduction Journey. The results show progress is being made, but we still have lots of work to do.

When children succeed, we
break the cycle
of generational poverty.

Launched in 2018, the When Children Succeed project helps K-2 students overcome poverty-related learning barriers by providing intensive in-class support in seven Saint John elementary schools that serve low income neighbourhoods. The project is designed to strengthen the children’s social and academic foundations  and close their education by the time they complete Grade 2.  

Scott McCain

“Saint John’s history of breaking the poverty cycle is impressive. Ending child poverty is an economic imperative. While the solutions are multi-faceted, all evidence points to our need to invest in children’s education success, particularly in their early years. A child’s healthy development and acquiring the basics of language and literacy are the bedrock for educational attainment and employment. The When Children Succeed project is strengthening these foundations for vulnerable children. Some students and schools need more help than others. This project is about distributing resources differently to achieve better outcomes. It’s the right thing to do and the case for return on investment makes sense.”

Scott McCain

BCAPI involvement over the years.

Saint John’s local business community has rolled up its sleeves to help every child succeed. Today, more than 100 organizations are contributing their time, talents and resources. Over the past 20 years, BCAPI has helped to incubate, support, advise, volunteer for, and cheer on important innovations that are closing the gap for vulnerable children and youth, including the following :

Saint John Stronger Together

Saint John Stronger Together (2022) is the story of a city that took charge to solve a big problem: ending generational poverty. It’s about a community of leaders, from all sectors, who rolled up their sleeves and worked together to tackle a deeply rooted social challenge. 

Written by Sherri Torjman, social policy consultant and former vice-president of the Caledon Institute.
Published by the Tamarack Institute (www.tamarackcommunity.ca)