Ottawa's back-to-school scramble hit its peak this weekend, with parents and students packing local stores to grab the last few items on their supply lists before Tuesday's first bell.
With most schools across the city welcoming students back this week, aisles at big box stores and neighbourhood shops have been busy with families ticking off notebooks, binders, backpacks and lunch containers. For many, this final stretch before the first day is less about planning ahead and more about damage control after a summer that flew by faster than expected.
Feeling the Pinch
Several parents shopping around the city say the cost of school supplies is weighing on them more this year. Between backpacks, shoes, clothing and the long list of classroom supplies teachers send home, a single trip to stock up can add up quickly. Some families said they were splitting purchases across multiple stores to catch sales, while others were sticking closer to the basics to keep costs down.
Students, for their part, seem to be taking the last-minute rush in stride, using the final weekend of summer to pick out new gear and get a little more used to the idea that break is over.
An Ottawa Tradition
The scene playing out in stores across the city is a familiar one for Ottawa families. Every year, the days right before school starts bring a wave of shoppers trying to beat the rush, whether that means hitting big retailers in the east or west end or smaller shops closer to home. With Ottawa's mix of public, Catholic and French-language school boards all typically starting around the same time, the demand tends to cluster into the same tight window, making stores busier than usual in the final days of summer.
For many households in the city, this last-minute dash has become as much a part of the back-to-school routine as the first day itself. Local retailers have come to expect the surge, often stocking up in the weeks prior to meet the late demand from procrastinating shoppers and families waiting on final supply lists from teachers.
Looking Ahead
With students set to return to classrooms across Ottawa on Tuesday, the pressure is on for any families still checking items off their lists. For those who haven't finished shopping, the next couple of days will likely see similar scenes play out at stores across the city as the countdown to the first day continues.
As the school year gets underway, the shopping rush is a reminder of just how quickly summer break comes to a close, and how many Ottawa families are feeling the squeeze of rising costs even in something as routine as school supply shopping.
Source: CBC Ottawa
