Celebrate 15 Years of Pathways Kingston with the “Buy a Hoodie, Give a Hoodie” Campaign

Media Release

For 15 years, Pathways to Education Kingston has been changing lives and brightening futures for youth in Kingston’s
north end. What began as a response to alarmingly high dropout rates has grown into a powerful community of support,
walking with students from Grade 9 through to graduation — and beyond.

Through academic support, financial assistance, mentoring, and dedicated staff known as Grad Connectors, Pathways
helps students stay engaged in school and confident in their future. Since 2010, the program has nearly doubled
graduation rates in participating neighbourhoods, with more than 500 students earning their high school diplomas —
many of them the first in their families to cross that stage. Behind every success story is a network of relationships that
makes all the difference.

“Pathways is about more than academics — it’s about being there consistently and unconditionally for students while
building trust, and helping young people believe in their own potential,” says Wendy Vuyk, Director of Community
Health at Kingston Community Health Centres, the host organization for Pathways. “We’ve seen what’s possible when
students feel supported — they don’t just graduate, they thrive and embark on entirely new trajectories that may never
have even been considered. That’s what this 15-year celebration is all about.”

When Pathways launched in Kingston in 2010, high school felt out of reach for many young people in Rideau Heights and
the Inner Harbour. Educational barriers — from poverty and systemic inequities to lack of access to support — left
students feeling isolated and overwhelmed. Pathways changed that by offering a holistic model grounded in equity,
consistency, and care. Fifteen years later, its ripple effects can be felt across generations.

Although plans for a 10th anniversary celebration were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the spirit of the Pathways community never faded. Now, five years later, alumni, families, and staff are coming together to honour this long-overdue milestone — and to look ahead with hope and determination.

To mark its 15th Anniversary, Pathways Kingston released a retrospective magazine and is now launching the “Buy a
Hoodie, Give a Hoodie” campaign. When you purchase a hoodie, you’re not only showing your support — you’re also
covering the cost of one for a current Pathways student. The goal is to sell 250 hoodies, enough to ensure that every
student in the program receives one. It’s a simple, meaningful way to wear your support and celebrate 15 years of
community impact. The hoodie design was inspired by a photograph taken by one of P2E’s alumni and was created by
the same graphic designer as the magazine.

Ready to show your support? Order your hoodie today at www.teachresilience.ca/store and pay securely by card — pickup details will follow. Prefer to pay with cash? Visit the Pathways office at 263 Weller Avenue, Unit 4, on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 4–6 PM. For bulk orders or invoices, contact Zoe McDonald at zoem@kchc.ca.