Students at St. Mary's High School in Kitchener, Ontario, recently participated in a powerful educational experience that brought them face-to-face with the realities of homelessness. The overnight initiative, which took place on November 21, 2025, saw students setting up and sleeping in tents on school grounds to better understand the challenges faced by those experiencing housing insecurity.
A Night Under the Stars
The program, organized by school faculty, aimed to provide students with more than just theoretical knowledge about homelessness in their community. By physically experiencing overnight conditions similar to those faced by unhoused individuals, participants gained profound insights into the daily struggles and vulnerabilities associated with lacking permanent shelter.
Ashley Bacon of CTV News documented the event, capturing images of tents erected across the school property and interviewing students about their reflections following the experience. The visual documentation provided compelling evidence of the program's impact on young minds.
Student Reflections and Insights
Following the overnight stay, students shared powerful observations about their temporary experience with homelessness. Many expressed newfound appreciation for basic comforts they typically take for granted, while others described developing deeper empathy for community members facing housing instability.
The November timing meant students confronted chilly overnight temperatures, adding another layer of authenticity to their understanding of seasonal challenges faced by those living outdoors. Several participants noted how the physical discomfort heightened their awareness of the constant stress and uncertainty that accompanies homelessness.
Educational Impact and Community Connection
This innovative approach to social education represents a growing trend in Canadian schools seeking to address complex societal issues through experiential learning. By moving beyond textbook descriptions, St. Mary's High School provided students with tangible context for understanding poverty and housing insecurity in their own community.
The Kitchener-based initiative aligns with broader educational goals of developing socially conscious citizens who understand local challenges. Teachers observed that students engaged in more nuanced discussions about homelessness solutions following their overnight experience, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in fostering critical thinking about community issues.
As students returned to their warm homes and comfortable beds the following day, they carried with them not just memories of an unusual school activity, but lasting perspectives on empathy, social responsibility, and the human experience of homelessness in contemporary Canadian society.
