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Ontario’s Math Struggles Spark Provincial Review of Student Testing

Ontario’s latest standardized test results reveal that math achievement remains a serious concern across the province , with many students failing to meet expected benchmarks. The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released its 2024–2025 assessment data this week, showing that only 51% of Grade 6 students and 58% of Grade 9 students met the provincial math standard , while Grade 3 students fared slightly better at 64%. Despite modest improvements compared to previous years, the results underscore a persistent gap in student performance. Education Minister Paul Calandra acknowledged that progress has been too slow, announcing the creation of a two-member advisory body to review Ontario’s approach to standardized testing and curriculum delivery . The review will examine whether current teaching strategies, resources, and assessment methods are effectively supporting student learning. The EQAO results also highlighted disparities among student groups and school boards ,...

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Endless Twilight: Life in Canada’s Polar Night



As winter deepens across Canada’s Arctic, communities in the far north are entering the long stretch of polar night—a period when the sun disappears below the horizon for weeks or even months. In towns like Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik, and Pond Inlet, daylight fades into a dim twilight, replaced by star-filled skies and the shimmering aurora borealis.

For residents, the polar night is both a challenge and a tradition. Daily routines adapt to the absence of sunlight, with artificial light guiding work, school, and social life. Mental health and energy levels can be tested, but many embrace cultural practices, storytelling, and winter festivals to stay connected. Hunters and fishers continue their work under moonlight, while scientists study the unique effects of prolonged darkness on ecosystems and human health.

Though the sun will not rise again until late January or February, the polar night is more than darkness—it is a season of resilience, beauty, and community spirit. For those who live there, the Arctic’s endless twilight is a reminder of nature’s extremes and the strength required to thrive within them.


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