On Monday, August 18th, 2025, the Toronto District School Board’s Parent/Caregiver and Community Engagement Office hosted the Faith-Based Leaders Breakfast & Community Discussion on Cell Phone and Vaping Dependency at North York Memorial Community Hall.
The event drew a diverse audience of faith leaders, community advocates, and representatives from local organizations. They gathered to discuss the growing concerns around youth vaping, phone dependency, and the mental health challenges tied to screen time.
Why this campaign matters
Faith leaders hold a unique role in shaping values and supporting families. This forum gave them the chance to share feedback, exchange lived experiences and help build solutions.
The campaign focuses on three priorities:
- Vaping Insights (Canada) – raising awareness about trends and risks
- Screen Time & Mental Health – addressing the impact on young people
- Phone Dependency Indicators – identifying patterns of overuse
By grounding the discussion in evidence-informed strategies, the campaign equips parents and caregivers to start meaningful conversations with their children, while also fostering collaboration across communities.
The goals of the meeting
The session highlighted three main objectives:
- Learn more about the awareness campaign
- Share insights and lived experiences
- Collaborate on delivering the message in culturally responsive, community-rooted ways
The initiative aligns with the Ministry of Education’s Policy/Program Memorandum 128 on conduct in schools. Its broader aim: give parents practical tools, encourage intergenerational dialogue, and strengthen shared responsibility for youth wellbeing.
Key themes from community feedback
Facilitators posed three guiding questions to each table. Discussions revealed urgent concerns, but also a strong willingness to collaborate.
What are you seeing in your communities?
- Vaping and cannabis shops saturating neighborhoods, even near places of worship
- Teachers witnessing vaping, but not always informing parents
- Parents often viewing vaping as a discipline issue, not a health one
- Limited early intervention efforts and low public awareness
- Cell phone dependency surpassing vaping, affecting youth and adults alike
How can we collaborate to support students and families?
- Build stronger connections between schools and places of worship
- Establish an Interfaith Advisory Committee to guide culturally appropriate responses
- Share weekly announcements at gatherings and through faith-based websites
- Partner with Local Immigration Partnerships for broader outreach
- Create networks where parents and faith leaders collaborate directly
What role can faith leaders play in promoting awareness and resilience?
- Advocate for stronger regulation across all levels of government
- Hold political leaders accountable for community health
- Treat vaping with the same compassion as other addictions
- Develop interfaith youth advisories to guide future campaigns
- Partner with schools to deliver awareness programs and sermons focused on healthy living
This launch marks only the first step. More conversations, programs, and collaborations will follow as schools, faith communities, and civic organizations address these pressing issues together.
The TDSB made it clear; faith-based leadership is not just welcome, but essential. Their role in shaping dialogue, spreading awareness, and guiding families will anchor the campaign’s success.
For more information about the TDSB’s policies, visit www.tdsb.on.ca
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