Alex Nuttall, Mayor for the City of Barrie, donated 750 backpacks filled with essential school supplies for children and families in need during a visit to Brantford on Friday, August 22, 2025.
Mayor Nuttall delivered the backpacks to Brantford City Hall where he was greeted by Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis and Community Services and Social Development staff who work directly with families in our community experiencing financial hardship.
“Back-to-school season should be filled with excitement and opportunity but for too many kids, it begins with uncertainty,” said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, co-founder of PIE Education. “This year, we’re proud to expand our backpack program into Brantford, helping even more students start the year with confidence. Thanks to the incredible support of Mayor Davis and our community partners, we’re putting more backpacks on kids’ backs and we’re making sure every child has the tools they need to succeed.”
The backpacks were generously donated through PIE Education, an organization co-founded by Nuttall, that provides elementary and secondary school students with backpacks and school supplies each year. Since 2010, PIE Education has provided over 27,500 backpacks to students in Barrie, Simcoe County, Muskoka, Ottawa, Sudbury, and more.
In 2023, PIE Education partnered with Toronto Maple Leafs Alternate Captain John Tavares and the John Tavares Foundation to help deliver backpacks to children living in government housing in Rexdale, Toronto. His involvement adds meaningful visibility to the campaign and strengthens its impact in the region. The program hopes to ensure that local children are equipped with the tools they need to start the school year with confidence and dignity.
“We are incredibly grateful to Mayor Nuttall and the City of Barrie for this meaningful contribution,” said Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis. “This act of generosity will have a lasting impact on hundreds of children and youth in our community. In times of challenge and uncertainty, the importance of municipalities supporting one another is brought into sharper focus, and this is a powerful example of what can be achieved when we work together to support one another.”
The backpacks will be distributed through Community Services and Social Development staff to children and youth in Brantford to help alleviate the financial strain many families face during back-to-school season. To learn more about PIE Education, visit www.pieeducation.ca.
