3,500 backpacks stuffed with school supplies given to Sask. students [Video]

Thousands of Saskatoon students received free backpacks, stuffed with school supplies, on Friday.

This is the tenth year of the backpack giveaway, organized by the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC), in partnership with businesses like Nutrien.

“I think we gave out 100 backpacks in the first year, in 2014 — to an event that has grown to today, 3,500 backpacks, full of brand-new school supplies,” Nutrien Executive Vice-President Chris Reynolds told journalists at the event, held at White Buffalo Youth Lodge.

“Unfortunately, the cost of living continues to increase, and it just makes it harder and harder for parents to get their kids out the door and excited about going back to school.”

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(Dale Cooper/CTV News)

Esther Ibitola received her backpack at the event, just days ahead of entering Grade 11.

“I just want to focus on studying and getting …