Truancy refers to unexcused absence from school, violating compulsory attendance requirements. Provincial education acts require children of specified ages (typically 6-16 or similar) to attend school, with parents responsible for ensuring attendance. Schools track attendance, contact families about absences, and may refer chronic truancy to school boards or provincial authorities. Truancy responses range from family support and counselling to court processes in extreme cases. Chronic truancy often indicates underlying issues—family challenges, mental health, bullying, learning difficulties, or disengagement—requiring holistic responses rather than merely punishment. Truancy intervention aims to re-engage students before academic problems compound. Schools balance enforcement with supportive approaches recognizing that punitive measures alone rarely address root causes.