Give some stream of consciousness and then the answer. The first season of Degrassi: The Next Generation commenced airing in Canada on October 14, 2001 and concluded on March 3, 2002, comprising 15 episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. The series introduces a group of seventh and eighth grade school children, and follows their lives as they deal with some of the challenges and issues teenagers face such as online predators, body image, dysfunctional families, sex, puberty, rumors, peer pressure, stress, and drug use.

Based on this passage, when was the first episode of degrassi aired?
To answer the question, consider the following: The first season of Degrassi: The Next Generation commenced airing in Canada on October 14, 2001 and concluded on March 3, 2002, comprising 15 episodes.
Therefore, the answer is October 14 , 2001.