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Thanks for another amazing Youth Week!

Overhead view of Ottawa City Hall during the Youth Action Untapped Showcase, there are around 100 people pictured

Thanks for another amazing Youth Week

Your support helped us achieve a bigger and better lineup of events during this National Youth Week. 

If you missed out this year or just want to relive the magic, here’s a recap of everything that happened. We hope to see you next year!

Monday, May 1

Book Signing

To tip off Youth Week, we joined author David Hollander at the Overbrook Community Centre for a signing of his newest book, “How Basketball Can Change the World,” and a discussion on how basketball can create positive change in our communities.

Wednesday, May 3

Mayor for a Day

Our two Mayor for a Day winners, Anya Watson and Shanaz Sabir, shadowed Mayor Sutcliffe in an incredibly eventful day on May 3. They attended a flag raising ceremony for Poland’s Constitution Day, the opening of the Rochester Heights Community House, and of course learned more about City Hall.

“Opportunities like being mayor for the day are truly incredible. My time as mayor was an amazing experience, from being a part of the Rochester Heights Community Home opening to the incredible experience touring city hall! I recommend for youth to sign up or apply whenever they can for experiences … that create lifelong memories” – Shanaz Sabir

“Meeting Mayor Sutcliffe was a fantastic and unforgettable experience! Shanaz and I were able to experience a day in the hustle of a mayor’s life and it showed us just how hard—although rewarding—the work of a city leader is. Mayor Sutcliffe’s team was so kind and I am very thankful for having met them … This event was a great learning opportunity and a marvelous outing!” – Anya Watson

We want to extend a huge thank you to Mayor Sutcliffe and the City of Ottawa for welcoming these two youth, as well as Youth Ottawa, to see a glimpse into their daily routines.

Friday, May 5

Untapped

Last year, we reintroduced our Youth Action Showcase: an event to highlight the meaningful work youth are doing to create community projects. This year, we rebranded the event into “Untapped” to reflect the untapped potential of youth. We had an incredible turnout with over 300 youth, teachers, and community leaders.

The energy was palpable at City Hall and every group was clearly passionate about their project. Sounds of talking and laughter were heard all throughout City Hall and attracted even more people to check it out! 

Youth were certainly entrepreneurial and we had an amazing time learning about their businesses and products. Among some of the highlights were self-care subscription boxes, backpack strap pads, handmade jewelry, and a video game!

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We also were happy to see amazing leaders in the community such as Mayor Sutcliffe, Down to the Wire, and our very own Executive Director Jesse Card take the time to speak at the event. 

“Investing in youth is not a one-day thing,” Hot Shoe Productions creative director and Youth Active Media facilitator Ben Bergeron said in a speech.

Thank you to all the students, teachers, community leaders, and more who participated in Untapped! We can’t wait to see you all again next year.

OYEC

That night, our Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee also hosted a networking event at City Hall. They had productive and thought-provoking discussions all around. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us! 

VESPYs

Throughout the week, we also were happy to screen seven submissions to our Video Engagement Showcase Program for Youth (VESPY) contest! The VESPYs are a brand new initiative from Youth Ottawa, introduced specifically for Youth Week. Even as our first time running the contest, it was amazing to see what youth came up with for the theme “My Ottawa.” After thorough deliberation and an internal voting process, we announced the first, second, and third place winners on May 5: Sophie Longval, Murtaza Tahmid Rhythm, and Wanees Fatine. 

Check out the winning videos!

And that's a wrap!

Thank you all again for showing your support this Youth Week. We couldn’t have done it without you. We hope to make next year’s events just as impactful and hope you will join us. If you wish to learn more about how to get involved with Youth Ottawa in the meantime, explore our programs here or contact info@youthottawa.ca. 

Sincerely, 

The Youth Ottawa team

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OYEC: Ideas to build a better Ottawa

Ideas to build a better Ottawa

Through an OYEC lens

Members of our Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee (OYEC) were recently welcomed by the City Building Summit 2023: Build Up Ottawa, organized by the Ottawa Board of Trade and Ottawa Business Journal.  

Two of the OYEC leaders present at the event, María Paula Choque and Daniel Bersyniow, enjoyed how the summit brought together a diverse group of professionals, experts, and community leaders in thought-provoking panel discussions.

Specifically, they were impressed with the keynote speech by Mrs. Mary Rowe, who emphasized the importance of engaging young people in city planning and decision-making, and the panel discussion on affordable housing. 

“Participating in the City Building Summit … was an incredible and transformative experience,” María said. “It was empowering to witness strong and successful women as role models, motivating me to pursue my dreams and contribute to my career. Coming from a country with less gender equity, this was truly refreshing.”

Each member left the event with a unique view on strategies to make Ottawa better. 

Their experience at the summit has inspired them to write about their ideas to make Ottawa a better city. Read them below!

María Paula Choque

“Based on the insights and discussions at the summit, I strongly believe that making Ottawa a more youth-friendly and livable city requires a focus on equity and inclusivity. Creating equal opportunities for youth from diverse backgrounds, ensuring equal access to resources and services, and fostering a culture of respect are essential steps to this future. 

To empower young people and encourage innovation, the introduction of entrepreneurship programs and initiatives in schools is vital. By providing mentorship programs, startup incubators and workshops, we can offer the guidance and support necessary for their entrepreneurial journeys. This will enable them to unleash their potential and contribute to the city’s economic growth.

Involving youth perspectives in construction and zoning planning across the city will also contribute to the creation of spaces that meet the needs and aspirations of youth. This can range from designing inclusive recreational areas and parks to considering affordable housing options and sustainable transportation solutions.

Further, establishing youth advisory boards or councils to give young residents a voice in decision-making processes will foster a sense of ownership and belonging. By actively involving youth, we can harness their enthusiasm and creativity to shape the future of Ottawa.

It is essential for young people to recognize that we are not just the generation of the future, but also agents of change in the present. By implementing these strategies and embracing the ideas and talents of young residents, Ottawa can become a truly vibrant, youth-friendly, and livable city that thrives on diversity, inclusivity, and innovation.”

Daniel Bersyniow

“Based on what I heard at the summit, I would prioritize investments in affordable housing, public transportation, and community spaces. 

I believe that creating more affordable housing options for young people will help address housing affordability and improve their quality of life. Affordable housing is a critical issue that affects university students and young people in many ways. For many students, housing is one of the biggest expenses they face, and affordable housing can make the difference between being able to pursue higher education or not. 

With the rising cost of tuition and other living expenses, affordable housing can help students manage their finances more effectively, reduce their financial stress, and focus on their studies.

However, the lack of affordable housing options can lead to overcrowding, substandard living conditions, or even homelessness, which can have a detrimental impact on students’ physical and mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being.

Moreover, affordable housing is important for young people who are starting their careers or establishing themselves in their communities. Young people need affordable housing options to be able to live independently, save money, and invest in their futures. Without affordable housing, young people may be forced to live with their parents, delay their career plans, or move to less desirable locations with fewer opportunities.”

What's next?

Learn more about OYEC by reading about their latest updates! 

Want to join OYEC? We’re still recruiting! 

Requirements:

  • Between the ages of 15-24 
  • Live in Ottawa
  • Enthusiastic, energetic & proactive
  • Able to participate by bringing new ideas, input, and fair decision-making to the table
  • Committed to attending 1-2 meetings a month for 1 year
  • A team player through fairness, integrity, and respect for others
Register here
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The Latest News from OYEC

The Latest News from OYEC

OYEC team updates April 2023

The Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee (OYEC) is a group of engaged youth and community leaders, partnered with the City of Ottawa, who strive to make Ottawa better for youth by informing official decisions and outreach. 

Youth Ottawa has been OYEC’s home since 2015 but the group was put on pause during the pandemic. In 2022, the group reunited with new members. Since then, they have spearheaded the proclamation of two national Youth Weeks and have formed four subcommittees: human rights, climate change, mental health, and affordability/accessibility.

The four subcommittees have 20 members who meet monthly, both as separate subcommittees and together in general meetings. Over the past couple of months, these subcommittees have had some more amazing progress, with the help of their new subcommittee chairpersons.

The mental health subcommittee is working on a mental health report, which will outline the missing services and supports that need to be addressed to support Ottawa youth. The goal for the report is to spread awareness for the struggles young people are facing and to shed light on where the city could improve their support.

The human rights subcommittee is working on a similar project. They are creating a media campaign to broadcast discussions about youth issues, such as racism and inequality, once a month. 

As for the climate change subcommittee, they are working on a “green roof” project, which aims to implement more urban gardening strategies on the roofs of businesses and other buildings within the city. This will increase urban biodiversity, will help build communities, and may help address food insecurity. 

OYEC program coordinator Fahma Khalif said her favourite part has been seeing the development of the original OYEC members.

“Seeing them take over OYEC and become the voices of OYEC and being passionate about the projects they’re leading … I loved seeing,” she said.

OYEC is also looking forward to some more events! 

To finish off Youth Week, OYEC is planning a Youth Engagement Networking Event on May 5 for young community leaders to come together and share ideas. The event will take place at City Hall from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and there will be refreshments and prizes at the door available. To RSVP, please contact fahma@youthottawa.ca. 

At the end of May, OYEC will be hosting their first in-person meeting. In partnership with Hot Shoe Productions, they will interview most of the OYEC members to talk about the group’s projects and film the entire meeting. This footage will then be used on OYEC’s new social media channels, which will be launched in the next couple of months to expand the committee’s reach into the public eye.

These social media pages, mainly Instagram and YouTube, will be the responsibility of OYEC members to control and develop as a group and a brand.

PLUS: OYEC is still recruiting!

Requirements:

  • Between the ages of 15-24 
  • Live in Ottawa
  • Enthusiastic, energetic & proactive
  • Able to participate by bringing new ideas, input, and fair decision-making to the table
  • Committed to attending 1-2 meetings a month for 1 year
  • A team player through fairness, integrity, and respect for others
Register here
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The 2023 Annual Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic

Golf carts parked in line

The 2023 Annual Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic

A New Chapter in our Golf Story

Ready for another round of golf? 

We’re back again for the city’s most anticipated golf tournament. Mayor Sutcliffe will be joining us for the first time along with title sponsor Enbridge for a full day of golf, connections, and fun! Come out and enjoy a sunny day on the green in support of an important cause. 

Last year, golfers enjoyed entertainment on the green by trick-shot legend Todd Kierstead sponsored by Caivan Communities, a youth art battle hosted by our Artistic Mentorship Program (AMP), speeches from our two Mayor for a Day winners, and much more!

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“I am very excited to be partnering with Youth Ottawa this year to host their annual, and my first, Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic. Please consider joining me at this fundraiser to support the amazing team of staff and volunteers at Youth Ottawa – advancing the critical work they do for young people in our community. Participating includes sponsoring this event and/or registering a group of four players. Every year, this event is well attended with lots of great prizes to be won later in the evening. I hope to see you at the 23rd annual Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic!”

– Mayor Mark Sutcliffe

This year’s event will take place on Friday, Aug. 18 at the Stonebridge Golf Course and we are working hard to make it equally–if not even more–enjoyable than the last! 

Here is what you can expect from this year’s event:

  • 11:00-12:00 – Registration and Lunch
  • 12:00 – Shotgun start by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe 
  • 12:00-2:30 – Golfers hit the green for a 9 hole round
  • 3:00-4:00 – Networking Cocktail Hour
  • 4:00-5:00 – Dinner & Silent Auction

Each year the tournament sells out months in advance. This will be a guaranteed day of fun, including networking opportunities, a silent auction, raffle prizes, and even something to satisfy the stomach after a full day of socializing and sport! 

“As a proud supporter of the communities we serve, Enbridge is honoured to be the title sponsor of this year’s Mayor’s Annual Charity Golf Classic, benefiting Youth Ottawa. We recognize the crucial role that Youth Ottawa plays in providing young people with the resources and support they need to reach their full potential. By investing in our youth, we are investing in the future of Ottawa and building a stronger, more vibrant community for all. We’re looking forward to a day of friendly competition on the greens while raising much-needed funds to support Youth Ottawa’s important work.”

– Sonia Fazari, Sr. Advisor, Municipal and Stakeholder Engagement, Eastern Region Public Affairs and Communications

What's next?

The event is 80% sold out, there are a few unique partnership levels and promotional opportunities, please contact our Events Manager Stefania at stefania.marino@youthottawa.ca to learn more about how you can participate.

View and download our sponsorship package:

Download sponsorship package

A special thank you to this year’s sponsors

  • Enbridge
  • Caivan
  • Mattamy Homes
  • Urbandale 
  • Minto Communities
  • Ken Gordon Holding
  • Glenview Homes
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What’s coming up this Youth Week?

Youth huddling together

What's coming up this Youth Week?

Youth week is back! Thanks to the hard work of our Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee (OYEC), the first week of May 2023 is now dedicated to celebrating our youth in the city. 

We have some special events lined up, including our annual Mayor for a Day contest and a film competition!

Check out the calendar:

As you can see, there are several ways you or a youth you know could get involved. 

VESPY's Film Competition

Our full-week event, the VESPY’s film competition, is a brand new event from Youth Ottawa. This is the perfect place for youth passionate about video production to showcase their talent and their love for Ottawa!

Requirements:

  • Participants must be 21 and under as of May 2023
  • Video must be 15-90 seconds long
  • No profanity or inappropriate subject matter
Submit a video

Mayor for a Day & "Untapped"

The Mayor for a Day contest has closed its submissions period. Finalists are being selected and will be announced shortly! In the meantime, check out our piece from last year!

This year’s Youth Action Showcase has been rebranded to an “Untapped” showcase to highlight the untapped potential of youth in our city. The event will highlight civic action projects from students who went through our Active Citizenship Initiative (ACI) and Social Enterprise Program (SEP) at City Hall. To learn more about our Untapped event and how the event went last year, check out this piece!

What's next?

Check back soon for additional info! We will be updating this page with any new details concerning this year’s Youth Week events. We hope you will join us in celebrating youth this year!

See you soon, 

– The Youth Ottawa team

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Show Your Love for Ottawa with our Youth Week Film Festival

Filmmaker looks through the viewfinder on his camera as he films a scene

Show Your Love for Ottawa with our Youth Week Film Festival

VESPY’s 2023 Video Competition (Video Engagement Showcase Program for Youth) 

Thanks to our Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee team, Youth Ottawa is preparing to celebrate our second ever National Youth Week! We had lots of fun seeing everyone celebrate youth achievement last year and are excited to amplify more creative minds this year!

This Youth Week, we are hosting a rad video competition for youth called the VESPY’s (Video Engagement Showcase Program for Youth). It will be our first ever time hosting a video competition and we hope you are as pumped as we are!

Each video must fall into this year’s theme: My Ottawa. 

Participants aged 21 and under as of May 2023 were encouraged to send us a video between 15 to 90 seconds long that features their favourite parts of Ottawa, things they would change, their vision for the city’s future, or anything else their creativity could come up with! 

Participants had the chance to receive the following prizes:

First place: 65″ TV

Second place prize: Canon camera

Third place prize: $150 cash

Congrats to our winners: Sophie Longval, Murtaza Tahmid Rhythm and Wanees Fatine (video 5, 4, and 7)! 

Submit a video

Check out the submissions!

What's next?

The VESPY’s video competition are part of Youth Ottawa’s 2023 youth week celebration. Check back here soon to learn more about what we’re doing to celebrate youth this month!

Youth Week 2023 Schedule
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OYEC Spotlight

OYEC Spotlight

Sam Turgeon-Brabazon

By the time he reached his Grade 11 environmental science class, Sam Turgeon-Brabazon had already been a social activist for years. 

Jason Collard, a facilitator going into classrooms with Youth Ottawa at the time, worked with that class. There, he hosted a “DILA” day, which is our old Active Citizenship Initiative (ACI) equivalent, and invited guest speaker Ryan Hreljac. Hreljac had founded a non-profit project for clean drinking water in Africa, and was an inspiration for Sam. 

This experience with a Youth Ottawa program then inspired him to join our Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee (OYEC), where he would soon be elected to co-chair and would meet several other members in his final two years of high school. Their mentorship was a valuable process, he said.

Realizing that OYEC was a starting point for success in any possible avenue, Sam started a sustainable agriculture project kit called “Sam’s Sprouts.” The project allowed people to grow their own micro-greens in an urban farming environment, while simultaneously growing his own love for civic engagement. 

“Then, I realized that business is a vehicle for social good,” Sam said.

While the Sam’s Sprouts project is no longer ongoing, Sam’s sprouts are still growing in terms of his impact on the community.

He said working with OYEC and observing the behind the scenes processes of public policy was a privilege, and it allowed him to gain comfort in public speaking, leadership skills, and set him up for success while interacting with city councillors who noticed these amazing qualities.

In 2015, he left OYEC and started pursuing an undergraduate degree in public affairs at Carleton University, and then a degree in business studies at Queens’ University in 2022.

“In a direct way, my time with OYEC helped me discover my love of contributing to the betterment of my community,” Sam said. “In an indirect way, I first discovered my love of social entrepreneurship in 2014 at the same time as when I was on OYEC, and my fellow OYEC members played a significant role in motivating me on my entrepreneurial journey … If it wasn’t for their steadfast encouragement, it’s uncertain whether I would have continued to pursue entrepreneurship and business development more broadly as a career path.”

Want to follow in Sam's footsteps and make a BIG impact? OYEC is now recruiting!

Requirements: 

  • Between the ages of 15-24 and live in Ottawa
  • Enthusiastic, energetic & proactive
  • Able to participate by bringing new ideas, input, and fair decision-making to the table
  • Committed to attending 1-2 meetings a month for 1 year
  • A team player through fairness, integrity, and respect for others
Join OYEC!
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2023 Mayor for a Day Contest

2023 Mayor for a Day Contest

Applications now closed

Youth Ottawa is proud to host our first Mayor for a Day contest with the new Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s, in collaboration with the City of Ottawa and Youth Ottawa’s Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee (OYEC)!

We brought the contest back in 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic put it on pause in 2020 and 2021 and have been working hard to bring it back again this year! 

Nominations were open for any Ottawa high school students from Grade 9 to 12 from Feb. 25 to March 25.

On April 11, OYEC and the mayor’s office finalized our two winners: Shanaz Sabir from St. Francis Xavier & Anya Watson from Nepean High School. 

Shanaz Sabir loves the close knit communities Ottawa provides. Her ideas to improve the city include promoting encouraging green initiatives; renewable energy, reducing waste sustainable transportation, and also supporting small businesses.

Anya Watson believes Ottawa is a city full of life, and should be a role model for the rest of Canada. She wants to see Ottawa provide youth more opportunities to experience the outdoors, and a refresh of zoning bylaws to lower costs of infrastructure, revitalize neighbourhoods, and lower environmental issues.

What is the Mayor for a Day Contest?

The Mayor for a Day contest is a unique and exciting opportunity to engage local youth from around the city on municipal politics and civic issues. Ottawa high school students in Grades 9 to 12 are invited to apply by outlining their vision for Ottawa over the next 50 years, for their chance to experience a day with the new Mayor Mark Sutcliffe!

The Mayor for a Day contest is organized by the Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee (OYEC) in partnership with the City of Ottawa and Mayor Sutcliffe’s office, as a way to promote youth engagement on municipal politics and civic issues.

Check out the CTV coverage from last year!

What's Next?

Our two winners will be shadowing the Mayor throughout the day on May 3, 2023.

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Spirit Nominations NOW OPEN!

The 2023 Spirit Awards are coming...

and nominations are OPEN!

Nominations are now OPEN for the 2023 RBC Spirit of the Capital Awards and we’re looking for 14 young people to recognize! 

The Spirit Awards ceremony is an annual gala hosted by Youth Ottawa and presented by RBC to showcase and celebrate youth achievement. Fourteen young change-makers are chosen to win an award in one of the seven categories: 

  • Arts and Culture
  • Service and Caring
  • Take a Stand
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Academic Perseverance
  • Strength through Diversity
  • Max Keeping for Personal Courage

We’re looking for youth who possess qualities such as perseverance, integrity, and empathy and are leaders in their community.

This year, we are moving our gala back to the spring season and our 2023 nominations are now open until March 31, 2023.  If you know anyone who fits the features of a Spirit Award Winner, we would love for you to tell about them!

Anyone can nominate a young person whether that would be a teacher, friend, parent, mentor, guidance councillor, etc. To learn more about the nominations categories and the selection criteria please visit us here. 

Each recipients will receive:

  • $1,000 Bursary
  • Tickets to the award gala on June 29th, 2023
  • Networking opportunities
  • Opportunity to be featured in CTV Ottawa

*nominees must be between the ages of 14-21*

Our Spirit Award winners have gone on to do wonderful things, and here’s a story about one of them!

The story of a Spirit award winner

Rehani Akenga’s dedication to community service has followed him from across the Atlantic Ocean. 

Growing up, giving back to his community was a core memory for Rehani.

In 2013, he left Congo for a refugee camp in Malawi, where he volunteered in various community initiatives. In 2021, he would arrive in Canada, where he would continue to serve his community. 

The path to success wasn’t easy: Rehani had to face a high cost of living and food insecurity, forcing him to seek employment to support his family. Despite these challenges, Rehani persevered by collecting food and money for prisoners in Maula Prison and by participating in litter pick-ups in the city. 

In 2022, he was awarded a Strength through Diversity award as part of our 25th Annual RBC Spirit Awards. 

Since then, Rehani has continued to be an active member in the community while studying at the University of Ottawa. He volunteers with Shepherds of Good Hope, Knights of Columbus and has joined the Ottawa Police Youth Advisory Committee. 

Rehani is also currently working with our Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee, a group which aims to engage youth in municipal government decision-making.

The advice and encouragement Rehani received from community members led him to feel even more motivated to support his community, he said.

“It was an extraordinary step in my life,” Rehani said. “Astonishingly, I felt motivated and continued to be active in Ottawa and Canada. Explaining in words how colourful that day was will not be enough.”

How to keep up with Spirit this year

Please visit the link below to nominate a young person:

*nominees must be between the ages of 14-21.

Nominating someone or not, we will keep you updated on everything about the Spirit Awards this year, so keep an eye out for us!

Nominations closed on March 31st, 2023. Please check back in next year.
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Thanks for making 2022 brighter

Our yearly gratitude report is here!

2022 was an amazing year, all thanks to you. To show our appreciation, we have assembled our annual gratitude report highlighting all of our accomplishments over the past year. 

Take a look and pat yourself on the back for supporting youth in the city!

English Report
Rapport français

What's next?

Interested in what you read? Please contact info@youthottawa.ca to learn more about how you can get involved in our initiatives.