Youth Leadership Contest

Mayor OR CEO for a Day

Step into a Civic Leadership Role for a Day!

Are you a high school student in Grades 9-12 living in Ottawa? Do you want to experience what it’s like to lead a city, manage a major organization, or oversee public safety? The Leadership for a Day Contest hosted during our annual youth week in May is back with three incredible opportunities for Ottawa’s youth:

Mayor for a Day – Experience the responsibilities of municipal leadership alongside Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.
CEO for a Day – Shadow a top executive in the non-profit or business sector and learn about leadership and decision-making.

What is the Youth Week Leadership Contest?

Organized by the Ottawa Youth Council (OYC) in partnership with the City of Ottawa, and local organizations, the Leadership for a Day Contest provides students with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in civic leadership during Youth Week in early May. Winners will shadow key figures, attend scheduled events, and contribute their ideas on shaping Ottawa’s future.

Applying is easy! All that is required is:

*You are a high school student residing in the City of Ottawa

*Fill in our application form and explain why you would be a good candidate for one of the roles.

*You’re excited to discuss ideas for the city of Ottawa with decision-makers.

Can’t decide which role you’d rather take on? No problem. We welcome multiple applications from the same candidate.

Explore Your Leadership Opportunities

Mayor for a Day

Winners will have the exclusive chance to:

Shadow Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and participate in his daily responsibilities.
Attend official city events and key meetings.
Tour City Hall and meet municipal leaders, including the City Manager and city council members.
Ask the Mayor all the questions you want and discuss ideas for Ottawa’s future

Last Year’s Mayor for a Day Experience

Previous winners, Thea Peters (Merivale High School) and Layan Kanaa Alhalabi (St. Francis Xavier High School), enjoyed an exciting day with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe last year. The day was filled with learning opportunities and exciting events. The students were able to engage in discussions about city priorities, meet city officials, tour city hall, and attend official events.

“We got to explore Ottawa’s heritage and learn about how the city has come into fruition, and see all the efforts that the Mayor and his team put into our city. It was really interesting because there were a lot of events and surprises throughout the day. It’s a really authentic experience to shadow the mayor’s busy day alongside him. His team gave us an amazing experience. ” — Layan Alhalabi, Mayor for a Day Recipient

NEW!! CEO for a Day

Want to learn what it takes to lead a major organization? This opportunity allows students to shadow a CEO for a day and gain insight into leadership, business strategy, and decision-making.

Choose from two exciting CEO experiences:

1. Ottawa Community Housing CEO, Stéphane Giguère: Learn about affordable housing, urban planning, and how non-profit leadership impacts Ottawa’s communities.

2. Ottawa BlackJacks President & CEO, Mark Wacyk: Dive into the fast-paced world of sports business and see how Ottawa’s professional basketball team is managed.

As a CEO for a Day, you will:

Experience executive decision-making and strategic planning.
Learn about financial management, leadership, and organizational growth.
Gain insight into how these organizations shape Ottawa’s development.

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