2025 Youth Leadership Contest

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.

Applications now closed

January 1, 2024January 1, 2024

Keeping up with Entrepreneurship: Q&A with Wendley Pierre

Keeping up with Youth Entrepreneurship

Q & A With Wendley Pierre

Remember Wendley? He’s the senior photographer at Hot Shoe Productions, who with a team of talented young business leaders continues to grow a remarkable youth-led social enterprise. 2023 was a busy year for him! He has taken on new professional experiences, developed creative projects, inspired in classrooms, and celebrated Hot Shoe Productions taking home a Best Ottawa Business Award this past November.

We recently chatted with Wendley as he took us behind the lens of his experience and offered insights into his life as a young entrepreneur.

Q1. Could you introduce yourself and describe your role at Hot Shoe Productions?

My name is Wendley. I am the Lead Photographer at Hot Shoe Productions. I’ve worked with Hot Shoe for about 2 years now. I take photos of clients and events, and I also direct specific client projects, facilitate filmmaking programs in classrooms, and manage Hot Shoe’s social media.

Q2. How did you discover your passion for photography?

High school gave me the foundation to develop my passion for photography. I took a grade 11 photography class at Immaculata High School. I started out with an ipad in the classroom, practiced, and relayed photos to the teacher. I eventually developed an understanding of subject placement, an awareness of stopping and looking around and figuring out what is interesting about what I’m seeing, because being a photographer is about so much more than just being behind a camera. I discovered my love for street photography and photographers who inspired me, like Steven Shore, and eventually I defined my own style.

Q3. What inspired you to get involved with Hot Shoe Productions and Entrepreneurship in the first place?

I was working for a fast food restaurant before getting involved with Hot Shoe. The opportunities for me I felt only went to a certain point..I could become the supervisor, manager, but it was a job to me and not my passion. I had been looking for some freelance opportunities in photography for awhile, and I was introduced to Ben Bergeron, the creative director at Hot Shoe through Jesse Card, at a creators hub event Youth Ottawa was hosting.

Q4. What are some recent projects you have completed? What are you currently working on?

I have focused on video directing with a few of my more recent projects. I directed a promotional debut video for a consulting firm called The Novas Group. It’s a brand development firm led by young creatives here in Ottawa. It was fun to shoot! I think we were successful at capturing them as a business, by bringing in elements of corporate strategy videos while also maintaining a youthful vibe.

I debuted as a director with a video project for Unsinkable, an organization that focuses on youth mental health.

I am really excited about a course curriculum I am developing with a grant from the Social Planning Council of Ottawa. It’s a photography fundamentals mentorship program specific to youth that I will be facilitating with other members of the Hot Shoe team.

I am also in the middle of a project working to help connect the larger community to local artists and creatives. I think there is so much talent in Ottawa, great things people are working on, and they need to be shared.

Q5. Can you describe a memorable moment where you witnessed the positive effects of entrepreneurship through your work at Hot Shoe Productions?

Entrepreneurship shows how the things you do can have a big impact. I think of the things we’ve done for the community. I feel like the Youth Active Media program with Hot Shoe has a lasting impact on kids and they are going to remember it. I remember in one class, we were doing script writing and a kid was very distracted because he didn’t resonate with it, so I pulled out a camera and taught him ways to use it. I remember he was very excited and so I challenged him to shoot a short film on his phone and have it done the next day. The next day he came back and completed the challenge. I realized that he had used a lot of the techniques he learned and he remembered all of it. It makes you happy to see growth and success inspired by something you did.

Q6. What is your favorite thing about working at Hot Shoe Productions?

The people. Creatives are the best people to be around. Being surrounded by my peers, Vanna, Colin, and Ben who are strong advocates for creating opportunities for youth to get into the industry. My relationships at Hot Shoe have inspired me to mentor other young people. I remember wishing we could open up a photography school and teach kids photography. And now we are doing it. I reflect on it as a full circle moment.

Q7. What skills or knowledge have you gained through your experience at Hot Shoe Productions that you believe are valuable as an entrepreneur?

Everyday at Hot Shoe teaches me about business, I’ve developed many skills, even though I do not have a background in business. I’ve also developed a lot of networking skills and learned how to be more formal in my correspondence with clients, especially through email thanks to Ben.

Q8. If you could offer one piece of advice to young people interested in entrepreneurship, what would it be?

Be patient with yourself. There are so many learning curves but success comes, and while you’re waiting for it it’s important to reflect on where you came from, and how far you’ve come.

Q9. What is one of your greatest achievements to date?

Being able to connect with the people in my city and learning about what they do, why they do it, and why they care so much for it, why is there an attachment, inspiration or purpose? It has been inspiring to see people come together creatively and be able to find their community, and their people. I think the best way people connect is by helping each other, and it’s been great to see that and be a part of it in the creative community.

Q10. What is one of your biggest lessons learned from your entrepreneurial journey so far?

Help us support Youth Entrepreneurs.

June 30, 2023June 30, 2023

Meet the 2023 Summer Amplified Cohort

Meet the 2023 Summer Amplified Cohort!

At Youth Ottawa, we firmly believe in the power of youth to shape the present and the future. Their innovative ideas have the potential to ignite positive change, not only in their own lives but also within their communities. Each year, we provide support to young entrepreneurs, helping them take their businesses to new heights. Through our Summer Amplified Fellowship, we empower these fellows to transform their social innovation frameworks into sustainable social enterprises.

We’re excited to introduce you to Ben and Sallysha, two inspiring fellows from our 2023 cohort and to shed light on their remarkable projects. Both fellows exemplify the incredible potential of youth in entrepreneurship. With their projects focused on co-designing public spaces and amplifying young changemakers, they demonstrate a commitment to community engagement, sustainability, and making a meaningful impact.

Ben Wright

"Welcome: Co-designing Public Spaces"

Ben’s activation project, called “Welcome,” focuses on co-designing public spaces. His goal is to engage civically-minded youth groups in Ward 13, providing them with facilitation and design tools to create their own spaces. Unlike traditional approaches, Ben’s project empowers community members to design and prototype their ideal spaces. By incorporating human-centered and community-driven design principles, he ensures that the final outcomes truly reflect the community’s desires and effectively meet their needs. The project’s results will be digitally published, allowing others to engage with and apply them in their own communities. Ben is passionate about amplifying the voices of youth in civic conversations, and through the Youth Ottawa Amplified Fellowship, he aims to make a sustainable and lasting social impact.

Sallysha Vital

"The People of Tomorrow (TPOT)"

Sallysha’s project, “The People of Tomorrow (TPOT),” is a creative platform that highlights and encourages the efforts of young changemakers in various fields, including education, social justice, art, science, and innovation. TPOT aims to amplify the voices of young individuals who are making positive impacts in their communities. In this summer fellowship, Sallysha seeks to enhance her leadership skills, inspiring the community through innovative and creative means. She aspires to deepen her understanding of making a significant impact on people and social issues, while also fostering connections with peers, experts, and mentors within Youth Ottawa. By leveraging these abilities, Sallysha envisions a brighter future for TPOT and the communities it serves.

What's next?

If you would like to support our Summer Amplified Fellowship and continue seeing the amazing work of youth like Ben and Sallysha, please consider donating today! Your donations go directly towards our operations at Youth Ottawa, including businesses such as these.

June 2, 2023June 2, 2023

Amplifying Youth Potential in Entrepreneurship

At Youth Ottawa, we believe that youth are not only our future but our current reality. Their innovative ideas not only have the power to spark change within their own lives but also have the power to make our communities stronger.

Youth often are most observant of the social issues that require solving in our communities. That is why their ideas are revolutionary.

That is also why we have been running the Summer Amplified Fellowship since 2019. The program amplifies the entrepreneurial ideas of youth through a three-step process: business development training, mentorship, and networking.

Every year, we support young entrepreneurs to boost their businesses to the next level. By hiring them to work for themselves throughout the summer, fellows can transform their social innovation frameworks into long-term and sustainable social enterprises.

After a brief pause in the fellowship due to the pandemic, we welcomed Drayton and Nathan as our summer amplified fellows in 2022. Now is a great chance to meet them and see what they’ve been up to since!

The 2022 Summer Amplified Fellowship cohort

Drayton Mulindabigwi Jabo

20today20tomorrow

Drayton’s business, 20today20tomorrow, envisions a vibrant community of youth who are active in their communities. By bringing together a group of young innovators, 20today20tomorrow works to identify and address social issues with creative solutions. For example, their Inspire the Next initiative provides youth with a platform to share their experiences and ideas through a podcast and a live show format. Today, the organization is working on continuing its Inspire the Next shows. Who knows what will come tomorrow?

Nathan Monpremier

HopeisFamous

HopeIsFamous is a clothing brand that empowers young athletes. Using high-quality materials and a durable design, HopeIsFamous ensures athletes feel and perform at their best. Nathan and his team have recently expanded their clothing line into the world of customizable sportswear for local sports teams and other organizations and have continued their work in community outreach to promote healthy lifestyles.

What's next?

Interested in becoming a summer amplified fellow? Applications will open on June 5 at 9 a.m. and will close on June 16 at noon.