Motivate Canada – Gatineau, QC –  United by a passion to make a difference in their communities, more than 50 diverse youth from across Canada, including 2 delegates from the USA, will gather in Quebec on the traditional territory of the  Algonquin Nation from January 22^nd to 24^th in a youth-led leadership forum held in conjunction with the Sport for Life Canadian Summit.

The inaugural ViaYOUTH Summit program, designed by a team of young Motivate Canada alumni, will address some of the themes and issues that matter most to young people today, including: personal and community transformation, mental health, physical literacy and sport, leadership, and project planning. The youth delegates will also have a unique opportunity to present to more than 500 industry leaders at the Sport for Life Canadian Summit with a “State of Sport: ViaYOUTH” address.

“I feel that the greatest outcome of the ViaYOUTH Summit will be that youth will realize the collective impact they can have in sport, physical activity, and beyond,” notes Program Committee member Baies Haqani. “They will have the chance to connect with other delegates, gain a practical understanding of how to utilize their networks, and ultimately have the chance to work together to build healthier communities.”

The GEN7 Sunrise – a forum designed by-and-for Indigenous youth from across Canada – will be hosted in parallel to further develop the leadership potential of Indigenous youth. This two-day training will include strategic work amongst the youth themselves, as well as inter-generational dialogue with community and sport partners. The goal of the GEN7 Sunrise is for Indigenous youth to cultivate a collective vision for their position as Role Models in their communities, and to initiate the development of an innovative social impact framework in which to realize this vision.

Both the ViaYOUTH Summit and GEN7 Sunrise are supported by key sport partners including the Sport for Life Society and the Aboriginal Sport Circle, with generous funding provided in part by the Government of Canada. Motivate Canada also wishes to acknowledge the Community Fund for Canada’s 150^th – a collaborative effort between Community Foundations of Canada and the McConnell Foundation with support from the Government of Canada – for it’s support of additional strategic work aligned with the GEN7 Sunrise.

Motivate Canada

Motivate Canada is a Canadian charitable organization specializing in Youth-Driven Development (YDD) – a unique youth social impact framework that unlocks the innovation potential of young people while empowering them to create positive change within their communities.

Since its modest beginnings in 1994 as a single program organization in British Columbia, Motivate Canada has expanded its reach and mission to deliver YDD initiatives across Canada in partnership with like-minded organizations.

The Sport for Life Canadian Summit