#CanadaWeWant Conference Series
Building the Canada youth want since 2017
Since 2017, the #CanadaWeWant Conference gathers hundreds of youth aged 14-25, in Nobleton, Ontario. The annual event is focused on developing youth leadership in youth populations seeking equity and helping young people think about and design the kind of Canada they want.
The conference gives a platform for young people's voices on the issues that affect them so that they are heard by their peers and policymakers. Each year, youth delegates explore what it means to be a Canadian through the lenses of truth, reconciliation, diversity, inclusion and sustainability. The forum features small group discussions and large plenary sessions, decision-making processes, keynote addresses, sharing circles and action-planning sessions. Youth explore topics in-depth and produce a report capturing their conversation on these topics as well as a presentation with recommendations for policy-makers and decision makers. They also contribute and engage in products such as videos, photos and social media campaigns. The final day is a trip to Toronto for the Showcase event, a formal presentation to policy-makers, business representatives, sponsors, and senior leadership from the youth sector.
Below, you will find a summary of past conferences. Stay tuned, our next conference will take place from February 27, 2025 to March 4, 2025!
#CanadaWeWant Conference 2025
February 28th to March 4th
Theme - Lift Up the Future
The 2025 #CanadaWeWant youth conference took place in-person from February 28th to March 4th at the YMCA Cedar Glen Camp, in Nobleton, Ontario. Over the week, 152 young people, adult allies, and elders from coast to coast to coast came together toshare their experiences, concerns, ideas and hopes for the #CanadaWeWant and need. At the end of the conference, each theme team presented their recommendations in front of key stakeholders, decision- and policymakers at the #CanadaWeWant National Showcase event in Toronto, presented by RBC. These bilingual presentations were developed inter-generationally and presented by youth representatives from the theme team.
Below you will find the 2025 report.
#CanadaWeWant Conference 2024
February 29 to March 5, 2024
Theme - Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Youth Envisioning a Bold Tomorrow
From February 29 to March 5, 2024, 152 young people, adult allies, and elders from coast to coast to coast came together to share their experiences, concerns, ideas, and hopes for the #CanadaWeWant and need. This year's theme was Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Youth Envisioning a Bold Tomorrow. Throughout the week, youth demystified subjects such as substance use and addiction, online safety and social polarizations, identities and healthy relationships, environment and mental health, the mind, body, and nutrition as well as the housing crisis in Canada. They then came together to envision a bold tomorrow for Canada.
Below you will find the 2024 reports and theme team products.
#CanadaWeWant Conference 2023
March 2 to 7, 2023
The 2023 #CanadaWeWant youth conference took place between March 2nd and March 7th, 2023 at YMCA Cedar Glen in Nobleton, ON. Over the week, 167 young people, elders, youth facilitators, adult allies and staff members from coast to coast came together to share their experiences, concerns, ideas and hopes for the #CanadaWeWant and need. Together, youth explored subjects such as social polarizations, the Canadian Food Guide, healthy relationships, substance use, the environment, truth leading to reconciliation and more.
Below you will find the 2023 reports.
#CanadaWeWant Conference 2022
Virtual Conference October 11 to 14, 2022 | In-Person Conference October 13 to 18, 2022
The 2022 #CanadaWeWant youth conference took place in-person between March 22 and March 24, 2022 at YMCA Cedar Glen in Nobleton, ON. Forty young people, elders, youth facilitators, adult allies and staff members from coast to coast came together to share their experiences, concerns, ideas and hopes for the #CanadaWeWant. While navigating the pandemic, they we joined, virtually, online by 64 additional youth. Together, youth explored subjects such as healthy relationships, the Canadian Food Guide, International Experience Canada (EIC), and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) and contributed their insights directly to policy makers.
Below you will find the 2022 #CanadaWeWant Forum public report:
#CanadaWeWant Conference 2021
March 1 to March 8, 2021 - Virtual
Theme - Lift Up the Future
From March 1-8 2021, 400 youth and adult allies from coast to coast of Canada gathered virtually for the #CanadaWeWant conference. Amid COVID-19 restrictions, the event adapted to an online format while maintaining its core mission of empowering youth to shape Canada’s future. Through the Four Pillars, youth explored 8 key themes including My Environment, The Future of Public Education, State of Youth and more.
Below you will find the 2021 reports:
#CanadaWeWant Conference 2020
March 5 xx to March 10, 2020
From March 5 to March 10th, 2020, 124 youth delegates and 32 adult allies from across Canada gathered at YMCA Cedar Glen in Nobleton, Ontario, for the #CanadaWeWant Conference. Guided by the Four Pillars: Respect, Listen, Understand, Communicate, youth explored 8 critical themes including Future of Public Education, My Environment, Social Identity and Mental Health, International Experiences Canada, Healthy Relationships and communities etc.
Despite last minute cancellations due to emerging COVID-19 concerns, the event successfully fostered cross culture discussions, developed community projects and went through with the National Showcase where youth presented their Vision for the Future to policymakers and stakeholders.
Below you will find the 2020 reports:
#CanadaWeWant Conference 2019
February 27 to March 4, 2019
From February 27 to March 4, 2019, 131 youth and 28 adult allies from every corner of Canada came together at YMCA Cedar Glen for the 3rd Annual #CanadaWeWant conference. They bonded over talent shows, lip sync battles and by sharing diverse cultures while tackling complicated issues in nine main theme teams, including Social Identity Formation, Pollution and the Environment, Teen Dating Violence, Substance Misuse, Education and Employment.
The week culminated on March 4th when youth presented their policy recommendations to federal officials in downtown Toronto, putting youth voices at the heart of Canada's future.
Below you will find the 2019 reports:
#CanadaWeWant Conference 2018
February 27 to March 5, 2018
Theme – Building the Canada We Want: Youth Shaping National Policy
From February 27th to March 5th, 2018, 150 youth and adult allies from every province and territory of Canada gathered to help shape Canada's first Youth Policy. Throughout the week participants explored key themes including mental health, structural racism, truth and reconciliation, children's rights, gender based violence prevention and youth employment. In the form of 11 policy reports, their work was presented directly to government officials at Toronto's RBC Future Launch event, creating lasting impact nationwide.
Below you will find the 2018 conference reports:
#CanadaWeWant Conference 2017
March 1 to March 5, 2017
Theme - Youth Charting Canada's Next 150 Years
From March 1-5, 2017, 128 youth and 27 adult allies from across Canada gathered at YMCA Cedar Glen for the first ever #CanadaWeWant Conference. The event marked 150 years of Canadian Confederation with a focus on telling the history of the peoples that have made up this land.
Guided by the Four Pillars: Respect, Listen, Understand, and Communicate, participants worked across nine theme teams including Mental Health and Wellness, Healthy Relationships, Sharing the Story, The Justice System We Want etc. Through keynote speeches, cultural celebrations, outdoor team building activities, youth developed policy recommendations that would eventually reach the Prime Minister's office. This event established a youth advisory group that continues to shape the conference series today, creating a legacy of youth leadership in building the Canada we want.
Below you will find the 2017 theme team products
