The Coalition of Youth Councils (better known as the CYC) is made up of over 8,000 members in 4 municipalities, representing close to 500,000 youth and rapidly expanding across Canada. We are a not-for-profit organization lead by a team of over 100 of the most dedicated and passionate volunteers who contribute countless hours to the organizations growth and day-to-day operations. We are proud to have broken ground as the founders of the first ever democratically elected youth councils in Canada and are inspired by the movement that many municipalities and independent (non-CYC) youth councils are beginning to embrace. Our flagship program, the Youth Voice Initiative, is producing a high-calibre, driven group of community leaders including activists, political staffers, future politicians and public servants, and an engaged generation of citizens. It is encouraging to see many of our Youth Councillors being recognized for their hard work in their communities in the media and through awards & scholarships such as Top 20 Under 20. Our governments need more people in key positions who understand the value of teamwork, consensus building, ethical decision-making, interpersonal skills, and being goal oriented. While political offices value cooperative effort, they also demand innovative thinking. The CYC seeks to transform youth into collaborative leaders who recognize that their own success depends on the success of others. By giving youth hands-on experiences in the fields of public policy, local community development, event planning, marketing, finance and government administration, the CYC enhances the civics class experience by providing an opportunity for practical application that mold secondary and post-secondary school students into character-driven leaders and engaged citizens. So welcome to the CYC! If you’ve never been involved with the CYC, now is your chance. The experience WILL be a life changing one! We promise!