How Youth Forums work

Please note that the Exchanges Canada Program website is currently transitioning to a new website for Fall 2013.

The Exchanges Canada Program and its Youth Exchanges and Youth Forums components remain operational.

Through conferences or workshops, youth forums bring together young Canadians from across the country to learn about our parliamentary system, public policy development and the issues we currently face as a nation. Participants discuss ideas, form friendships and get a taste of life in another part of Canada.

Get involved! Discover the youth forum opportunities available through Exchanges Canada’s delivery organizations. The goals of forums are to:

• enhance knowledge and understanding of Canada among participants,
• connect Canadians with one another, and
• develop a sense of Canadian identity and attachment to Canada by helping youth appreciate the diversity and the shared aspects of the Canadian experience.

You can also search other opportunities, not funded by Exchanges Canada

Who is eligible to participate?

Generally, any Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is between the ages of 14 and 25 is eligible to participate in a forum.

Costs

Through its delivery organizations, Exchanges Canada generally reimburses approved organizers for return transportation for the youth and their chaperones.

Costs vary depending on the experience. As a general rule, participants should expect to pay registration or application fees as well as costs for local transportation and, in the case of youth exchanges, hosting activities. Please check with the forum delivery organization for further details.

To help offset the costs of an exchange or forum, your teen may be required to participate in fundraising activities. For more information, follow the Fundraising link on our links page.

Delivery organizations

Year after year, Exchanges Canada’s delivery organizations have offered youth the following exceptional experiences:

• Forum for Young Canadians
• Encounters with Canada

Are you a teacher or group organizer? Have an idea for a forum? Take a look at how you might receive funding for your new idea.

Service Standards for Youth Forums Canada

Canadian Heritage has set service standards for the timely delivery of the acknowledgement of receipt, funding decision and payment processes.

The following service standards have been set for Youth Forums Canada.

Acknowledgement

Our goal is to acknowledge receipt of your application form within 15 calendar days.

Decision

Our goal is to issue official written notification of the funding decision within 24 weeks of the program's application deadline.

Payment

Our goal is to issue payments within 28 calendar days of the successful fulfillment of requirements outlined in the contribution agreement or the grant awards letter.

Our performance target is to meet these standards for the majority of files. The achievement of these service standards is a shared responsibility. You must submit all required documentation in a timely fashion.

Service standards vary by program.