Backgrounder: Canada Service Corps for youth

In February 2022, the Canada Service Corps (CSC) launched a multi-stream Call for Proposals (CFP) to expand the program and strengthen diversity. Organizations were required to offer volunteer service opportunities that prioritized Indigenous and under-served youth, aligning with the Government of Canada's commitment to youth programming and equity. Projects were asked to respond to one of the CSC’s the priority themes, or youth could also identify a theme that was important to them. The key themes were: reconciliation, building an inclusive Canada, preserving the environment, promoting civic and democratic engagement and strengthening resilience.

The Government of Canada has awarded funding to 15 organizations under the CSC’s Service Placements National stream. This stream provides eligible organizations with up to $10M annually to deliver projects that take place in at least two provinces/territories, have a minimum of 100 service placements annually for youth participants, where 50% of participants identify as either Indigenous or under-served youth, or both. The 15 organizations will receive funding to deliver their CSC projects, creating over 5,000 volunteer service opportunities for youth. These placements could be flexible, requiring a minimum of 120 hours of service completed within a twelve-month period, or full-time, with 30 hours per week of service for a minimum of three consecutive months, within a twelve-month period.

Of the 15 organizations in this stream, six organizations will pilot program delivery to youth between the ages of 12 and 14. By lowering the age of eligibility, younger youth will be able to access the benefits of volunteering, including developing their leadership and communication skills, at an earlier age.

The following organizations will be receiving funding:

Organization: Canadian Council on Invasive Species / Conseil Canadien des espèce envahissantes
Project Title: Youth Nature Keepers
Description: The project will support youth participants in the identification of challenges associated with invasive species, where youth will then develop a project to take action against invasive species in their community.
Region: British Columbia
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $973,157
Targeted number of participants:  100
Age of participants: 15-30 years old
Website: canadainvasives.ca

Organization: Ocean Wise
Project Title: Ocean Bridge & YouthToSea
Description: The project will provide opportunities for youth participants to participate in environmental conservation internships and activities such as on-the-ground cleanup initiatives, co-creating an arts project, and delivering workshops with community partners. 
Region: British Columbia
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $5,462,253
Targeted number of participants: 420
Age of participants: 15-30 years old
Website: ocean.org

Organization:  VIDEA - A BC Based International Development Education Association
Project Title: The Land Talks Back
Description: The project will provide youth participants with volunteer service placements related to environmental issues faced by Indigenous communities across Canada and allow them to participate in community activities that promote environmental conservation.
Region: British Columbia
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $744,012
Targeted number of participants: 100
Age of participants: 12-30 years old
Website: videa.ca

Organization: Ability Online Support Network
Project Title: Helping the Helpers
Description: The project will allow youth participants to learn new skills, develop their knowledge, and practice their leadership skills, focusing primarily on youth with disabilities and providing them with mentorship opportunities to raise community awareness of disability issues.   
Region: Ontario
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $131,506
Targeted number of participants: 117
Age of participants: 12-30 years old
Website: newabilityonline.org

Organization: AccessNow
Project Title: Mapping an Accessible Canada
Description: The project will provide youth participants with the opportunity to learn about accessibility through volunteering and mentoring, and will promote essential learning related to people with disabilities and accessibility challenges.
Region: Ontario
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $680,061
Targeted number of participants:  160
Age of participants: 15-30 years old
Website: accessnow.com

Organization: BridgingTheGap Ventures
Project Title: YOUNGA Canadian Youth Delegate Program
Description: The project will allow youth delegates to participate in mentoring opportunities that promote objectives such as sustainable development and citizen engagement. 
Region: Ontario
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $$424,590
Targeted number of participants: 120
Age of participants: 12-30 years old
Website: bridgingthegapventures.com

Organization: Broad Reach Foundation for Youth Leaders
Project Title: Ships2Shores – Canadian Youth Charting Future Course
Description: Youth participants will be able to live aboard sailboats and tall ships while on the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Coast. Once on land, they will implement real-need community projects.
Region: Ontario
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $1,242,542
Targeted number of participants: 202
Age of participants: 12-30 years old
Website: https://www.sailbroadreach.ca/

Organization: Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
Project Title: Lead Up 2.0
Description: Youth participants will determine the theme of their volunteer project with their club mentors, focusing on building an inclusive Canada and promoting civic and democratic engagement. 
Region: Ontario
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $1,566,656
Targeted number of participants: 360
Age of participants: 12-30 years old
Website: www.bgccan.com/en/

Organization: Canadian Wildlife Federation
Project Title: Canadian Conservation Corps
Description: Youth participants will have the opportunity to travel the country to discover the unique characteristics of various regions, understand the challenges they face, and develop and deliver projects that focus on preserving the environment and community well-being.
Region: Ontario 
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $13,600,185
Targeted number of participants: 1,400
Age of participants: 15-30 years old
Website: cwf-fcf.org

Organization: GLOCAL Foundation of Canada
Project Title: A Youth Service Corps for Digital Civic Engagement and Democratic Literacy in Canada
Description: The project will offer virtual volunteering through research activities, non-partisan knowledge mobilization, experiential learning, and cross-regional peer interactions that build the digital skills needed for creative civic awareness and effective democratic engagement.
Region: Ontario
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $1,165,600
Targeted number of participants: 400
Age of participants: 15-30 years old
Website: glocalfoundation.ca

Organization: Institute for Canadian Citizenship
Project Title: Landing Experience: Harnessing Tech and Partnership to Promote Civic Engagement Among Newcomer Youth
Description: To build a more inclusive Canada, the project will provide newcomer youth with volunteer activities related to the sectors of recreation, arts and culture.
Region: Ontario
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $1,799,586
Targeted number of participants: 750
Age of participants: 15-30 years old
Website: inclusion.ca

Organization: YMCA of Greater Toronto
Project Title: YMCA Community Action Network
Description: The project will allow youth participants to lead and develop projects with the goal of building a more inclusive Canada and promoting civic and democratic engagement. 
Region: Ontario
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $2,042,611
Targeted number of participants: 525
Age of participants: 12-30 years old
Website: ymcagta.org

Organization: Youth Challenge International
Project Title: Climate Futures Lab
Description: The project will provide service placements related to environmental issues such as climate change and allow youth participants to participate in projects that aim to preserve the environment and promote civic engagement within their community. 
Region: Ontario
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $366,798  
Targeted number of participants: 100
Age of participants: 16-24 years old
Website: https://www.yci.org/

Organization: Apathy is Boring
Project Title: The RISE Program 
Description: The organization will provide service placements through group internships with the goal of building networks of civically engaged and empowered youth to collectively address community issues affecting youth.
Region: Quebec
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $3,199,178
Targeted number of participants: 112  
Age of participants: 18-30 years old
Website: www.apathyisboring.com/

Organization: Katimavik Youth Services
Project Title: Katimavik National Experience
Description: This project will provide youth participants with the tools they need to build the country in which they want to prosper by allowing them to spend seven weeks in communal living spaces supporting local communities through service projects.
Region: Quebec
Funding amount: Canada is contributing up to $7,525,759
Targeted number of participants: 484
Age of participants: 17-25 years old
Website: katimavik.org