September 8, 2009
OTTAWA – Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, invites young people between the ages of 18 and 25 to submit their applications on www.mentor2009.gg.ca by September 17, 2009, in order to participate in the Order of Canada Mentorship Program.
For one year, this program pairs 25 youth from across Canada with 25 members of the Order of Canada who share the same passions and interests. The members of the Order of Canada are illustrious Canadians who, because of their impressive career paths, have a great deal to offer to young adults who are looking to be inspired and guided.
The 25 program participants will be selected based on their involvement in their community or their area of interest, as well as on the quality of their responses to the essay questions on the application form. They can still participate while holding down a job, doing volunteer work, or pursuing their studies.
The mentor-participant pairs will first meet in person this fall in the company of the Governor General. After that, mentoring will take place online and by e-mail, depending on the dynamic that emerges and the rhythm that is best suited to each pair, while maintaining the spirit of reciprocity and exchange. The mentors and youth participants will also be invited to submit blogs and take part in discussion forums at www.citizenvoices.gg.ca.
As the Governor General recently told young people gathered at the Grand Rassemblement Jeunesse, in Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick, "When the ideas of youth and the experience of the members of the Order of Canada come together, there will result untold promises for your future and the future of our communities."
For more information about the Order of Canada Mentorship Program, please visit www.mentor2009.gg.ca.
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Media information
Annabelle Cloutier
Rideau Hall Press Office
(613) 993-2569
www.gg.ca
www.citizenvoices.gg.ca
