Press Release
Prime Minister Justice Trudeau, also the minister of youth, participated in a panel via video chat with youth from Thunder Bay last Tuesday (Jan. 16) to discuss the launch of the design phase of the Canada Service Corps, Canada’s new national youth service initiative.
Trudeau, along with Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Don Rusnak and Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu, spoke with the youth about this new program, which will encourage young Canadians to get involved in service to their communities and gain valuable skills and experience that will benefit them in every aspect of life.
It also will provide young Canadians with service opportunities that currently do not exist.
More meaningful volunteer and service opportunities means more young people will have the chance to practice leadership, develop individual strengths, and gain essential life and work experiences.
As a nationwide initiative, Canada Service Corps will help more young Canadians understand the importance of serving their communities, as well as instill a sense of civic engagement and global citizenship.
During this first phase, the Government of Canada will work with young Canadians to find out more about their motivations and interests, and to explore what service means to them.
Their ideas will directly shape the initiative, and help to ensure it meets the needs and priorities of young people once it is fully implemented in 2019.
The federal government will work closely with national, regional, and local organizations to explore how best to engage and inspire young Canadians, and to connect youth with meaningful service opportunities.
Understanding that volunteering often is the first step to meaningful service, the federal government will offer an online matching service through Volunteer Canada that helps young people find volunteer opportunities in their communities.
Young Canadians also can apply for funding that will help them and their team make their service-related projects a reality.
“Young people should have more chances to serve their communities while gaining valuable skills and experience,” said Trudeau.
“That is what Canada Service Corps is all about.
“If we’re going to get this right, we need to hear from young Canadians,” he added.
“Together, let’s inspire a new culture of service in Canada and build a better country, one community at a time.”
“The launch of the design phase of Canada Service Corps is an exciting first step towards our government’s goal to work with our country’s youth to build a program that will encourage young people to take up service in their communities as well as engage those who already do,” said Rusnak.
“Service can open the door to incredible experiences for youth, and this program presents an exciting opportunity to design an initiative that engages young leaders,” he added.
“Our future prosperity depends on young Canadians getting the experience and skills they need to succeed,” echoed Hajdu.
“Young Canadians are leaders today; they want to be involved, and we are giving them the opportunity to build a program that is for them, by them.
“The design phase of Canada Service Corps is all about engagement and collaboration with young people so that together we can create a program that reflects what matters most to them,” she added.
