Ava Chaplin - Wellstream

Enhancing Political Representation by Extending the Voting Age

Enhancing Political Representation by Extending the Voting Age Foundry Abbotsford - 2023 In September 2024, the Agenda Gap team partnered with Foundry Abbotsford to pilot an on-site implementation of the program. The Agenda Gap team provided program materials, participant intake support, and facilitation training. Thirteen youth completed the program, attending weekly, in-person meetings after school at the Foundry centre from November 2024 to May 2025. Agenda Gap youth identified a [...]

By Ava Chaplin|2025-12-22T21:21:34+00:00December 22, 2025|Position Paper / Policy Brief|0 Comments

Strengthening school-based anti-racism policies.

Vancouver - 2021 The Vancouver Agenda Gap group was comprised of six youth collaborators from one high school and two young adult facilitators, who met regularly over an eight-month period from October 2020 to June 2021. Vancouver youth were particularly interested in addressing the link between racism and increased poor mental health outcomes among youth in their community. They chose to focus on advocating for changes to the Vancouver [...]

By Ava Chaplin|2025-12-22T20:53:34+00:00November 22, 2025|Engaging Decision Makers|0 Comments

Informing the Renewal of the School District’s Enhancement Agreement for Indigenous Students

Informing the Renewal of the School District’s Enhancement Agreement for Indigenous Students Abbotsford - 2023 Abbotsford youth advocated for changes to a school district policy to better support Indigenous youth. To gather their Indigenous peers' perspectives on needed changes and resources, as well as input from parents in their community, the youth developed a survey as well as a promotional poster. The survey, which was posted in three schools, received [...]

By Ava Chaplin|2025-12-22T20:46:30+00:00November 21, 2025|Position Paper / Policy Brief|0 Comments

Fostering community pathways for youth employment (including job-ready skills).

Fostering community pathways for youth employment (including job-ready skills). Mississauga - 2023 Mississauga Agenda Gap (2023) participants identified a lack of employment opportunities and limited job-ready skills as key concerns for youth. They felt this issue was particularly relevant in their community as West Mississauga is estimated to have the highest concentration of youth in Canada. Participants emphasized that employment not only fosters independence and builds confidence but also [...]

By Ava Chaplin|2025-12-22T20:47:27+00:00November 10, 2025|Engaging Decision Makers|0 Comments

Improving school district substance use response policies.

Improving school district substance use response policies. Victoria - 2023 Victoria Agenda Gap youth identified the lack of substance-use and harm reduction education in B.C. as a critical issue. They expressed concern that this gap was causing youth to make poorly informed and risky decisions around how they use substances - contributing to the ongoing overdose crisis. They also took issue with zero-tolerance school policies, noting that punitive approaches [...]

By Ava Chaplin|2025-12-22T20:36:03+00:00November 7, 2025|Engaging Decision Makers|0 Comments

Creating safe spaces for intergenerational dialogue about mental health.

Creating safe spaces for intergenerational dialogue about mental health. Richmond - 2020 Twelve youth from Richmond BC collaborated on a weekly basis between October 2020 to May 2021 and together identified a need for safe spaces that encourage mental health awareness. They determined this could be accomplished in part by incorporating mental health promotion in schools and community spaces, strengthening opportunities for intergenerational conversations on the topic of mental [...]

By Ava Chaplin|2025-12-22T20:49:52+00:00November 7, 2025|Event Hosting|0 Comments

Promoting positive mental health in schools.

Promoting positive mental health in schools. Mississauga - 2022 Erin Mills Connects (EMC) and The Dam sponsored the delivery of the Agenda Gap program in the Peel Region as part of its aim to amplify youth voices and support their wellbeing. With the support of EMC and its partners, Agenda Gap staff recruited and interviewed 12 youth participants. These youth completed the Agenda Gap program between December 2022 and June [...]

By Ava Chaplin|2025-12-22T20:39:28+00:00November 7, 2025|Event Hosting|0 Comments

Ensuring transparency and consistency in school accommodation policies.

Ensuring transparency and consistency in school accommodation policies. Yarmouth - 2023 In fall 2023, the Nova Scotia Health Authority and SHYFT Youth Services partnered to bring the Agenda Gap program to Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School. The program followed a public engagement event where numerous youth spoke about their experiences with mental health, highlighting the need for stronger support and advocacy. Twelve students met weekly from December 2023 to June [...]

By Ava Chaplin|2025-12-22T20:41:32+00:00November 6, 2025|Engaging Decision Makers|0 Comments

About Ava Chaplin