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 [...]
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 over 350 results, allowing youth to identify and focus on the community's key priorities affecting success in school. They then recommended these priorities to be included in their school [...]
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 strengthens community belonging. To draw the attention of local [...]
Victoria - 2021 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 often harm youth by isolating them, causing them [...]
Richmond - 2021 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 health, and ensuring youth representation in policy and decision-making. [...]
Mississauga - 2023 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 January and June 2023. EMC also recruited two local facilitators who received training [...]
Yarmouth - 2024 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 2024 to explore and lead efforts to improve [...]
