OTTAWA, ON - Canada's future is through cities and communities. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) recognizes that engaging the next generation of Canadians is key to a successful future. Today FCM is releasing a youth engagement handbook to help municipalities to ensure young Canadians are active and engaged in local governance.
"Canada's communities are drivers of the economy and offer solutions for what Canada needs for a strong and stable future; youth must be a part of this conversation," said Brad Woodside, President of FCM. "The contributions youth bring to the table are critical to creating a strong, innovative and competitive Canada."
The Municipal Youth Engagement Handbook, developed by the 2014 FCM Jack Layton Fellows with input from local governments across Canada, was created to encourage youth participation in their communities. This Handbook outlines strategies and tools that elected municipal officials and public administrators alike can use to engage and recruit young Canadians as future municipal leaders and workers.
"Engaging young Canadians in their communities is critical for building and sustaining vibrant, innovative and dynamic hometowns," said FCM second vice-president Clark Somerville. "Young Canadians who are active in their communities today will be leaders in shaping our communities and our country in the future."
FCM's Jack Layton Fellowship Program honours and celebrates Jack Layton's legacy by engaging young Canadians in politics. Each year the FCM Jack Layton Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for eight community-minded leaders turn their good ideas into real action and real change.
To continue the conversation on youth engagement, municipal leaders who contributed to this handbook will be participating in a tweetchat alongside a few of the handbook's authors, FCM's Jack Layton Fellows. Join FCM in the conversation on Wednesday, March 25 at 3pm ET.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is the national voice of municipal government representing 90 per cent of Canada's municipal population.