In the mid 1990s, Vancouver, British Columbia, decided to become a city that plans for youth and with youth. At the time, Vancouver had a population of over 470,000, 20 percent of whom were young people.

Youth Engagement Initiatives and Projects

This effort was jumpstarted by the Civic Youth Strategy (CYS), which was passed by the City Council in 1995. The strategy committed the city to the following goals:

* Ensure that youth have “a place” in the city;
* Ensure a strong youth voice in decision-making;
* Promote youth as a resource to the City;
* Strengthen the support base for youth in the city.

This guiding document set the stage for meaningful youth contributions to public policy and community action by calling for a partnership between officials and youth, rather than control and management of them.

In 2003, the city formed the Youth Outreach Team, a group of youth hired as city staff members who support the efforts of other city staff, community partners, and youth groups to further youth initiatives. Among the Youth Outreach Team’s programs are YouthPolitik – an opportunity for young people to interact face-to-face with elected officials and learn how city government works – get-out-the-vote efforts, and a project to encourage active living and recreation that builds on the spirit of anticipation for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics.

The Youth Outreach Team also hired a Child and Youth Social Planner in 2005 to provide coordination for programs addressing homelessness, at risk youth, and drug and alcohol abuse.

A 2006 progress report addressed these six priority areas for the team:

1. Planning for youth;
2. Youth involvement in civic program and policy development;
3. Capacity building of the City to meaningfully engage youth;
4. Youth celebration events;
5. Communications and Outreach;
6. Research and best practices of youth engagement.

Vancouver is a thriving, dynamic, and diverse city with a large number of young people. In its planning efforts of the last 15 years it has clearly taken an active role in allowing youth to capitalize on the civic opportunities available to them and help make Vancouver a truly youth-friendly city.