Our Big Dream

The “Big Dream” of the Calgary YouthScape initiative is to build a community in which all young people are seen, heard, and respected as citizens of the community.  Youth, in all their diversity, are honored.  Their voice serves as a catalyst for community change.  As a result, Calgary is a stronger, more resilient city, a nurturing, exciting place to live.

The city of Calgary has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the area of youth inclusion, and our YouthScape initiative is starting from a position of strength.  The convening agency, Child and Youth Friendly Calgary, is a recognized leader in creatively engaging youth in the community for the past 15 years and has partnered with the United Way of Calgary and area to support the project.  A steering committee comprised of youth as well as youth engagement leaders from the community has been guiding the initial phases of the project.  This dynamic team includes members from:

            • Burns Memorial Foundation
            • Calgary Between Friends Club
            • City of Calgary
            • Calgary Health Region
            • University of Calgary
            • Ghost River Rediscovery
            • Urban Youth Worx

The path to realizing our dream is taking shape and we are using a youth lead and adult supported model where youth are involved at ALL levels of the project. This model has two focus areas:

            • grass roots engagement of “marginalized youth” at a project level; and
            • influence of youth at a systems level through their projects

We have chosen to narrow our focus by choosing one “system” to work within.  Our current systems focus is transportation with a small “t” so that it encompasses all forms of transportation utilized by youth and children.  Youth often rely on alternate forms of transportation and this can inform a sustainable transportation model and city planning that is healthy, safe, affordable and accessible for all.  The projects being developed vary widely and include:

            • Homeless Youth Earn-a-Bike Program
            • making transit more youth friendly
            • documenting safety issues from a youth perspective
            • video documenting accessibility issues and the impact of Access Calgary.

All of this is being done to achieve that long term goal of building resilient communities through youth engagement.

For more information on the Calgary YouthScape initiative visit our website:
www.calgaryurbanvibe.ca/youthscape

Or contact the YouthScape Coordinator:
youthscape@cyfc.ca