Youth summit returns next month

YDAY, the province’s full-day youth summit, returns next month to put ideas for shaping Prince Edward Island’s future into action.

More than 170 people attended YDAY in 2016 to identify issues impacting Island youth. At YDAY 2017 – happening October 27 at Holland College in Charlottetown – participants will develop youth-led solutions for the issues raised last year. Youth aged 16-34 are encouraged to register at www.ypei.ca/yday no later than October 6.

Since last year, the Youth Futures Council has met monthly to advise and make recommendations on provincial programs and policies. The 12-person council helped plan this year’s YDAY and will play an active role in the event.

“The Youth Futures Council is excited to be part of YDAY, both behind the scenes and as participants,” said Youth Futures Council and YDAY committee member Nicole Mountain. “As a council representing all youth on PEI, this day is incredibly beneficial for us to generate ideas and to hear from our peers on a large scale about the issues they face and the changes they want to see. Attending YDAY presents young people on PEI with an opportunity to speak to us as a council and have their voices and thoughts heard.”

Some themes raised from YDAY 2016 included:

• bridging the gap from education to secure employment;
• youth engagement and citizenship;
• celebrate newcomers and encourage diversity;
• narratives and prevalent attitudes;
• foundational issues and social supports to young Islanders; and
• Island infrastructure.

Sally Ng, CEO of The Triple Effect, will facilitate YDAY 2017. She works locally and across Canada to foster a collaborative and creative environment, specializing in startup community development, corporate innovation and technology coaching.

Ng will lead group exercises and discussion for the first half of the day. In the second half, Robyn Tingley, author of “The 10 Essentials for the Motivated Millenial” will speak, and Island Advance will lead an entrepreneur panel. Updates on YDAY are available at www.facebook.com/peiyday and www.twitter.com/ydaypei.

YDAY is supported by the Government of Prince Edward Island through the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning, Holland College, University of Prince Edward Island, Island Advance and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

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Media contact:
Hillary MacDonald

Backgrounder:

Since YDAY 2016 the following actions have been taken:

• creation of the Career Connect program – allowing PEI university students to receive Employment Insurance benefits while studying;
• expansion of the Community Service Bursary to include grade 10 students and increase in the maximum bursary can receive to $750;
• creation of the Ellevate program – an internship for young females pursuing a career in entrepreneurship; and
• expansion of the Graduate Mentorship program.