Sometimes it looks like a young person realizing their voice belongs in our democracy. Sometimes it’s an emerging leader returning home with a different understanding of the country. Or a young innovator seeing, perhaps for the first time, that an idea they had could become something real.
It can be an Indigenous student seeing themselves reflected in their teacher. A journalist getting the opportunity to tell stories from a community too often overlooked. Or people coming together across sectors, regions and experiences to tackle challenges none of us can solve alone.
These are the moments behind the numbers in the Rideau Hall Foundation’s 2025–26 Impact Report: Opportunities to Excel.
Over the past year, 300 young people came to Ottawa through Forum for Young Canadians and discovered new ways to participate in our democracy. Two hundred and fifty leaders travelled across the country through the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference, encountering communities, perspectives and ideas different from their own. Through Catapult Canada, more than $4 million went to organizations creating learning opportunities for more than 16,000 young people. And as communities across the country faced the continued loss of local news, $525,000 helped 40 local media outlets strengthen their coverage of the 2025 federal election.
And that was only part of the story. Young innovators were recognized through Ingenious+ and supported to take their ideas further through Ingenious+ Spark. Five innovators received Governor General’s Innovation Awards. Indigenous-led organizations and institutions continued creating stronger pathways into teaching. New fellowships created opportunities for emerging Black and Indigenous journalists. And Ajuinnata: The Mary Simon Catalyst for Mental Wellness launched, building on years of listening and learning to strengthen community-led, culturally grounded mental wellness across the North.
Over 14 years, moments like these have added up. Since the RHF was established in 2012, its work has grown and evolved alongside the people and communities it serves. Today, more than 28,000 young people have participated in programming about parliamentary democracy. The RHF and its partners have brought together 2,719 emerging leaders, invested more than $21.6 million in youth-serving organizations benefiting over 88,000 young people, and awarded $717,000 to help young innovators develop their ideas.
But impact is bigger than numbers. It lives in what happens next: the confidence someone carries forward, the connection that becomes a collaboration, the idea that grows, the perspective that changes, or someone seeing new possibilities for themselves and their community.
None of this happens alone. Behind the opportunities in this report are donors who make them possible, partners who help bring them to life, and people and communities who take those opportunities and make something of them. It’s that combination: generosity, collaboration and people willing to step forward, that allows the impact to keep growing
To the participants, communities, donors and partners who made this year possible: thank you.
