In March 1976, more than 100 high school students from across Canada gathered in Ottawa for a week of immersive learning about Canada’s democratic systems. They walked the halls of institutions they had perhaps only seen on television, heard from people directly involved in decision-making processes that shape our country, and participated in campaign and election simulations.
This event would be the first ever Forum for Young Canadians. Now, just over 50 years later, this critical and innovative program continues under the leadership of the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF), with the goal of bringing young people into the heart of Canada’s democracy, and reminding them that they have a voice and a responsibility in shaping the country they share.
And young people are eager to take part. Applications for the 2026 Forum were more than double the number of spaces available.
Over three week-long sessions in Ottawa, participants dove into the program with enthusiasm, forming political parties, debating ideas, navigating elections and federal budget simulation, and making tough choices together.
These moments were energetic, challenging, and collaborative. The teens learned that leadership is about listening, engaging respectfully, and making space for different perspectives, not about having all the answers.
“We didn’t just talk about leadership, we questioned it. We analyzed how our democracy functions, where youth voices fit within it, and how we can actively contribute to strengthening civic participation across the country. This experience will forever be engraved in my memory,” said a 2026 Forum alum from Ontario.
This level of enthusiasm and engagement is not limited to Forum participants: youth across Canada are demonstrating a strong desire to participate in civil society, to help their communities and to address pressing challenges for a better future for all Canadians.
A 2021 report commissioned by the RHF that synthesized research involving over 2,700 youth (aged 16 to 24 ) and individuals with ties to youth engagement found that 78% of youth wanted to learn more about how they could make a positive difference in their community, but that not all youth were able to find opportunities to participate in civic engagement.
Forum is one way we can help close that gap. Rather than treating young people only as the leaders of tomorrow, it creates space for them to participate today: to learn firsthand, build confidence and skills, meet peers from across the country, and discover new ways to get involved.
If young people are ready to participate, our job is not just to make way, but get behind them: to create opportunities, offer mentorship, and provide the support and resources they need to take part. Young people have ideas, energy and perspectives to contribute. We need to make sure there is room for them to do it.
Applications for Forum open September 8
Applications for the 2027 Forum for Young Canadians National Summit open next week (September 8, 2026).
Youth ages 15–18 from across Canada are invited to apply for one of three week-long sessions in Ottawa between February and April 2027.
No experience in politics is required - just curiosity, an open mind, a willingness to learn and an interest in making a difference.
Applications close October 25, 2026. Bursaries and travel assistance are available to help ensure cost is not a barrier to participation.
