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Canada SDG Youth Awards
The Canada SDG Youth Awards were originally housed at ACGC| The Alberta Council for Global Cooperation in partnership with Together|Ensemble in 2021. In 2022, ACGC developed a partnership with ReImagine17 to host and organize the awards.
ReImagine17, is a youth-led organization, working to engage youth in advocacy surrounding social, environmental and economic challenges, social justice, and the reimagination of our collective future. ReImagine17 is excited to recognize youth that reimagine what the future could look like, and then take action to realize that future with their initiatives.
The Canada SDG Youth Awards is a national youth-led initiative recognizing the contributions of young people across what is currently Canada towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The purpose of the awards is to highlight the many ways young people aged 30 and below are taking action and encourage continued progress towards the Global Goals.
About the Canada SDG Youth Awards
We are inviting folks from all sectors and all provinces and territories to nominate initiatives led by passionate young changemakers (regardless of their residency status) that have made strides towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. What is an initiative that inspires you? Maybe it’s your own initiative. Tell us its story.
One (1) initiative will be awarded under each of the five (5) determined categories for a total of five (5) awards. The award categories are as follows:
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Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action
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Community Health and Well-being
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Innovation and Systems Change-making
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Social Justice and Inclusivity
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Education and Economic Development
Award finalists will be showcased in an online campaign that will amplify the achievements of young people towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As well, these initiatives will be featured at a virtual celebration event hosted by Together|Ensemble.
A youth advisory committee was convened to drive the campaign and ensure activities best reflect the unique interests and perspectives of young people from diverse communities and lived experiences. The committee is made up of stellar youth between 16-30 years of age and were selected from coast to coast to coast and from a variety of sectors. Participating in roundtables, breakout sessions and other virtual structures, they shaped the awards through consensus-based decision-making. Click here to read their bios.
Eligibility Criteria
WHAT INITIATIVES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS AWARD?
Initiatives working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals that are led by young peoples in Canada from all sectors are eligible for these awards. The initiative must be designed and driven by young people inclusive of those aged between 10 and 30 years by March 1, 2023, located in Canada. While not all contributors of the initiative have to be young people, nominators will be asked to determine whether the initiative is primarily led by young people under 22 years of age or young people 22 to 30 years of age. Initiatives led by young people aged between 10 and 21 years will be judged separately from initiatives led by young people aged between 22 and 30 years.
Together|Ensemble welcomes nominations for initiatives that will showcase the diversity of our communities, including initiatives led by young people that identify as Black, Indigenous, persons of colour, persons living with disabilities, and members of marginalised genders and sexual orientations, as well as any young people residing in Canada no matter their residency status.
ARE INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS AWARD?
In the spirit of Together|Ensemble, the purpose of the award is to highlight youth-led initiatives, and the impact youth have while working together. As such, single individuals are not eligible for this award.living with disabilities, and members of marginalised genders and sexual orientations, as well as any young people residing in Canada no matter their residency status.
DO THE INITIATIVES NEED TO BE ONGOING?
Initiatives can be ongoing, or may have been timebound and set up to address a specific need. All nominated initiatives must have been launched no earlier than 2015, the year the SDGs launched.
WHERE DO THE INITIATIVES NEED TO TAKE PLACE?
The impact of the initiative can be anywhere in the world; however, initiatives must be based in Canada. As well, nominators will be asked how the initiative affects Canada and promotes SDG understanding and action amongst people in Canada.
I AM READY TO NOMINATE! HOW DO I DO IT?
Anyone with familiarity with the initiative can submit a nomination. We will be accepting nominations from both members of the public as well as initiative representatives.
Categories
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE ACTION
Interacting with the planet responsibly and protecting the environment for future generations. This category primarily focuses on SDGs 12, 13, 14 and 15.
Examples of initiatives that fall in this category could include (but are limited to) those that:
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Promote conservation and agriculture
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Tackle climate change
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Encourage responsible consumption
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Promoting mental or physical wellbeing through ensuring access to sustainably managed resources and health equity. This category primarily focuses on SDGs 1, 2, 3, and 6.
Examples of initiatives that fall in this category could include (but are not limited to) those that:
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Address food insecurity
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Improve access to clean water
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Promote healthy lifestyles
INNOVATION AND SYSTEMS CHANGE-MAKING
Finding innovative solutions and accounting for gaps or injustices in existing infrastructure, technology, policy and systems. This category primarily focuses on SDGs 7, 9, 11, and 17.
Examples of initiatives that fall in this category could include (but are not limited to) those that:
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Invent or promote cleaner technology
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Advocate for policy changes
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Foster collaborative partnerships for more effective outcomes
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND INCLUSIVITY
Fighting for the rights of all people and creating an inclusive and equal world. This category primarily focuses on SDGs 5, 10, and 16.
Examples of initiatives that fall in this category could include (but are not limited to) those that:
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Reduce barriers experienced by minority groups
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Empower individuals with the tools to self-advocate
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Raise awareness about human trafficking
EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Unlocking the potential of individuals and communities through education and creating decent work opportunities. This category primarily focuses on SDGs 4 and 8.
Examples of initiatives that fall in this category could include (but are not limited to) those that:
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Improve access to schooling
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Develop skills for better employability
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Promote inclusive learning environments
We recognize that these categories are interconnected. As part of the application, each nominator will need to select the category that they feel best aligns with the initiative. If the selection committee deems that another category is more suitable for the initiative, the nominator will be contacted.
Selection
The nomination form will ask questions that will help weave the story of the initiative. Each story will be reviewed by a selection committee and evaluated on the following criteria:
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Leadership – How does the initiative demonstrate strong and inclusive leadership, and inspire or uplift others?
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Approach – How does the initiative build on the past and work with the future in mind?
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Impact – How is the initiative bringing transformative change to the communities and/or spaces it is addressing?
Initiatives primarily led by young people aged between 10 and 21 years will be judged separately from initiatives primarily led by young people aged between 22 and 30 years. Representatives may be contacted for further clarification. Awardees will be announced in Winter 2023.
Meet Canada SDG Youth Awards Awardees
Fair Books:
Social Justice and Inclusion
Music for Every Child:
Education and Economic Development
Jamie's Jar Full of Stars:
Community Health and Well-Being
Regenesis Cycle York:
Innovation and Systems Change-Making
The OATHE Project:
Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action
The Canada SDG Youth Awards is being housed at the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation on behalf of Together|Ensemble, and funded by the Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program, Employment and Social Development Canada.
The Canada SDG Youth Awards is funded by the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program.
The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.