Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Youth Council brings together young people from across TRCA’s jurisdiction - from Mississauga to Ajax and north to Mono – to unite youth who are passionate and committed to building healthy communities through improved connection to greenspace and nature, and to inspire empowered and engaged youth. Led by a team of ten executive members, the youth council is a space ripe for youth perspectives to be heard and taken into consideration for important decisions shaping our environment and natural spaces for years to come. TRCA Youth Council gives members a platform to identify environmental issues that matter to them and the tools to take meaningful action.
Past hands-on projects of the youth council in the Humber Watershed have included community plantings, invasive species removals, litter cleanups, and unique retreat-style events with themes such as sustainable gardening and creative upcycling. The youth council also hosts several virtual town hall webinars each year, with topics last year including ‘Queer Ecology’, ‘Beyond Land Acknowledgements’, and ‘Hidden Rivers’. These events sparked important conversations centered around making decisions that ultimately help to protect, enhance, and raise awareness of important natural features and areas within TRCA’s jurisdiction, including the mighty Humber River, a designated Canadian Heritage River.
In addition to the ten executive members that drive and organize the youth council activities, TRCA’s Youth Council also has more than 800 general members. The council offers countless benefits: building friendships with passionate and like-minded peers, developing leadership skills, expanding professional networks, gaining hands‑on environmental experience, earning volunteer hours, and making a tangible difference in their communities. Executive members also have opportunities to learn valuable event planning and meeting management skills, and secure references in the environmental field for future academic or career pursuits.
To learn more about TRCA Youth Council, our upcoming events, or to apply to be a general member please visit us at: https://trca.ca/conservation/watershed-management/regional-watershed-alliance/youth-council/#events.
Image: Youth council members planted over 200 trees and shrubs in a riparian buffer zone to help beautify and protect an area within the Humber Watershed.
Photo credit: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority