For active student-athletes seeking leadership opportunities and another way to get involved, youth in Ontario are invited to participate in the ACTIVATE Ontario initiative and leadership forum.
Click this link to see video of the ACTIVATE Leadership Conference, and read more details of the initiative from the release below;
A two-year partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, in support Motivate Canada’s new ACTIVATE Ontario initiative, will provide Ontario youth with an unprecedented opportunity for civic engagement and personal growth. This new initiative will engage and train teams of youth leaders to play an active role in increasing sport participation, self-esteem, and leadership of youth across Ontario, as well as enhancing the knowledge and understanding of mental health and nutrition concepts and resources.
Today’s announcement includes an immediate call for applications for the first ACTIVATE Ontario Training Summit which will take place from February 21-23 in Ottawa. The weekend training session – which will include workshops on physical literacy, sport programming, wellness (including mental-health), and leadership – will certify youth as Trainers to host an ACTIVATE Leadership Forum for their region. By partnering with a school or youth-serving organization in their community and completing the Training Summit, teams of 4 Youth Trainers will be eligible to receive up to $12,650 in funding to apply toward developing their own Leadership Forum.
“Nutrition, physical activity and mental health are key building blocks to healthier living, which is why we are so pleased to support ACTIVATE Ontario. I am confident this program will help youth enrich themselves and make a real difference in their communities,” says the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
The fee for an individual applicant to attend the ACTIVATE Ontario Leadership Training Summit in February is only $100. All other costs such as meals, travel, and accommodations are subsidized. Interested youth should apply on line at www.motivatecanada.ca/activate/apply. The application deadline is January 27, 2014 at 11:59pm (EST).
“Thanks to support from the Ontario government and our others partners, Kids Help Phone and ParticipACTION’s Teen Challenge Program, ACTIVATE Ontario will provide youth leaders with the training, resources, and confidence they need to deliver a Leadership Forum of their own design.” says ACTIVATE Program Manager, Zach Hayes. “Through these Forums, teams of youth leaders will work with other young people in their region to help them realize their leadership potential and to create sport or physical activity projects in their communities.”
Since its inception in 2004, the ACTIVATE program has hosted 14 Leadership Forums at national and regional levels. Now, Ontario schools and community organizations and their youth leaders have the opportunity to take ownership of this program by creating their own Forums using the Youth Driven Development framework Motivate Canada has developed over the past decade.
About Motivate Canada:
Motivate Canada’s Youth-Driven Development approach taps into the natural optimism, energy, curiosity, and adventurous spirit that young people have in abundance. Using the power of sport, physical activity and positive peer role models, Motivate Canada’s four core programs— GEN7, ESTEEM Team, ACTIVATE, and Active Circle—give young people the tools, training, and confidence to make a difference in their lives and communities on their own terms. For more information please visit: www.motivatecanada.ca/en/activate.
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Contact:
Geoffery Biss
ACTIVATE Ontario Program Coordinator 1-866-378-3361 extension 233
Cell: (416) 888-4830
[email protected]
