Canadian Youth Climate Action Awards
2024 CYCAA prize winners
Awarded on Earth Day, April 22, 2024
Congratulations to all our applicants and winners of our second Canadian Youth Climate Action Award. We gave out eight prizes in total and continue to be greatly impressed by the number and quality of the applications received. Presented in partnership with the Small Change Fund, the award celebrates young people across the country who are taking meaningful action against climate change. We would like to acknowledge and thank our panel of judges as well as our many generous donors. With the funds raised, we were able to recognize several youth-led projects making a localized, intergenerational impact. ​
Our first prize went to the St. James Town Climate Action CREW program (photo above). Congratulations to all the prize winners and applicants for their outstanding work in mitigating climate change.
2024 award winner profiles
First prize:
St. James Town Climate Action CREW
The program goal is to prepare high-rise low-income racialized residents to be ready before, during, and after disaster strikes in the event of heat and other extreme weather emergencies. This year they want to train and support local youth volunteer leaders to learn how neighbours can help prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths and how to prepare for emergency events such as a power outage, heatwave, or a storm.
Second prize:
Youth Imagine the Future — a Festival of Writing & Art
Youth Imagine the Future runs a festival for youth in the Kingston-Frontenac region. One of the key missions is to “help combat the rise of climate anxiety and climate depression among our youth by encouraging them to look toward solutions.” Youth are invited to create a short story or artwork to show the adult community what our future could look like if we worked together. Youth voices are amplified through an event showcasing their art and writing in a 2-week exhibition in a gallery.
Runner-up:
Shake Up The Establishment's Shake Up Your Community Program
Shake Up Your Community (SUYC) provides volunteer and paid opportunities to young organizers from various regions across what is currently Canada to engage in local policy advocacy and coalition work. This work meaningfully supports existing campaigns/local advocacy efforts across the country that address community-identified or urgent policy needs. Responding to calls-to-action, youth were involved in creating climate engagement toolkits for the general public, launching social media campaigns, and amplifying key messages from our ally organizations.
Runner-up:
Active U
Active U operates in the North York community, with initiatives targeted toward BIPOC, low-income, and newcomer youth. The program engages these groups in nature-focused recreational programs that include an environmental education component. According to Statistics Canada, newcomers and youth from low-income households are less likely to participate in recreational activities growing up. Active U primarily focuses on supporting low-income youth, with the goal of creating inclusive spaces where these youth can participate in outdoor environmental education activities where high costs would otherwise be a barrier.
Our honourable mentions
Our honorable mention Canadian Youth Climate Action Awards included four incredible projects:
-
Human Nature Projects Ontario - Environmental Youth Advocacy Fellowship
-
SculptShore: Art to Action
-
Solastalgia Zine
-
The Global Sunrise Project - A Positive Impact Storytelling Hub For Inspired Climate Action
