Over the past year, the City of Brantford has made a significant positive impact on youth in the city through implementation of the Empowering Youth: The City of Brantford’s Youth Strategy 2022-2024.
Brantford City Council unanimously approved the report presented by staff on the progress of the strategy which included significant benchmarks achieved in 2022 during their meeting on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
City of Brantford staff have been able to expand programming offered to youth in the community as a result of successful grant applications to Infrastructure Canada, Canadian Tire Jump Start Foundation and Public Safety Canada. The City delivered over 60 youth-focused community programs and events including the first youth edition of the Community Changemaker program, several free STEAM programs and Camp Molly.
“The City continues to make progress towards providing opportunities for youth to develop to their full potential, find a sense of belonging, and thrive in our community. As Brantford grows, the City continues to look for ways to support youth engagement and positive development to ensure youth remain engaged and enjoy a high quality of life in our community,” said Amy Brandt, Community Development Coordinator, City of Brantford.
Over 1,200 youth volunteered with the City of Brantford and 44 youth participants completed municipal leadership programming. The City also hosted a number of inter-generational programs, building connections between the youth and senior communities.
To implement these programs, the City worked closely with community partners including: Brant County Health Unit, Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services, Brant Skills Centre, Service Canada, Grand River Community Health Centre, Equal Grounds Community Gardens, Onkwehonwe Games, Woodland Cultural Centre, C3DAR LABS, Organized Kaos, Wilfrid Laurier University, Modo Yoga, and more.
“We were thrilled to partner with the City of Brantford on the Community Changemaker Program. This partnership provides elementary and secondary school students from our local community with a chance to develop the skills and mindsets of entrepreneurship, including creative thinking, problem solving, and innovation,” said Julie Perkins, LaunchPad Program Coordinator at Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford campus.
The Empowering Youth Strategy demonstrates the City of Brantford’s ongoing commitment to fostering a community where youth can thrive, outlining priorities and actions to continue supporting opportunities for youth engagement and positive youth development outcomes.
The City of Brantford is recognized as a leader in innovative social planning. In 2017, the City was designated a Youth Friendly Community, acknowledging our community ensures youth have access to a diversity of opportunities, including sport, recreation, arts volunteerism, leadership development, and civic engagement.
To learn more about the City of Brantford’s Youth Strategy, visit Brantford.ca/Youth.
