City of Toronto celebrates Youth Week with a new youth poet laureate program and city-wide activities

Mayor Olivia Chow has proclaimed Wednesday, May 1 to Tuesday, May 7 as Youth Week – an annual week to celebrate youth engagement and showcase the abilities and talents of youth from diverse communities across Toronto.

New this year, Toronto’s Youth Poet Laureate program honours a writer or spoken-word artist between 16 and 27 years of age who will serve as a literary ambassador for youth and will advocate for poetry, language and the arts by inspiring and engaging youth to share their stories through the written and spoken word.

Initiated by the Toronto Youth Cabinet with enthusiastic support from the City’s seventh Poet Laureate Lillian Allen, Toronto residents can now apply to become the first Youth Poet Laureate through June 10. Learn more about the application process and program information on the City’s Youth Poet Laureate webpage.

During Youth Week, young people in Toronto can participate in free events that focus on visual and performance arts, personal development and civic engagement mixed in with some fun. Highlights of Youth Week programs include:

• May 1 to 3 – ResilientTOgether celebrates youth artistic expression through visual and performing arts at the 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education.
• May 1 to 10 – Enhanced Youth Spaces across the city host numerous free events and workshops in the areas of wellness, visual arts, cooking, fashion, dance and sports.
• May 2 – Artists In The 6ix Gala and Marketplace celebrates the artistic creativity of Toronto youth in partnership with University of Toronto’s Hart House; this space was created for Torontonians to meet, support and purchase the work of local youth artists.
• May 3 – The Branded Youth Entrepreneurship conference supports Black, newcomer and vulnerable youth entrepreneurs through networking, business consultation and mentorship opportunities.
• May 4 – STOMP Urban Dance Competition/Showcase returns to Meridian Hall for its 21st edition. Dance teams from across Toronto compete. Tickets are $5.
• May 5 (finals) – “Chop It Like It’s HOT” is an opportunity for youth of all abilities across Toronto to showcase their cooking and baking skills through a culinary competition.
• May 7 and 8 – The Drag Masterclass is back! Participants can join for two days of workshops in makeup and sewing to help spice up their drag.
• May 10 – The Toronto Youth Cabinet will hold its 25th Anniversary Gala and Identify ‘N Impact Awards (Youth Awards) that honour the contributions that Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving youth make to Toronto, in nine award categories.

Information is available on the City’s Youth Week Toronto webpage.

Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.