On Sunday, May 1, Mayor John Tory will proclaim May 1 to Saturday, May 7 as Youth Week in Toronto – an annual week to celebrate youth engagement and showcase the abilities and talents of youth in the areas of civic engagement, recreation, arts and sports from diverse communities across the city.
Toronto is home to more than 623,000 youth who are a vital part of the city’s social, cultural and economic fabric. Young people help make Toronto a vibrant, world-class city.
Youth Week will kick off early at a special event today at the Wellesley Community Centre with live performances and games. During Youth Week, young people throughout 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:
Youth Week event details, including times and registration information are available on the City’s website at toronto.ca/youthweek.
The Toronto Public Library (TPL) also has many events scheduled during Youth Week. More information about TPL events is available on the Toronto Public Library website.
Beyond Youth Week, the Toronto Youth Cabinet, the City of Toronto’s official youth advisory body, will host its inaugural Black Youth Gala, to honour the contributions of Black youth in civic engagement, entrepreneurship, arts, athletics and many other fields that have helped to shape Toronto. The free event takes place at the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., on Friday, June 24 and is open to the public.
Quotes:
“Youth Week highlights the talents and vision of Toronto’s youth, whose efforts and accomplishments are admirable. I am proud of the work the City is doing to provide safe and creative spaces for youth to learn and flourish during Youth Week and throughout the year. I encourage everyone to stand up and celebrate young people in our city.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Toronto’s young people are our future leaders. To fulfill their potential, they need both our encouragement and our confidence. Youth Week is an opportunity for them to enjoy a rich array of planned events, many of which were created by young people, and to showcase their talents and abilities across Toronto.”
– Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee
“This week is an opportunity for all of Toronto to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of youth in many areas including arts, civic engagement and entrepreneurship. Five years after our successful advocacy for the City of Toronto to officially recognize Youth Week, young people continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the Toronto we see now. Let’s make sure to amplify the voices and interests of young people not only on Youth Week, but on every week to ensure all of our youth can thrive and succeed in our great city. As the City of Toronto’s official youth advisory body, the Toronto Youth Cabinet looks forward to celebrating with young people throughout the week and beyond!”
– Stephen Mensah, Executive Director, Toronto Youth Cabinet
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 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 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.