Youth Parliament / Model UN
Youth Parliament programs simulate parliamentary proceedings, allowing young people to experience democratic processes firsthand. Participants research issues, draft legislation, debate bills, and learn about governance while developing public speaking, research, and critical thinking skills. Programs run at municipal, provincial, and federal levels across Canada.
Building your Award:
Review the example goal, Assessor and reflection to help you build your Gold Project
For my Gold Project, I will deepen my understanding of democratic participation by: researching and preparing a private member’s bill on youth mental health services, participating fully in our provincial Youth Parliament session including committee work and debates, then creating and delivering a ‘Democracy 101’ workshop series for middle school students in my community, running 4 sessions that teach them about how government works and why civic engagement matters.
Youth Parliament advisor, civics teacher, or community organization coordinator
Drafting my bill taught me that good policy requires understanding multiple perspectives. I interviewed students, counselors, and healthcare workers before writing a single word. During Youth Parliament, I learned that passionate disagreement can coexist with mutual respect; my bill was amended significantly through debate, and it became stronger because of challenges from other delegates. The ‘Democracy 101’ workshops were the most rewarding part. Seeing middle schoolers get excited about civic engagement reminded me why this work matters. One student said she wants to run for student council now. That’s the ripple effect I hoped for.
