Year In Review 2024-25

01 April 2025

2024-2025

This year was brought a new challenge that hasn’t been faced for some time; an almost completely new group to lead the council, along with two first time co-chairs Arjun and Gauri. However they were not deterred, and these new young and determined members were willing to do what it takes to make this year a hit.

Our first task was to decide what our topic was going to be for this years True Depiction Project and Pinecrest conference. After a choice of a top 6 and gathering the opinions of YLDs across the GTA, our topics was chosen to be AI and Technology’s Impact in the Classroom, a developing issue due to recent advancements and the flurry of AI. Next, we had to find a speaker who would talk about the topic from an expert point of view. This was rather difficult however, as much like last year our topic was one that had only been brought into the spotlight for a few years. Both the Speaker and Social Media Coordinators were put to the task, and after a long search and many interviews, we landed at Zachary Teitel. Zach is a secondary school teacher and head of the English department at his school, who stresses the importance of ethical use of AI in and outside the classroom. He is a jack of all trades, having expertise in Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Youth Leadership, and Research, as well as a Masters of Education from UofT. Lastly, we needed to make a presentation of our own about AI and Technology’s Impact in the Classroom to share our thoughts on the topic. Each member was given a subtopic to research about and make slides for, each member having a chance to research and present on a specific topic.

Before the True Depiction Project, the Teen Council also had to collect and grade the Civic Action Project initiative, a challenge to engage young members of the community to step forward and make meaningful change. The CAP consisted of a main project, which include a problem YLD members felt they needed fixing in their communities and then ways to do so, as well as a presentation to the council to explain the creation process as well as what they learned. This year, the project was conducted fully online with videos and zoom meetings, leading to modern-day solutions and different ways of action within the community. All submissions can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UFulGk3yChIwlpkbyuGhAvokG8baMPvu?usp=sharing

Finally around the end of the year came Pinecrest, our Youth Leadership Conference that takes place over three days in May every year at Camp Pine Crest in Muskoka, Ontario. Anywhere from 100 to 130 teens aged 11-19 show up with their respective YLD groups and advisors to talk about a theme that pertains to Canada’s youth, as well as partake in engaging activities outside like boating, high and low ropes, outdoor living skills and more. Throughout the conference, the participants would get to listen in to live presentations and activities. One of these presentations was from our speaker Nick Foley, who told a great story of how he found the courage to bike across the country, as well as how he plans initiatives.

Running alongside these events was the announcement of the True Depiction Project (TDP) winners which runs in conjunction with Pinecrest. The goal of the project is to have YLD/NYLD  groups create a five to ten-minute video presenting their own and their communities’ thoughts and ideas about careers of the future in unique ways. There may have been a lot of success in the previous years through an online format but with things almost fully opening up it has allowed many groups to express their ideas in a multitude of manners. We received a lot of great submissions, you can find them linked below: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gv2Q0fHrV-nrCaky0t6150GbJuhDMcFY?usp=sharing


Outstanding Leader Awards 2024-2025

The outstanding Leader Award was created to recognize and celebrate outstanding leadership contributions from an individual and for other YLD/NYLD participants to see and learn from these examples.

Criteria:

  • Consistently demonstrates YMCA Values when interacting with others.
  • Actively participates in the development, growth, and contribution of the YLD/NYLD group.
  • Provides leadership to at least one major YLD/NYLD community problem-based or project-based learning assignment during the year.
  • Works effectively with peers, YMCA staff, other adults/youth volunteers and YLD/NYLD community partners/collaborators.
  • Takes personal responsibility for following through, making decisions, responding to and resolving challenges faced during problem-based or project-based learning assignments.
  • Proactively seeks out and values other participants’ input and feedback, and seeks to maximize the contribution of others.
  • Models desired skills, behaviors, and attitudes expected of a YLD/NYLD leader.

The award will be a gray YMCA Sweat for Good Hoodie and a YMCA certificate recognizing them as an Outstanding Leadership Award recipient for the year.