Cohort 3

Youth 4 Resilient Communities

Calling Canadian change-makers aged 18-30 years!

Are you ready to make a real impact in your community and tackle urgent climate and water challenges of today?
Youth 4 Resilient Communities (Y4RC) invites you to come together with youth from across the country to learn how to create impact in your community. National in design, Y4RC’s immersive experiences will build your skills, insights and networks across Canada’s climate and water challenges.

I want to Apply

Applications open for youth
Ages 18-30.

Applications Closed Dec 15
Applications close at 12PM (noon) your time zone

Missed the info sessions?
Have a question?

Please email Megan or Carley and they will be happy to provide more information about the program.

Megan Cornall : megan.cornall@waterlution.org

Carley Vinkle: carley.vinkle@waterlution.org

From March 1, 2026 – August 31, 2026, be one of 100 young Canadians to learn new skills and perspectives as you travel in March 2026 to Squamish, BC for a 4 day gathering, and in May 2026 to PEI for a 5 day gathering to be immersed in extensive training & local experiences. These 2 in person training sessions will be the foundation for the development of your own community projects.

Themes, Skills & Training

Themes:

  • Urban Agriculture & Food Security
  • Extreme Water Events –Flooding and Droughts
  • Water Quality & Drinking Water
  • Learning from the Land: Indigenous Practice & Knowledge
  • Stormwater Management & Nature Based Solutions
  • Extreme Weather Events & Community Health
  • Source Water & Point Source Solutions

Skills & Training:

  • Adaptability
  • Complex problem-solving
  • Community-centric project implementation
  • Design thinking
  • Facilitation
  • Effective peer support
  • Impact assessment
  • Community-awareness raising
  • Storytelling, digital skills
  • Project Ideation & Design
  • Network & Partnership Development
  • Indigenous Perspectives
  • Solution-making

What’s included?

In total participants will each spend 120 hours learning and action-taking in their communities.
  • 2 extensive in-person learning experiences (travel, accommodation and meals covered)
    –March 25-29, 2026 Squamish BC, The traditional territory of the Squamish Nation
    –May 27-June 1, 2026 Prince Edward Island, The traditional territory of the Epekwitnewaq Mi'kmaq
  • Training and mentorship through a combination of online and in-person coaching
  • Expansive network of active, engaged changemakers across the country
  • Service Project in your community
  • Some childcare support is available for those with a dependent (details in FAQs)
  • Some laptops on loan are available for those requiring them (details in FAQs)

As a participant, you will:

Participate with other youth working on resiliency initiatives in their communities and connect with knowledgeable mentors and community leaders from across the country.
Understand the climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience needs of your own community.
Build a powerful toolbox of techniques and skills that will benefit your community and employability in the years ahead.
Turn knowledge into meaningful service projects that make a difference where you live.

Applications Open for Youth
Ages 18-30

We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, and those living in rural or remote communities across Northern Turtle Island (today known as Canada).

Application Closed December 15
Applications close at 12PM (noon) your time zone

Who Should Apply?

Indigenous or non-Indigenous youth ages 18-30

Youth passionate about making an impact in your community

Youth seeking ways to build skills, networks and advance your career in the water and climate sector

Who Is Eligible?

Participants must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or have been granted refugee status in Canada. International students, on a student visa are not eligible.

Must be at least 18 years of age upon starting participation in the program and no older than 30 years of age at the time of application

Available for the duration of the program, and able to commit to the 120 hours outlined in this application.

What is a Service Project?

With support from Waterlution, mentors and peers, each youth participant will work with a local organization of their choice, to design and deliver an on-the-ground, service-in-the-community, action project.

One of the needs often requested by youth across Waterlution programs is access and time with mentors. We have made this a priority throughout Y4RC with mentors guiding youth from project conception to completion. Each youth participant will receive 10 hours of coaching and mentorship from experienced professionals to support you as you build your skills, deepen your knowledge, and execute your project to success.

Missed the info sessions?
Have a question?

Please email Megan or Carley and they will be happy to provide more information about the program.

Megan Cornall:  megan.cornall@waterlution.org

Carley Vinkle: 
carley.vinkle@waterlution.org

Here are examples of service projects that would be a good fit for the Y4RC program:
  • An educational digital product (video, podcast, etc), such as capturing the Stories of Community Leaders or Elders for the community
  • A participatory community art installation that addresses/ helps lessen climate anxiety
  • Webinars or workshops that teach a resiliency skill and/or offer key information on climate impacts and strategies to be more resilient
  • Partner with a local water or climate organization that is looking for volunteers
  • Build or contribute to a community garden/agriculture/permaculture project
  • Develop a water-wise product or initiative for an environmentally focused partner (i.e. a community centre, a local library, a local health care facility, your local tourism office, etc.)
  • Undertake a resiliency project (invasive species removal, nature based solution, water quality, citizen science project)
  • Initiate a youth climate group at your local Council/Band office
  • The options are endless! Identify what the needs are and follow your passions and strengths.

Schedule & Commitment For Accepted Applicants

Stage 1

Virtual

Acceptances

October - December 2025

Acceptances will be sent out on a rolling basis beginning in late October until mid December. Once your acceptance is secured, we will be in touch to book flights for Collaboratorium 1 in March in Squamish,BC. 

Your commitment to the Y4RC program is from March 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026.

Virtual

Welcome Call

March 4, 2026

3-5pm PT | 4-6pm MT | 5-7pm CT | 6-8pm ET | 7-9pm AT

Meet youth from across Canada and your new network! This is our first call together to build momentum for the months ahead. It is beneficial to everyone that you attend this call.

Stage 2

SQUAMISH, BRITISH COLUMBIA

The traditional territory of the Squamish Nation

Collaboratorium 1

MARCH 25-29, 2026

4 DAYS

This 4-day, in-person, collaborative learning experience will feature:

  • Skills Assessment, Leadership and Skills Training
  • Indigenous approaches and ways of seeing and knowing
  • Place-based field trips that showcase the local challenges and innovative approaches
  • Workshop-based learning guided by Indigenous Knowledge keepers and youth as well as diverse experts across theme areas
  • Interactive methodologies to develop collaboration, problem solving and creativity skills

Stage 3

Virtual

Training, Mentorship & Independent Research

March 2026 - June 2026

Virtual training, mentorship, and independent research is self-directed with diverse opportunities available for you to choose from. Identify your service project and strengthen your skills & knowledge on the following topics:

  • Complex problem-solving
  • Design thinking
  • Effective peer support
  • Impact assessment
  • Storytelling, digital skills
  • Indigenous Practice & Knowledge
  • Climate Emotion & Resilience

Stage 4

In Your Community

Community Service Project

March 2026 - August 2026

During this on-the-ground, service-in-the-community, action project, you will:

  • Identify a concept & community partner (finding the gap, designing an executable action plan, tracking progress, pitching the project)
  • Implement your project in your local community

Stage 5

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, PEI

The traditional territory of the Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaq

Collaboratorium 2

May 27-June 1, 2026

5 days

This 5-day, in person learning experience will extend your skill development in:

  • Adaptability
  • Complex problem-solving,
  • Facilitation
  • Effective peer support
  • Impact assessment and communications for participation
  • Community-awareness raising and impact storytelling

Stage 6

Virtual

Impact Storytelling

July 2026

Communicate your impact to the community, sharing your story of community climate experience, adaptation, mitigation and resilience.

FAQs

We encourage you to apply! There is no minimum level of experience or education required. 

Yes! You (or as a team) are encouraged to identify organizations locally within your community. Waterlution can also support you in finding an organization, and will work with you and the organization to see if it is the right fit. 

A service action project, at its core, is one that enables you to participate actively in your community and contribute meaningfully in a volunteer capacity.

Here are examples of service action projects that would be good fits for the Y4RC program: 

  • An educational digital product, such as capturing the Stories of Community Leaders or Elders for the community.
  • A participatory community art installation that addresses/ helps lessen climate anxiety
  • Webinars or workshops that teach a resiliency skill and/or offer key information on climate impacts and strategies to be more resilient 
  • Partner with a local water or climate organization that is looking for volunteers or which is wanting to add something new
  • Build or contribute to a community garden 
  • Develop a water-wise product or initiative for an environmentally focused partner (i.e. a community centre, a local library, a local health care facility, your local tourism office, etc.)

The options are endless! Identify what the needs are and follow your passions and strengths.   

In your own local community where you currently live, work, or study.

The Collaboratoriums are designed as extensive learning and training experiences that connect youth participants to two different locations in the country as a way to inspire and inform your own work. Your Service Project does not have to be related to these locations if you do not live there. These 2 in person gatherings will build your network, give you support, and create a community for action.

Yes, you can absolutely work together as a team. We encourage members of the same community to apply so you can advance your local project together.

Mentors will be met through online sessions and during collaboratoriums. They include Waterlution team members as well as various external experts. Their knowledge and experience is diverse and we will help you be supported by the person that has the most expertise in the kind of project you are doing or who can help you develop a particular skill you need for your project.

Yes, as long as it builds climate resilience in your community. Climate change impacts so many aspects of life and we do not want to limit your creativity for what a project could be that would be beneficial to your community’s ability to mitigate, adapt, build knowledge or resilience in its face.   

 

Impact storytelling means crafting and sharing the story of your project that not only contains information but also have the ability to provoke thought and encourage change.

Yes, if you don’t have a project idea yet, please still apply! Service projects will be developed throughout the program and workshopped with peers.

Yes, the entire program has a 120 hour commitment over 6 months which includes the 2 collaboratorium. While many past participants have been in university or working, you do need to ensure that you can fit this into your schedule.

No, you do not need to have a partner organization lined up before you join. Once accepted, you are encouraged to identify organizations locally within your community. Waterlution can also support you in finding an organization, and will work with you and the organization to see if it is the right fit.

Yes, participants are expected to attend both collaboratoriums. Please check your calendars and ensure you are available.

We do our best to accommodate all dietary needs. Accepted participants will be sent a form where you detail dietary requirements.

If you have a child 12 years old or younger you can request up to 20 hours of childcare support at $15 per hour (total value $300). There is a place to indicate this on your application.

If you do not have access to a laptop, Waterlution can loan you a laptop for the duration of your time in Y4RC. You would receive your laptop at the first collaboratorium, and Waterlution will pay the shipping cost to return the laptop at the end of the program. There is a place to indicate this on your application. 

Yes, meals, accommodation and travel are covered. Waterlution will arrange transportation for participants, which includes getting to and from your home airport, or if you are driving to the Collarboartorium. Once accepted we will get in touch about booking flights for participants.

Yes, participants will be sharing rooms with like-genders together during the collaboratorium.

Yes, participants will receive a certificate after completing the program.

Please join one of two upcoming info sessions, you will meet some of the team and be able to ask questions there.

For more information, please contact:

Megan Cornall

Project Coordinator

Carley Vinkle

Local Youth Lead

Waterlution’s Youth 4 Resilient Communities is funded by Canada Service Corps, a national movement that empowers youth aged 15–30 to gain experience and build important skills while giving back to their community. Learn more at Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps.