Youth 4 Resilient Communities

Calling Canadian change-makers between the ages of 18 to 30!

Cohort 4

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 Apr 02, 2026
For youth ages 18-30

Applications Close July 6, 2026
Applications close at 11:59pm in your timezone

APPLY NOW

The Fourth Cohort of Youth for Resilient Communities will take place from September 2026-February 2027. Be one of 90 young Canadians to learn new skills and perspectives as you travel in September 2026 to Deer Lake and Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland for a 4 day gathering, and in January 2027 to Vancouver and Loon Lake, British Columbia for a 4 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 service placement 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)
    – September 29 to October 3, 2026 Deer Lake and Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland, the traditional lands of the Beothuk and Mi'kmaq Nations
    – January 25 to 29 2027 Loon Lake, BC, the traditional lands of the Katzie Nation
  • Training and mentorship through a combination of online and in-person coaching
  • Expansive network of active, engaged changemakers across the country
  • Service Placement 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).

APPLY NOW

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 Placement 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.

*See the FAQ section for service placement project examples

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 coaching and mentorship from experienced professionals to support you as you build your skills, deepen your knowledge, and execute your project to success.

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.

The Y4RC Program

There are 7 key objectives that informed all aspects of the program design and timeline:

  • Strengthen youth resilience
  • Develop and to provide youth with the skills to develop a hope-focused and solution-oriented future
  • Heighten youth literacy about climate change’s impact on Canadian community health, water and food security
  • Empower and give voice to underrepresented, differentially impacted and unheard voices to create enhanced social and environmental justice
  • Equip and support youth to create impactful, and often-times innovative, initiatives so that their communities are better able to adapt, mitigate, and/or become resilient to the impacts of climate change
  • Deepen the relationship of youth to their community
  • Create a legacy peer supported alumni network of resilient, empowered and activated youth across the country

Schedule & Commitment For Accepted Applicants

The Y4RC Program is composed of 6 stages, which are designed to expand your network, build your skills, and support the delivery of your Service Placement Project! You can expect to move through the program at the following pace, over the course of 6 months.

Stage 1

Virtual

Acceptances

May & June 2026

Conditional acceptances will be sent out by email on a rolling basis beginning in May 2026. Whereby a short touch-base call will be booked with a Waterlution team member, ensuring your capacity to commit to the Y4RC program and answering questions. Confirmed acceptances will then move into the flight booking process in June and July 2026.

Your commitment to the Y4RC program is from September 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 (6 months).

Virtual

Welcome Call

September 2, 2026

3-5pm PT | 4-6pm MT | 5-7pm CT | 6-8pm ET | 7-9pm AT | 7:30-9:30pm NDT

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.

At this call you will:

  • Build and kick-off your network
  • Learn about the program
  • Prepare for Collaboratorium 1

Stage 2

DEER LAKE AND ROCKY HARBOUR, NEWFOUNDLAND

The traditional territory of the Beothuk and Mi’kmaq Nation

Collaboratorium 1

SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 3, 2026

4 DAYS

At this 4-day, in-person, collaborative learning experience, you will:

  • Explore your needs and strengths through Skills Assessment
  • Arrive ready to share about your Service Placement Project idea, and what stage it is at: defined, emerging or still open.
  • Develop your skills through activities, workshops, training, team and mentor support
  • Develop clarity on the next steps post-Collaboratorium
  • Leave with your Service Placement Project defined
  • … and explore Gros Morne National Park!

Stage 3

Virtual

Training, Research & Networking

September 2026 - December 2026

Virtual training, independent community research and networking with your peers. At this stage you will:

  • Research your community, local policies, programs and organizations with the help of the Y4RC Resource Library
  • Secure Local Partner
  • Participate in Virtual Training sessions continuing to build your skills
  • Record and submit your Service Placement Project pitch and plan of action

Stage 4

In Your Community

Service Placement Project

October 2026 - February 2027

At this stage, you will:

  • Deliver your SPP with your local partner support
  • Ongoing mentorship
  • Participate in Virtual Training sessions continuing to build your skills
  • Learn from your peers
  • Capture images and/or testimonials to showcase the impact of your Service Placement Project

Stage 5

VANCOUVER & LOON LAKE, BC

The traditional territory of the Katzie Nation

Collaboratorium 2

January 25-29, 2027

4 days

At this 4-day, in person learning experience, you will:

  • Arrive ready to re-connect with the network (new Y4RC friends), and share your progress on your Service Placement Project
  • Develop your skills through activities, workshops, training, team and mentor support
  • Develop skills on Impact Storytelling
  • Celebrate the Success of your project & peers

Stage 6

Virtual

Impact Storytelling

February 2027

At this stage, you will:

  • Develop and submit impact storytelling digital products/materials to amplify the impact of your Service Placement Project, and share its success.
  • Celebrate all together on final call
  • Become part of the Y4RC Alumni Network

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 placement 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.

It is not a requirement, but in order to take advantage of the full experience, it is ideal to be comfortable outdoors and able to participate in outdoor activities.

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:

Helena Vallée-Dallaire

Project Coordinator

Carley Vinkle

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.