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Youth Voices

National Youth Collective

Youth voices are front and centre in everything we do. Join us as an ambassador, advisor, and changemaker for youth sport in Canada.

About the Collective

Shape the future of youth sport

The youth collective will play a vital role in helping shape the future of youth sport in Canada and ensuring that youth voices are front and centre in everything we do. Collective members serve as youth ambassadors for the project, and offer input to all phases of research and to the board of directors on issues important to youth, while also sharing valuable insight on the issues impacting Canadian youth more broadly.

Apply Here!

As a member, you'll be:

  • →Sharing creative and innovative ideas about the future of youth sport and issues that impact participation
  • →Providing a youth voice while advising the research phases on race, dis(ability), gender, body image, indigeneity, and social class
  • →Providing recommendations to the larger team and serving as an ambassador for RE.sport
  • →Connecting with other youth advisor groups across the country and co-creating outreach and knowledge translation campaigns

You should apply if you:

  • ✓Are committed to change in the youth sporting culture in Canada and passionate about sport equity
  • ✓Love connecting with others and working as a team
  • ✓Want to develop skills in creative thinking, advocacy, critical thinking, research, communications, and leadership
  • ✓Have leadership experience or potential and are motivated to be a voice for your peers
  • ✓Are willing to take initiative and represent youth perspectives in discussions and decision-making processes

Not ready for a big commitment?

No problem! Youth Champions share our updates at events and online. Youth Community members stay informed and support our mission without public engagement.

Apply Here
Research

Insights from the Youth Collective

Recruitment and Evaluation

Vanessa Coulbeck, Sasha Gollish, Amy Nesbitt & Catherine M Sabiston — University of Toronto

Background

  • ▸Youth report many benefits to sport engagement, yet participation rates are decreasing — especially for girls in Canada, who drop out during adolescence at rates double to six times those of boys.
  • ▸Including youth in the research aimed at reimagining sport may best foster greater quality participation.
  • ▸Engaging youth through advisory groups is essential to integrating their diverse perspectives into decision-making.
  • ▸Despite growing recognition of youth advisories, evidence-based practices tailored to sport engagement remain scarce.
  • ▸Youth engagement guidelines and practices are needed in sport research.

Study Aims

1

To describe how youth engagement practices were developed and applied in a Canadian youth sport project.

2

To evaluate the youth engagement methods over the first year.

3

To develop a framework and set of recommendations for youth engagement in sport research.

Methods

Guided by evidence-based models including the McCain Model of Youth Engagement. The level of youth involvement is considered "consultation" — actively engaging youth as advisors whose perspectives drive the project's development and impact.

Recruitment used a diversity skills matrix highlighting representation across Canadian geographic regions, varied lived experiences, and a balance of skills including leadership, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.

Evaluation Measures

Public & Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool (PPEET)
Participant Questionnaires
Project Questionnaire
Tracking Youth Contributions
Documenting Challenges & Solutions
Learning Plan (purpose-driven sport & leadership questions)
38
Applicants
8
Selected

Results

The advisory was renamed the Youth Collective by the youth themselves.

To engage those not selected or preferring lighter involvement, a flexible leadership role called Youth Champions was created.

Over 9 months, 5 meetings covered:

→Research objectives & branding
→Study materials & knowledge translation
→Positionality & voice exercises
→Brand blueprinting
→Capacity building with Canadian Women & Sport

Confidence & Skills

"I'm encouraged to contribute ideas and share my perspective... This support helps me refine my skills, engage with my peers, and make an impact."

Community & Space

"I really love having the space to share and collaborate with others around my age... It's great to get to know everyone better."

Leadership & Initiative

"The leaders give lots of opportunities for us to lead and take initiative as well as share our views and opinions."

Discussion

▸Creating supportive spaces for youth fosters meaningful dialogue and authentic input.
▸Intentional onboarding and clear communication (reminder emails, question time) enhance participation and confidence.
▸Recruiting youth with varied backgrounds and sport experiences ensures policies better reflect the full spectrum of needs across communities.
▸Opportunities for youth to co-lead meetings and contribute to decision-making builds skills and ownership, strengthening long-term engagement.
▸Longer meeting times, more frequent check-ins, and clear follow-up plans help maintain momentum and transparency.
▸Collaborative teamwork requires flexible, adaptable processes that respect youth schedules and communication preferences, especially in virtual settings.

5 Core Recommendations

Informing the Youth Engagement in Sport Framework

1

Clarify why youth are involved and how their input will shape outcomes

2

Recruit for diversity in lived and sport experiences

3

Build confidence through onboarding and supportive environments

4

Co-design flexible, inclusive spaces that reflect youth realities

5

Share power and create feedback loops that show their impact

References

  1. Canadian Women & Sport. (2024). Rally report 2024: A call to reimagine sport so all girls can play.
  2. Sanchez, S., Chaiton, M., & others. (2024). A systematic review of theories, models and frameworks used for youth engagement in health research. Health Expectations, 27(1), e13975.
  3. Chan, M., Scott, S. D., Campbell, A., Elliott, S. A., Brooks, H., & Hartling, L. (2021). Research‐ and health‐related youth advisory groups in Canada: an environmental scan with stakeholder interviews. Health Expectations, 24(5), 1763–1779.
  4. Thornton, J. S., & Richards, D. (2023). Learning from 'lived expertise': engaging athletes and patients in sport and exercise medicine research and policy. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(4), 189–190.
  5. Haddad, K., Jacquez, F., & Vaughn, L. (2022). A scoping review of youth advisory structures in the United States: Applications, outcomes, and best practices. American Journal of Community Psychology, 70(3–4), 493–508.
  6. Heffernan, O. S., Herzog, T. M., Schiralli, J. E., Hawke, L. D., Chaim, G., & Henderson, J. L. (2017). Implementation of a youth‐adult partnership model in youth mental health systems research: challenges and successes. Health Expectations, 20(6), 1183–1188.
  7. Anwarzi, D., Tran, N. M. J., Phi, T., & Markoulakis, R. (2025). Promoting diversity in the recruitment of a youth advisory council in the mental health and addictions system. Health Expectations, 28(2), e70208. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70208
  8. Abelson, J., Li, K., Wilson, G., Shields, K., Schneider, C., & Boesveld, S. (2016). Supporting quality public and patient engagement in health system organizations: Development and usability testing of the Public and Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool. Health Expectations, 19(4), 817–827.
  9. Darnay, K., Hawke, L. D., Chaim, G., Henderson, J. L., & INNOVATE Research Team. (2019). INNOVATE Research: Youth Engagement Guidebook for Researchers. Toronto, ON: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Youth Collective members and all the youth who applied to be part of the youth engagement initiative.

Funding

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Partnership Grant