Vaughan Youth Cabinet (VyC)

Project

Business/strategic planning for organizational sustainability

Case Description

Located north of Toronto, the City of Vaughan is part of the larger Region of York, one of twenty-nine municipalities and regions in the Greater Toronto Area experiencing rapid growth and development.

The Vaughan Youth Cabinet (VyC), established in 2005, is the official voice of young people in the City of Vaughan. VyC’s goal is to empower youth in Vaughan and encourage them to make a positive difference in the community. VyC’s mission is simply: BE HEARD!

The VyC began as the Vaughan Youth Advisory Committee, established in 1997, and served as a connection between the City and the youth of Vaughan. A significant milestone was the development of a youth conference, called “The Truth about Youth,” which was hosted for two consecutive years in 1999 and 2000. A preliminary report on the City of Vaughan Civic Youth Strategy, prepared in 2004, introduced the creation of the Youth Strategy Task Force. In May 2005, the Vaughan Youth Cabinet (VyC) was adopted by City Council as a non-statutory advisory committee. VyC is responsible for advising and making recommendations, as necessary, to the City Council.

The VyC Executive, which includes a Chair and Vice-Chair, is composed of fifteen members (16- to 25 year-old Vaughan citizens) appointed after every municipal election by Vaughan Council to serve a three-year term. General membership is also available and all meetings are open to the public. While adults may also be part of the cabinet, they act only as advisors. The VyC includes nine members of City Council (including the Mayor), three City staff members and one community member, all of whom act as advisors to the youth members. Meetings are initiated and run by the youth members, but must include the City Clerk to be official.

In the last two years, VyC initiatives and events have included:

• United Nations Vaughan Youth & Technology Forum (Aug. 2005)
• An assessment of the needs of youth in Vaughan (Sept. 2005)
• Vaughan Daily Food Bank Drive (Dec. 2005)
• First ever Vaughan Youth City Councillor position (Jan. 2006)
• BE HEARD! City-Wide Youth Leadership Conference (May 2006)
• D.A.R.E Arts & Youth Leadership Awards Night (June 2006)
• S.A.V.I Grandparent's Day in partnership with VyC (Sept. 2006)

To ensure the continued growth and success of the organization, VyC recognizes the importance of engaging consultants in developing a medium-term business plan to address issues such as organizational sustainability, brand management, membership growth, retention of institutional knowledge, and increasing access to external funding.

Vaughan Youth Cabinet Website:
http://www.vyc.ca/

City of Vaughan Website:
http://www.city.vaughan.on.ca


Consulting Team

Project Advisor
Alex Gill
Principal, Mendicant Group

Information Advisor
Sofia Stefou, MBA

Engagement Manager
Allyson Collymore, MSW
Ministry of Children and Youth Services

Senior Consultant
Hilary Jacob, MBA, CFA
Murray & Company Limited

Consultant
Massimo Cimini, PhD
Toronto General Hospital and University Health Network

Consultant
Jaspuneet Mohie, BCom
RBC Dexia Investor Services Trust

Consultant
Kelvin Lui, BASc Candidate
University of Toronto

Consultant
Helen Tsang, BASc Candidate
University of Toronto
 

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