What does the future of the North Shore look like? If the latest cohort of the North Shore Young Civic Forum has anything to say about it, it looks pretty promising.
The North Shore Young Civic Forum is an initiative of NSCR’s Democracy Café, designed to bring young people into the civic conversation. Each cohort convenes a diverse group of adults aged 18-39 who live, work, or study on the North Shore, guiding them through municipal government and supporting them to develop real projects for their local councils.
This spring, Forum 5.0 wrapped up with five participant teams presenting their ideas to the municipalities of the City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, and the District of West Vancouver. Here’s a look at what they brought forward:
Let’s Talk, For Real – Nathaniel, Tina, and Saga pitched the City of North Vancouver on ways to meaningfully increase political and community participation among young people.
Integrate Mental Health in Housing – Cass, Mark, and Atena proposed that the District of North Vancouver deliver continuous, culturally safe mental health care within supportive housing.
Cultivate Urban Food Forests – Heera, Nor, Layne, and Justin made the case for expanding tree canopy and nutrition access through resident-led food forests across the District of North Vancouver.
Amplify Youth Policy Access – Hana, Jasper, Jazz, and Bryan called on the District of North Vancouver to build direct channels for youth to shape council decisions and policy.
Connect Isolated Seniors – John and Leo brought a seniors-focused proposal to the District of West Vancouver, recommending that SAC outing seats be reserved for seniors living alone to ensure greater social inclusion.
From mental health and housing to food security, civic access, and senior isolation, this cohort tackled issues that matter deeply to North Shore residents of all ages.
The Forum runs from February to mid-May each year and welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, regardless of prior knowledge in civic engagement. Interested in joining a future cohort? Reach out to Executive Director Nadir Surani at nadir.surani@nscr.ca.
