Have you every wondered what it would be like to have a friend in every city you travelled to? Have your voice heard in the House of Commons? Or simply just staying at Ottawa for a week?
Well, if any of your reactions to these questions got you excited, Forum is the place for you.
Forum for Young Canadians is an incredible week that shows you the behind-the-scenes of the world of federal politics on Parliament Hill. Youth from all over Canada with similar passions and interests gather in Canada’s capital, Ottawa, to contribute to the future of our community and country.
Imagine walking around the streets, with the Parliament Hill to your left, the Canada Revenue Agency to your right. Seeing Jagmeet Singh on his bike, and casual bumping into Bill Morneau at Tim Hortons. This is the kind of experience that I encountered in Ottawa through Forum.
By visiting the different institutions, such as the House of Commons, the Senate, Rideau Hall and more, I was able to open my eyes to opportunities never encountered before. Personally, coming from Alberta, I had limited chances in looking into the different experiences that Ottawa had to offer. The capital of Canada not only holds great post-secondary options like uOttawa and Carlton College, but many different job opportunities.
A pre-conception of government related jobs being merely office jobs with employees drowning in piles of paper has unconsciously followed me when coming to Ottawa. However, meeting different diplomats and public servants really changed my perspective and possibilities for future careers. The government offers jobs that reflect almost all types of interests, from Scientific research to traveling abroad, art skills and even musical talents! There is a spot for every Canadian in the system, even if politics is not in your best interest.
Through this experience, I was also able to initiate a development of relationship with my MP, as well as many Senators. Prior to Forum, I have absolutely no interest or knowledge about my MP or riding. However, meeting the different MPs here, I started to realize the importance of their role and how close they were to citizens like myself. They were the ones that are always willing to listen to even the smallest complains and concerns. Although they may seem a very far away from your daily life, MPs are the best resource any citizen has to contribute change in their community.
Forum is an incredibly valuable and influential experience that will broaden your perspective and deepen knowledge. Through the development of life lasting relationships with youth that share similar passions as you, a natural motivation to make changes in your community will be encouraged. Plus, who doesn’t want a cool selfie with Justin Trudeau (or any other politician of your choice) to post on Instagram?