OTTAWA – On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Gord Brown, Member of Parliament (Leeds–Grenville), today announced funding for the Town Youth Participation Strategies (TYPS) organization.

The funding will offer young people from both rural and urban Canada the opportunity to participate in the forum Igniting and Uniting – Youth Centres Canada, which is taking place in Ottawa from March 24 to 27, 2011. The forum will offer participants learning opportunities and discussions that will focus on peer role modelling in communities across the country and the role Canadian youth play in improving youth centres in Canada. Those taking part will also have the opportunity to get involved in a national network of youth organizations.

“By supporting youth forums, our Government is providing a space for young people to address the issues they face through civic engagement and learning,” said Minister Moore. “The Government of Canada is committed to supporting and developing youth to become leaders in their communities.”

“Youth from every part of this country deserve the opportunity to come together and learn and be inspired,” said Mr. Brown. “By supporting this organization, we are providing young people living in both rural and urban areas with opportunities to get involved and to share common experiences with their peers from across the country.”

“The Unite and Ignite Conference—a collaborative effort between TYPS: Youth Centres Canada and The Students Commission—is, for many of the youth attending, a transformative experience,” said Les Voakes, Executive Director, TYPS. “This kind of personal change occurs by being directly engaged in our conference’s unique experiential and knowledge-sharing event, and having representation from across the country. The Exchanges Canada Program provides many youth with the ability to attend. Without Exchanges Canada Program, the travel costs would be an insurmountable barrier for these youth, and everyone would miss an opportunity to strengthen our collective citizenship.”

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $101,400 through the Youth Forums component of the Exchanges Canada program. This initiative of the Department of Canadian Heritage helps Canadian youth connect with one another, experience the diversity of Canada’s communities, languages and cultures, and get involved in the future of the country.