The Future is Youth - Youth Engagement Strategy

The Town of Innisfil's Youth Engagement Strategy - The Future is Youth - was passed by Innisfil Town Council on Wednesday, December 9th. A copy of the staff report and Strategy is available here and you can access a PDF version on this page. If you would like to receive a paper copy of The Future Is Youth, please email jmurley@innisfilidealab.ca. 

About the Future is Youth - Youth Engagement Strategy

The Future is Youth is a municipal-wide youth engagement strategy that provides Innisfil with a roadmap of how we can make the community a more inclusive and attractive place for young people to live and grow. It was created with youth, for youth, and contains tips on youth engagement, as well as links to current research, terms to know, and resources detailing the benefits of young people who are engaged. The Future is Youth is not a traditional 5-10 year plan. It is a living document that will grow and change with the community, to incorporate new voices, and to remain relevant to young people. 

Want to Know More?

Here is a short summary that may help inform the work that you do in Innisfil:

Top Issues Youth in Innisfil Care About

• Places where they belong (e.g. Youth feel unwelcome in most community spaces and are often accused of loitering). 
• Ways to get safely around Town (e.g. Youth do not want to rely on their parents to get where they need to go. They want cheap, safe, and convenient options for transit). 
• The environment (e.g. Youth care about green spaces and the way that Innisfil expands). 
• Health and wellness (e.g. Youth care about their mental health and well-being and enjoy outdoor activities). 
• The future (e.g. Youth often think about their futures - it can be stressful but also exciting to set goals). 

Barriers To Youth Engagement

• Lack of youth-led programs and events (e.g. Youth are more likely to come to events if they run them).
• Promotion and communication (e.g. We're "just not getting to them").
• Poor timing for engagement (e.g. Who wants to attend a program right after a long day of school and extracurricular commitments?).
• Trust and consistency (e.g. Do you really want to hear from us? Show us what you're doing with our feedback).
• Reaching at-risk youth (e.g. Leadership classes are the easiest way to reach a large group of youth, but they don't represent everyone).
• Transportation (e.g. It's hard to get around without your own vehicle).
• Parents (e.g. Youth aren't allowed to just "be").
• Scheduling and timing conflicts (Being a teen is busy... with school, work, extracurriculars, and a social life - it's hard to do it all).
• Local and/or global events (e.g. COVID-19).

How Will We Continue To Collect Feedback?

Youth Connex Committee
If you want to make a difference in the community, join the Youth Connex Committee (YCC)! The YCC provides youth with a safe space to share their ideas and opinions about the future of Innisfil. Whether it's recommending new features at your local park or planning a community program, the Committee is an excellent opportunity to get involved. Interested? Fill out an application now!

Engaging in Schools

The Town will continue to visit youth in the spaces where they are most comfortable, and while that may be virtually for quite some time, we will do our best to accommodate new voices and participate in new opportunities as they arise. If you would like to request a class visit or would like to submit feedback, please email Jenn at jmurley@Innisfilidealab.ca or Michelle at mlopes@innisfil.ca.