Young Voices Needed to Foster Positive Change in KFL&A

Young people across the region are being called to the table to help shape a stronger, healthier future—both for
themselves and for the places they call home.

On May 29, youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are invited to take part in a free, full-day symposium at Rideau Acres,
designed to amplify their voices and help reimagine what it means to grow up in KFL&A.

Organized by a coalition of local partners—including Kingston Community Health Centres, the South East Health Unit
(formerly KFL&A Public Health), Youth Diversion, and the Community Foundation for Kingston and Area—the
symposium is part of a new regional initiative focused on improving youth wellbeing. Participants will engage in
breakout sessions on topics that matter to them, hear from a dynamic keynote speaker, spend time on the land, enjoy
free food, prizes, and a chance to connect with other youth and adult allies.

“This symposium is the culmination of several youth dialogue sessions we have held across KFL&A,” says Colin Baillie, a
Health Promoter at the South East Health Unit. “Young people have shared insights into their daily routines, the places
where they like to spend their time and the people they like to spend their time with, as well as challenges they face that
are barriers to thriving in our community.”

The youth symposium also marks the launch of a new, community-led project inspired by the Icelandic Prevention
Model—an internationally recognized approach to reducing youth substance use by strengthening the environments in
which young people grow up. In Iceland, the model brings schools, parents, sports clubs, and community groups
together to create healthier, more supportive surroundings for young people, leading to a dramatic reduction in youth
drug and alcohol use.

Thanks to funding from the City of Kingston, a made-in-KFL&A version of the model is now taking shape. At its core is a
simple but powerful belief: that youth outcomes are shaped by their environment—and that real change starts by
listening to young people themselves.

“We want youth to know that their voices matter and that their input will shape the direction of this initiative,” Baillie
explained.

This new initiative, temporarily named the KFL&A Unnamed Youth Project, will continue to engage youth, families,
schools, and service providers in co-creating a community-wide plan to improve youth wellbeing. The May 29 event is a
key step in that journey.

The KFL&A Youth Symposium is generously supported by the City of Kingston and local Rotary Clubs. Youth can register
through Eventbrite and will be entered to win a $100 Sport Chek gift card just for signing up. Attendance counts toward
volunteer hours, and free round-trip transportation is available from six communities across the region.