Canada25 Background Information

Our organization:
Canada25 is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that brings the voices and ideas of Canadians, aged 20-35, to the nation's public policy discourse and takes action on issues of local and national significance. Created in 2000 by six recent university graduates, we have reached over 1000 members and are always expanding.

Active citizenship and bold, globally-oriented thinking make Canada a dynamic, inclusive, and prosperous country that people from around the world are proud to call home. Canada25 will:

• Develop and articulate policy proposals on issues of local and national significance to Canadians.
• Implement a select number of local and national initiatives developed through Canada25’s public policy deliberations.
• Act as a resource for government, business, and community leaders wishing to engage the perspectives and talents of adult Canadians, aged 20-35, with a keen interest in public affairs.
• Build an international network of people who share an interest in public affairs and civic engagement in Canada.
• Provide exciting opportunities for Canadians, aged 20-35, to build policy analysis and civic leadership skills.

We are a non-partisan, non-profit organization, incorporated in January 2001.

Our research:
Canada25’s report Building Up is the organization’s latest policy initiative. In 2002, Canada25 examined the role of Canadian cities - how they can be better economic development engines and more vibrant places to live. Canada25 accomplished this with a three-stage process. First, an attitude and opinion survey aimed at young Canadians; second, a series of regional roundtables across Canada and the US, and finally, the national forum held in Victoria in July 2002.

Our roundtable and forum delegates are a broad group of innovative, intelligent Canadians ages 20-35, who drove the debate and made recommendations about Canadian cities. Canada25 examined how government, business, the voluntary sector and citizens can work to ensure the vibrancy and diversity of our cities. Based on the findings of our research, we will develop strategies to enable us to move forward on our initiatives, in partnership with our public and private sector supporters.

We are focusing on four policy areas in 2003; Innovation, Cities, Canada and the World, and a series of “hot topics” which will examine a new and topical public policy challenge every two months.

Last year, Canada25 looked at how Canada can attract and retain young talent. We organized a national forum on how Canada could become a magnet for young talent, igniting national discussion, including a one-hour CBC TV special and a cover story in Maclean’s. The recommendations from A New Magnetic North: How Canada can Attract and Retain Young Talent, have sparked discussion in both the private and public sectors.

For further information about Canada25 please contact: