Yesterday, August 12, was International Youth Day, a UN initiative to highlight the leading issues impacting young people. While the youngest generations are facing global crises from climate change to mass migration, they are standing up with the confidence and leadership to make substantial change. 

This Youth Day, we at Level are celebrating some of Canada’s most impressive young people, who challenge social norms, break glass ceilings, and represent their communities as true leaders. We hope you’ll be just as inspired as we are! 

For the third year in a row, Level has partnered with Northern Youth Abroad (NYA) to deliver a condensed two-day version of our IYOP workshop to Indigenous youth between the ages of 15-21. NYA is an organization cultivating youth leadership and cross-cultural awareness where Indigenous youth from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories spend several weeks exploring different parts of Canada. Throughout the program, the youth learn about history and culture, develop leadership skills, and engage in various volunteer projects. Last Thursday and Friday, Level hosted an IYOP workshop in Ottawa with the sixteen youth participating in this year’s NYA Next program. 

In 2016, the Liberal Ontario government unveiled an updated curriculum that would include Indigenous history for elementary and secondary schools. The program, crafted in collaboration with residential school survivors, First Nations, Métis and Inuit partners, was considered a step forward both in the province’s education system and their commitment to reconciliation.

On June 22, Level volunteer Maitland Shaheen attended the Luminato festival's presentation of Amal Clooney in Conversation with Nick Clooney. The Clooneys shared their thoughts on the state of justice in 2018, the global impact of the international refugee crisis, and the positive impact of feminism and youth engagement. 

In 2017, the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin retired from her role as Chief Justice of Canada, after an impressive 17 years on the bench. As the first woman Chief Justice (and the longest serving!) students, lawyers and legal professionals have much to learn about law and life from the former Chief Justice. 

June is National Indigenous History Month and we are proud to celebrate the vibrant cultures, unique histories, and crucial contributions of Indigenous peoples to the development of Canada. It is also a time for all Canadians to critically reflect on how we can collectively advance reconciliation—a process that involves acknowledging and repairing harms, rebuilding and forging new relationships, healing, and finding new ways forward.  

From January to April, Indigenous youth in grade 7 & 8 from William Whyte Middle School gathered with volunteer Indigenous lawyers and law students for a total of 10 sessions to learn the basics of the Canadian criminal justice system and the incorporation of Indigenous practices.

On Thursday, March 8, 2018, Heather McKay (pictured above), a longstanding volunteer in Level’s Calgary Indigenous Youth Outreach Program (IYOP), generously hosted a fundraising event for Level.

We are thrilled to introduce Level's 2017/18 Canadian Research Fellows!