Prime Minister's Youth Council

July 25, 2016 - The Ring

On July 19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the creation of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council, a body of 30 young Canadians aged 16 to 24, who will provide non-partisan advice to the Prime Minister on national issues such as employment, access to education, building stronger communities as well as climate change and clean growth, among others.

Read more: Prime Minister's Youth Council
feature photo

Youth Poet Laureate Ann-Bernice Thomas speaks her mind

April 11, 2016 - The Ring

Ann-Bernice Thomas doesn’t hesitate when asked the most surprising aspect of being named the City of Victoria’s 2016 Youth Poet Laureate. “All the attention,” she says with a quick laugh. “Considering I didn't really hear anything about last year's poet, it's been really surprising . . . but nice.” A second-year double-major in theatre and writing, Thomas was announced as the new Youth Poet Laureate in January and quickly received a flurry of attention from nearly all of Victoria’s media outlets. Her one-year term, jointly funded by the City of Victoria and the Greater Victoria Public Library, ends on December 31, for which she will receive a $1,750 honorarium and $1,000 in special project funding.

Read more: Youth Poet Laureate Ann-Bernice Thomas speaks her mind
feature photo

Gift from Sisters of St. Ann builds UVic Youth in Care award

January 20, 2016 - The Ring

Tuition waivers for up to 15 students each year for those from government care Lilia Zaharieva whispers her question with genuine awe. “They gave how much?” she asks, hearing about the $2-million donation from the Sisters of St. Ann earmarked for the University of Victoria’s Youth in Care award. As a recipient herself, she knows firsthand the life-altering significance of such generosity.  “What an amazing gift to give,” she says. “What fantastic help.”

Read more: Gift from Sisters of St. Ann builds UVic Youth in Care award
feature photo

Trudeau scholar examines youth and empathy in Canada

June 12, 2015 - The Ring

Is empathy changing in a world where social media and globalization are rapidly transforming how we interact with others? The University of Victoria’s Rebeccah Nelems is investigating empathy and youth as part of a prestigious three-year scholarship announced today from the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation. She is one of only 16 Canadian doctoral students receiving a $180,000 award.

Read more: Trudeau scholar examines youth and empathy in Canada
feature photo

A natural path to resilience, outdoors

June 4, 2015 - The Ring

Brittney Sharma’s vision—an outdoor program to help children who had experienced family trauma—generated lots of buzz this year after being chosen as a showcase idea for the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) conference. Sharma graduates this month with a bachelor’s in anthropology, and says her time at UVic was filled with academics and club activities, as well as developing her vision to help children of battered women.

Read more: A natural path to resilience, outdoors