For Youth

Why should I attend OYP?

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What to expect

OYP runs once a year, over four days, built around three things you'll get equal doses of: real debate, honest reflection, and the kind of friendships that tend to stick.

In the House, you'll take part in a full model parliament, debating real bills on issues that matter to youth today - from education to mental health to the environment. The debate can get spirited, but it stays focused on ideas and policy, never on the people in the room. Each evening, vespers offers a different kind of space: reflection, activities, and small group discussion built around that year's theme by the youth leadership team. And running through all of it - meals, downtime, late-night conversations, social activities, dances, fundraising for local charities - are the relationships that most alumni say end up mattering the most.

Nobody expects you to arrive as a polished public speaker, a settled thinker, or someone who already has their people figured out. You arrive as you are - and the four days do the rest.

Who attends

Delegates come from towns and cities across Ontario, aged 14 to 21 - some are still in high school, others are finishing university. They bring a real mix of backgrounds, identities, and experiences, and one thing holds steady across all of it: you don't have to defend your right to be in the room. OYP is a place to exist as you are, not a place you have to argue your way into belonging.

The debate itself is non-partisan - you'll dig into real policy questions in the House, and people will land in different places on the issues. But that's different from being asked to justify who you are. Alumni consistently describe OYP as one of the first places they felt fully accepted: 83.1% say they felt genuinely supported within the organization, and many point to it as a space where they could be honest about their identity, beliefs, and background without fear of judgment.

People end up at OYP for a lot of different reasons -some come for the debate, some for the reflection, some just for the friendships - and most people end up finding all three, whether they expected to or not.

What alumni say about attending OYP

OYP has been running since 1969 - which means the people who can speak to what it's really like span five decades. Here's some of what they've told us:

"OYP helped teach me that even though I am a quiet leader, there is still space and value for that."

--Ruth Bryce, 2017 - 2020

"It was so warm and welcoming that I felt like I would always find friends and acceptance for being my true self. I hadn't felt that way in my life up to that point."

--OYP Alumnus, 1989 - 1992

"As a new immigrant, joining OYP gave me the opportunity to learn about my new home and insights on what makes the Canadian system work and how positive engagement can make a difference."

--OYP Alumnus, 1985 - 1989

"I made terrific friends that I enjoyed seeing, and also saw a path for important skills development, leadership opportunities and personal growth."

--Michael Harris, 2012 - 2017

Check out our Alumni Impact Report to see all the ways that OYP has impacted delegates lives.

Registration

Ready to see what four days at OYP could look like for you? Registration opens in early November for the February session. Jump over to the registration page to find everything you need to know.

FAQ

I'm not really a "debate" person — is OYP going to be intimidating?

That's a really common feeling coming in, and a lot of alumni say they felt same thing. The bills are written by youth leadership specifically to be accessible to every delegate, no matter their experience level - so you're not walking into something over your head. No one expects you to arrive with a polished argument. Most delegates say their confidence built during the weekend, not before it - one alum described going from speaking in the House just once in their first year to standing up with real confidence by the end.

I don't know anything about parliamentary procedure — will I be lost?

Not at all. Nobody arrives already knowing the rules of order, how to make a motion, or when to speak - that's something every delegate learns as they go, usually with help from more experienced delegates and ARCs. Part of the Speaker's role in the House is to help delegates learn the ropes as debate unfolds, so you've got support built right into the process. By your second or third debate, it starts to feel natural.

I'm not that into politics. Is OYP still for me?

Yes. The bills debated in the House usually aren't abstract policy questions - they're about things you probably already have opinions on, like education, mental health, or the environment. Some delegates come in already deep into Canadian politics, and plenty come in without thinking of themselves as "political" at all - both groups tend to find they have more to say than they expected.

I don't know anyone else going. What if I don't fit in?

No. OYP has its roots in the Christian tradition, and vespers - a nightly space for reflection and discussion - is part of every parliament. But it's built to be open to whatever you bring, whether that's a specific faith, a different one, or none at all. Either way, it's a genuine chance to explore on what you truly believe and value.

Do I have to be religious to attend?

I'm more of an introvert. Is this four days of constant socializing?

Not necessarily. There's a lot going on, but delegates find their own rhythm within it - some people are fully immersed the whole time, others need more time in the quiet room, and both are completely normal. Vespers especially tends to be a lower-key space, even with a group.

What if I disagree with someone in a debate — does that cause problems?

Not at all - different perspectives are exactly what makes debate in the House interesting. Nobody's assigned a political side, so you'll hear genuinely different takes on every bill, and that mix is the point, not a problem to manage around. Your opinion is wanted, even (especially) when it's different from what someone else just said. And if things get heated in the moment, the Speaker is there to keep the House running with order and decorum, so debate always stays respectful.

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