City Youth Council or Advisory Board
Advise municipal government on youth issues
Why It Matters
Unique and genuinely impressive - shows civic engagement far beyond school. Canadian cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Calgary all have formal youth advisory programs.
How to Start
Search your city and 'youth advisory board' or 'youth council'. Most have annual application periods in spring requiring an application, references, and sometimes an interview.
Commitment
- Medium commitment: a few hours most weeks during the school year.
- Best starting grade: G9
- Apply in G9 or G10. Most programs require students to be 14-18 years old.
Programs It Supports
- Political Science
- Public Policy
- Social Work
- Urban Planning
Majors it supports
- Political Science – high 70s to high 80s
- Social Work (BSW) – high 70s to high 80s
- Urban Planning – high 70s to high 80s
Universities where it fits
Our profiles for these schools suggest City Youth Council or Advisory Board as a good fit for their applicants.
- University of Ottawa – Ottawa, ON
- University of Winnipeg – Winnipeg, MB
- University of Regina – Regina, SK
Similar extracurriculars
- Student Council – Represent and lead your school community
- Competitive Debate Team – Argue both sides of complex issues competitively
- Model United Nations (MUN) – Simulate UN committees and debate global issues
- Start a New School Club or Initiative – Identify a gap and build something from scratch
- Ontario Youth Parliament / Provincial Youth Parliament – Simulate provincial parliamentary democracy
- Peer Tutoring Coordinator – Organize and lead the school's peer tutoring program
- Morning Announcements Anchor / Producer – Run the daily broadcasts for the entire school
- Mental Health Awareness Week Chair – Organize workshops, speakers, and events focused on wellness
- Graduation / Prom Committee Chair – Plan the biggest and most expensive event of high school