In October, the Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region was invited to join over 80 child and youth well-being knowledge-holders from across Canada, at the Inspiring Healthy Futures Summit.
This year was the second Inspiring Healthy Futures Summit and it was held in Ottawa. The aim of the summit is to mobilize “key champions” and key data. We had the chance to collaborate with other thinkers in brainstorming how data, practices, and policies could be better utilized and aligned across Canada to meet shared goals. There was also a specific effort to raise awareness and support for Bill S212 (a National Strategy for Children and Youth Act). Senator Rosemary Moonie opened the Summit by highlighting ongoing legislative work to establish this national strategy. Soon, this bill will be in its final stage (third reading) in the Senate, and the support from the key champions at this Summit (and others), will help ensure its success. CYPT will continue to have the opportunity to be a key voice in this national discussion.
Dan Vandebelt (CYPT Data, Research & Evaluation Lead) and Alison Pearson (Manager, CYPT) got the chance to represent the work of the CYPT at the summit and create meaningful connections that will serve to further advance our Research and Organizational Excellence pillars of the CYPT Strategic Plan. And of course, it was exciting to connect with great people who are doing similar work across Canada!
The work that we have been building in Waterloo Region to hear directly from young people about their well-being was well regarded at the summit. The Youth Impact Survey and Child Voice Project were frequently referenced throughout the summit as country-leading work when it comes to meaningful child/youth engagement and mobilizing data.
The Inspiring Healthy Futures Summit offers us a chance to be part of a national platform to help advance child and youth well-being – and it reinforces the great importance of the work we are doing together in Waterloo Region.