Government of Canada Expands Volunteer Service Opportunities for Young Canadians 

Canada Service Corps call for proposals aims to create more than 23,000 opportunities

February 8, 2022            Ottawa, Ontario             Employment and Social Development Canada

Young people were among the hardest hit by the economic impacts of COVID-19 and the Government of Canada is ensuring their inclusion in all aspects of Canada’s economic recovery.

Central to this approach is the Canada Service Corps (CSC), which promotes civic engagement among young people aged 15 to 30 through access to meaningful volunteer service opportunities. Young people can also receive micro-grant funding to lead their own service projects. Since its launch in 2018, the CSC has distributed more than 4,800 micro-grants and administered more than 19,000 service placements in communities across the country. The CSC has worked with 99 local and regional organizations, and 14 national organizations, to provide unique service opportunities for young people.

Today, Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, launched a multi-stream open call for proposals (CFP) that will build on the past success of the CSC program by expanding its scope and engaging even more young Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

This CFP prioritizes the participation of organizations that focus on and are represented by Indigenous and under-served populations. It will target themes that are important to young people including reconciliation, building an inclusive Canada, preserving the environment, strengthening resilience and other themes that youth participants identify as important for themselves and their communities.

Organizations that have experience working with or delivering programming for young Canadians are encouraged to apply at [canada.ca/en/services/youth/canada-service-corps/call-proposal.html] by March 22, 2022, through any of the four following streams:

• National Service Placements
• Regional Service Placements
• Micro-grants
• Micro-grants Diversity

The Government of Canada supports a national movement to build a culture of service in Canada by empowering youth to engage in unique opportunities to practice leadership, gain valuable experience, learn new skills, and grow their personal and professional networks. The Canada Service Corps is one of many federal initiatives aimed at helping youth create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.