In this blog, I explain how arts-based activities can support the goals of youth work by serving as tools for exploration, sharing, and discussion.

One of the key lessons for youth workers to consider when […]

Canadians, particularly Torontonians, flaunt our diversity, inclusion, and our ‘mosaic’ society. Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world, something that makes me proud and provides an adv […]

The following is an excerpt from YouthREX’s Research to Practice Report: Trans Youth and the Right to Access Public Washrooms
“Entering a public washroom for the purpose of a necessary biological function sho […]

Members of the youth sector understand the youth they work with and design engaging and meaningful activities that make an impact on youths’ lives. 
At the same time, funders ask organizations to report on th […]

Sometimes, working with youth can be challenging, daunting, and even painful. Bringing fun and creativity to our work can be energizing for us, and can also sustain us through difficult moments.  
I’ve bee […]

“While they still punch below their weight electorally, young Canadians represent a powerful new political force that will continue to shape the future of Canadian politics for the next three decades, much l […]

“A first job means more than a paycheque. It can mean increased self-confidence, access to mentors, exposure to opportunities beyond your neighbourhood, understanding the value of education, and it builds t […]

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” – Audre Lorde

The last couple weeks have been difficult to process – for me, individually, f […]

Quick Fact: The number of Ontario adolescents experiencing moderate to serious psychological distress jumped to 34% in 2014 from 24% in 2013. (CAMH) 
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA […]

This year the holy month of Ramadan and PRIDE month overlap. Traditionally, Ramadan is a period of peace and PRIDE is a time for celebration. This June, many in both communities are in shock and mourning in […]

Quick Fact: Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young Canadians between the ages of 10 and 24. (CMHA) 
Today, at around 9:00am, hundreds of students walked out of classes in Woodstock, Ontario i […]

Quick Fact: Statistics collected by TransPULSE in Ontario determined that “on the basis of gender identity, 73% of trans people have been made fun of, 39% have been turned down for a job, 26% have been as […]

“It takes a village to raise a child.”
No one is really sure where this proverb comes from, “it takes a village to raise a child.” But the sense behind it has widespread currency: society has a respo […]

“Growing up we both faced many challenges with systems that were not responsive to our needs or the needs of a family member. We felt dismissed and that our opinions were not considered in any d […]

Are you interested in learning about research that matters to youth work, but find you never have time to get around to it? 
YouthREX’s mission is to make research evidence and evaluation practices ac […]

Quick Fact: There are an estimated 40,000 children and youth in Ontario with ASD.

At the end of last month, the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services announced a $333 million investment into a new […]

A state of emergency has been called in Attawapiskat after an increasing number of young people attempted suicide in the remote Ontario First Nation. 

11 First Nations youth attempted suicide in one night […]

What’s happening? What happened? What worked?
What can I do differently next time to achieve a better outcome?

These common, though informal, reflections play in the back of my mind throughout my daily e […]

I am graduating from high school this year and next year I am entering a nursing program. I am most interested in the issues of health in relation to youth. As a Youth Research Assistant with the Knowledge […]

If we don’t represent experience, how can we share it with those who aren’t present? Evaluation is a way of ‘taking pictures’ of what is going on in an intentional and thoughtful way.
One of the deli […]