Reflections from our Youth Advocacy Summit in Victoria

Last week, youth from our Young Leaders in Conservation Program travelled to Victoria to meet with government officials and share their perspectives and visions for BC’s environmental future with decision-makers. This advocacy summit helps youth further develop their government relations and lobbying skills as a part of the Young Leaders in Conservation Program. Participants have been attending workshops on government relations, media relations, conservation policy and more over the past 3 months, all culminating in this summit.

They specifically asked elected leaders to prioritize protecting nature and biodiversity through effective conservation, and for the NDP to follow through with their commitment to protect 30% of BC’s lands and waters by 2030.

Over 3 days in Victoria the youth attended many very fruitful meetings and exciting discussions with decision-makers, including:

• Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar
• Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma
• Attorney General Niki Sharma
• Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene
• Minister of Environment and Parks Tamara Davidson
• Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Randene Neill
• Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities Brittny Anderson
• Trevor Halfrod, MLA for Surrey-White Rock
• Hon Chan, MLA for Richmond Centre
• Claire Rattée, MLA for Skeena
• Scott McInnis, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke
• Á’a:líya Warbus, MLA for Chilliwack-Cultus Lake
• Donegal Wilson, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen

Youth participants also had the opportunity to attend Question Period, where Minister Neill gave the group a warm welcome in her opening comments, and had lunch in the Parliamentary Dining Room with Minister Davidson and Minister Neill.

Participants have been preparing for this opportunity throughout the Young Leaders in Conservation Program by meeting online and attending workshops aimed at building policy literacy, and government and media relations skills to aid them in pursuing their passion to help advocate for environmental issues.

This summit was also a beautiful opportunity for the young leaders to forge strong interpersonal relationships with each other. Participants enjoyed sharing meals, watching the results of the federal election come in together, explored the halls of the Legislature, co-developed and practiced their statements together, and revelled in the spring sunshine & cherry blossoms of Victoria.

It is critical that youth voices are heard by decision-makers. Provincial leaders shared that it was impactful and encouraging to hear from these young leaders.

It was fantastic to witness the youth share their personal connections to nature and speak from the heart with decision-makers. We hope that youth will feel empowered and inspired to keep advocating for nature at all tables and levels of government. We are so proud of and grateful to these incredible youth for their dedication and work on conservation advocacy! Following the summit, participants now have the opportunity to apply for seed funding to start a conservation advocacy or educational project in their community and further hone their community organizing and advocacy skills.