Making Space for Youth Voices: Inside the OCYA’s Youth Council
Young people are often invited to participate in consultations or decisions that affect them, but sometimes those spaces feel rushed, inaccessible, or symbolic rather than meaningful.
Youth participation is often talked about as the goal, but meaningful engagement depends on intentionally creating spaces where young people can show up and feel safe to be their full selves.
When identity, culture, and lived experience are respected, youth voices have more clarity and power.
The OCYA Youth Council creates this kind of space by centering young people and their lived experience at the forefront of advocacy and policy discussions.
What the Youth Council is
One of the OCYA’s most dynamic and impactful initiatives, the youth council was relaunched in 2013 after a hiatus to give youth a platform to share insights on issues affecting children and youth in care, those receiving government services, and others navigating complex systems.
It brings together a group of 10 passionate young leaders whose lived experiences and perspectives shape advocacy and policy conversations in real, impactful ways.
In addition to informing the OCYA’s work, the council also helps outside organizations improve their youth programs through consultations.
The council’s vision is rooted in the belief that meaningful change happens when young people are not only heard but actively involved in decision-making processes that impact their lives.
Who the Youth Council Represents
There is no single “type” of youth council member.
Council members are 14-24 years old, and represent a wide range of identities, lived experiences, and communities.
They bring perspectives shaped by things like culture, race, language, geography, family circumstances, and system involvement.
This diversity ensures that conversations reflect the realities young people face across Alberta.
What connects every member is a shared commitment to using lived experience as expertise. Each person contributes insights drawn from their own journey, helping the OCYA respond to issues impacting children and youth across Alberta, and how systems can better support them.
How the Youth Council Works
Using accessible and flexible formats, meetings focus on sharing ideas, discussing topics raised by OCYA staff, and reflecting on issues impacting youth across the province. Youth are encouraged to speak honestly about what is working, what isn’t, and what they wish adults and systems understood better.
Participation looks different for everyone. Members contribute in ways that feel safe and authentic to them, knowing their experiences and perspectives are valued and that all contributions matter.
The youth council meets every two months from September to July, with meetings held either in-person or virtually.
Some members are comfortable leading discussions or sharing detailed feedback, while others contribute by asking questions, sharing reflections through writing or one-on-one conversations, or offering insights over time. The council is intentionally structured to recognize that meaningful engagement doesn’t look the same for everyone.
What Participation Offers Youth
Being on the OCYA Youth Council brings more than just a seat at the table.
Beyond influencing policy and practice, the council provides opportunities for personal growth.
Youth gain practical experience collaborating in professional and advocacy spaces, while building skills like public speaking and leadership. Participation strengthens their understanding of rights, how systems function, identity, and collective responsibility. Members also develop confidence in sharing their stories and get to see how lived experience can influence real conversations and decisions.
For some, these experiences shape future paths in advocacy, leadership, education, or community-focused work. Many go on to become advocates, mentors, and community leaders, continuing to champion the rights of children and youth long after their time on the council.
Youth perspectives are essential to the OCYA’s work because policies and systems affect real people, not just outcomes on paper. The youth council helps ensure the OCYA’s advocacy is informed by young people directly, supporting the office to work alongside youth rather than speaking for them.
Looking Ahead
The youth council is a cornerstone of the OCYA’s approach to youth engagement. By uplifting young voices and ensuring they are part of the conversation, the council helps build a more inclusive and responsive system that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of Alberta’s children and youth.
Writer’s Note
As a former system involved, marginalized youth and youth council alumna, my advocacy has been shaped by both challenge and community. I carry firsthand knowledge of what it feels like to move through systems that often speak about young people rather than with them.
My journey from navigating systems to advocating alongside them is one I owe in part to the OCYA’s commitment to amplifying youth voices. I am deeply thankful to the OCYA for creating spaces where youth are recognized as partners rather than participants, where lived experience leads conversations, and where young people are supported to grow into confident advocates.
– Autumn Sampson, Youth Engagement Intern at the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate
