YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada provides groups of youth aged 12 to 17 years the opportunity to explore Canada while learning leadership, communication and teamwork skills. Students engage in community projects, connect with new friends in another community and discover the history, geography and diversity of their own and another part of the country.

Learning outside the classroom

We match school or community groups ranging from 10 to 30 participants to engage in a reciprocal exchange with another group in a different part of Canada. Each group visits the other for a one-week educational exchange, which can take place at any time during the year. Groups plan exchange activities themselves, which gives the students a great opportunity to work as a team and explore their own community as well as another.

Bringing communities together

The Government of Canada through the YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada Program pays transportation costs for all eligible participants and organizers. The YMCA facilitates the exchanges, which are fully supervised by teachers or group leaders.

We encourage participation of all youth, including those from aboriginal or visible minority communities, those from low-income families, and those who have a disability.

For more details, click here.

Call your representative today to find out more about this opportunity to give youth the leadership and learning experience of a lifetime.

Please contact Christopher Craig at the Downtown Y centre, 514-849-5331 ext. 235 or toll free,
1-866-332-9622 ext. 235 (only available in Québec and Atlantic Canada).