When Parker first noticed the environmental damage along a stretch of the North Thompson River, she didn’t wait for someone else to act. What began as a high school capstone project turned into a youth-led initiative to restore the riverbank using native plants — and to rally community support for long-term ecological solutions. In this interview, Parker shares their journey as a 2023 YCAA winner, the impact of Restoring Our River Banks, and how young people can take bold action for the planet — even when the path ahead is uncertain.

When Sophia saw how transportation barriers were limiting youth access to school, work, and community, she decided to act. What started as a local campaign for free youth bus passes in Regina grew into a multi-year movement that engaged thousands — and sparked policy change. In this interview, Sophia shares her story, the creation of Better Bus Youth, and her vision for making youth transit access a national priority. Her journey is a powerful example of how young leaders are building better futures, one step — and one bus ride — at a time.

Ulwiana Mehta-Malhotra keeps clothing out of landfills and helps students stay hopeful. This 18-year-old from North Vancouver inspires highschool students to trade fast fashion for thrift shops and clothes swaps, and provides a newsletter that spreads good news about climate solutions.

Liam Sisson wants to teach you about bees. This 19-year-old University of British Columbia science student from Kelowna, B.C., spends his summers keeping bees and hosting guided beekeeping tours for visitors.

Graeme Hopkins is passionate about immersing young people in nature. This 20-year-old from Saskatchewan takes groups of youth, aged 13 to 18, into wild spaces in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

It might not sound like a climate job, but mechanical insulators help make buildings more energy efficient. Laura Lynch, host of CBC’s ‘What on Earth’ podcast, head out to meet a young woman who trained in the trade through a program set up by the Youth Climate Corps BC. The group is training young people around BC for a wide variety of good, green jobs and hopes to expand across the country.

Ella Bradford uses student climate strikes to raise awareness in Yukon. This 18-year-old student is a recipient of the I-SEA 2024 youth climate activism award for her high school leadership of the “Fridays for Future Yukon” student movement.

Smiely Khurana’s online platform, The Sustainable Act, showcases thoughtful storytelling about the climate crisis, and encourages us to appreciate each other and take action to protect what we love.

Luiza Salek is using art to help high school teachers provide a platform for students to express their feelings about the climate crisis, as part of the first UBC Climate Studies and Action cohort.

McKenna Corvello helps youth become resilient in the face of climate change. The 23-year-old Carleton University master’s student works for Mochi4thePlanet, researching strategies for cultivating hope in young people.

Lesley Johnson creates maps to help us explore Canada’s nature trails, as manager of geographic information system (GIS) mapping for Trans Canada Trail.

Chloe Fraser, a 23-year-old Vancouver writer, was named a top environmentalist under 25 for her accredited university course that teaches participants about the power of stories to motivate engagement in climate issues. 

Shir Gruber helped lead the 2019 climate student strikes. Now she has parlayed that experience into a leadership role with Sustainable Youth Canada.