Youth Symposium

New venues, new format, and the same trusted Youth Symposium experience for your Grade 8 students.

Our 2026 edition marks our 19th Youth Symposium! While the program remains grounded in the same values and impact educators have come to trust, 2026 is our first year delivering the symposium in this large-venue format.

Check out the 2026 Youth Symposium printed program

2026 Overview

This year’s Youth Symposium will follow a single-stream, large-venue format. All participating students will hear the same three featured speakers together throughout the day.

In past years, students selected from multiple concurrent sessions. But for 2026, we are bringing everyone together in one setting to experience the presentations as a collective audience.

This format allows us to offer:

An engaging experience where every student hears the same key messages
Strong sight-lines in professionally designed lecture halls
A streamlined and well-paced schedule
An on-campus experience that allows students to begin envisioning themselves in a post-secondary setting in the years ahead

Three engaging presenters will focus on themes of:

Perseverance
Belonging
Personal agency

Dates & Locations

All symposium dates will run from 10:00 a.m. – 1:20 p.m.

Thursday, April 23 at Rozanski Hall*, University of Guelph (98 Trent Lane, Guelph)
Tuesday, April 28 at Lazaridis Hall**, Wilfrid Laurier University (64 University Ave. W., Waterloo)
Wednesday, April 29 at Lazaridis Hall**, Wilfrid Laurier University (64 University Ave. W., Waterloo)

*Rozanski Hall capacity is 600
**Lazaridis Hall capacity is 1,000/day

Featured Speakers

Registration Fee

Students will be encouraged to keep going through challenges, recognize their inherent worth, and understand the power they have in shaping their own path forward. We’re confident this shared experience will be meaningful, relevant, and inspiring for Grade 8 students as they prepare for high school.

Feedback from Students

“It’s easy to make mistakes, but it’s how we move on from them that truly says who we are.”

“I realized that every decision I make, every step I take, I should reflect on my actions whether they be good or bad.”

“I liked how all the presenters had a story to tell, but they told it in different ways, and they related their stories to us in order to teach us something.”

“Very inspirational. The story that was shared made me believe I can achieve anything.”

“Love this! I want to come back again next year!”

Feedback from Teachers

“These opportunities are difference makers for kids. It can’t be found in a textbook.”

“Very empowering, worthwhile, touched on real issues happening right now in schools.”

“Dynamic, energetic, inspirational, humorous!”

“Excellent opportunity for students to understand that there is help, to hear information from presenters and community representatives that support school messages.”

“Awesome messages that were very heartfelt and relevant in the minds of Grade 8’s.”

2026 Youth Symposium Sponsors

Thank you to our 2026 sponsors for making this program possible and affordable for so many local youth!

A Program Rooted in Community

We are grateful for everyone who has been part of Youth Symposium over the many years it has run. The program continues to succeed through the dedication of teachers, presenters, volunteers, and community partners.