Vaughan’s Transportation Youth Ambassador Program is award-winning!
Vaughan has an impressive multi-modal transportation network that’s informed by our young residents. And their efforts to help shape it are being noticed!
The City of Vaughan’s Transportation Youth Ambassador Program is the recipient of the Transportation Association of Canada 2024 Workforce Development Achievement Award. This recognition was celebrated by Mayor Steven Del Duca and Members of Council during a ceremonial presentation at the Tuesday, Nov. 5 Committee of the Whole (1) meeting.
The program is an outreach initiative led by Vaughan’s youth, for youth. It provides participants the opportunity to speak with other young adults about their challenges with transportation in Vaughan and work together to find solutions.
The program started in summer 2023 and has grown into a co-op partnership with local high schools. Through the program, student interns gained real-life work experience at Vaughan City Hall working alongside the Transportation Planning and Engineering team in the Infrastructure Development portfolio, and developed skills such as leadership, time management, teamwork and critical thinking.
Through the program, students created and delivered a number of engagement activities, including:
- hosting focus group discussions in elementary and high schools.
- facilitating surveys and promotional tactics.
- sharing input on City decisions.
- attending and supporting outreach at City events.
- mentoring peers and the new youth ambassadors joining the program.
- and more!
Vaughan’s Transportation Youth Ambassadors Program has led to a greater representation of youth voices in municipal transportation decision-making and helped City staff better understand the transportation priorities of young adults in the community.
QUOTE
“The young people of Vaughan are enthusiastic and want to make a difference – and the City is keen on hearing what they have to say. Vaughan’s Transportation Youth Ambassador Program is an opportunity to listen to our younger residents about the challenges they face with our transportation system and find out their vision for the future. We know that Vaughan is a city people dream of calling home and where they want to raise their families, start businesses and enjoy an unrivalled quality of life. That’s why we have to make sure we are building a transportation system that is reliable, inclusive and convenient for everyone – with feedback from residents of all ages. Congratulations to our Transportation Planning and Engineering team for their incredible work on this important program.”
- Mayor Steven Del Duca
QUICK FACTS
- The City of Vaughan’s Transportation Youth Ambassador Program is the recipient of the Transportation Association of Canada 2024 Workforce Development Achievement Award.
- The program started in summer 2023 and has grown into a co-op partnership with local high schools. The youth-lead outreach program encourages peer-to-peer conversations about transportation challenges and success in Vaughan, and how it can be improved to better serve the needs of young adults in the community.
- The Workforce Development Achievement Award recognizes initiatives in post-secondary education or professional development settings that support workforce development and training in the transportation industry.
