Fonds RC0315 - Canadian Youth Congress

The youth congress movement in Canada originated with a small group of individuals in Toronto, Ont. This group held a preliminary conference there in 1935. It, in turn, led to the first Canadian Youth Congress (CYC), called to discuss major youth concerns: peace, employment and education. As a result of this meeting, activities were initiated in larger centres toward the establishment of similar councils. The first national meeting of the CYC occured in Ottawa, Ont. in May 1936 and prepared delegates for the World Youth Congress held in Geneva later that summer. Out of the Ottawa meeting came the Declaration of Rights of Canadian Youth, resolutions on Canadian youth and world peace, and the proposed Canadian Youth Act. The second Canadian Youth Congress in Montreal, Que. in May 1937 saw a drive to broaden the scope of the movement and to involve participation from French-Canadian youth. Annual conferences were held from 1936 to 1940. CYC members continued to speak out against the rising tide of fascism and to work for Canadian youth until 1942.