Youth Initiatives

Youth Week is an annual provincial celebration that is held the first week of May with the aim of highlighting the strong connection between youth and their communities.

For more information, visit Youth Week events.

The Youth Civic Engagement Program is a free eight-week education-to-action program that provides youth (15–20 years) with the opportunity to learn and discover the inner workings of the City's different departments, and the decision-making processes that shape our community. As part of the program, youth will get an opportunity to work together on a project that sparks their interests and present their ideas to a mock City Council.

Wednesdays, Jan 15-Mar 5, 2025
4:30-6:30pm
Richmond City Hall
Event ID #: 00374246

Registration is first come, first serve with 20 spots available.
Questions? Contact YouthPlanning@richmond.ca.

What are the U-ROC Youth Awards

During BC Youth Week (May 1-7), the City of Richmond hosts the U-ROC (Richmond Outstanding Community) Awards to celebrate the achievements and dedication of youth and caring adults within the Richmond community. Community members can nominate youth and caring adults for two categories: Outstanding Youth and Adult Asset Champions.

Outstanding Youth

Youth in this category are nominated for displaying exceptional qualities, making Richmond a better place and overcoming barriers towards their personal success.

Asset Champions

Adults in this category are nominated for showing dedication and commitment to supporting youth to build Developmental Assets. These adults go out of their way to inspire, mentor and make a difference in the lives of youth.

The U-ROC Awards utilize the 40 Developmental Assets framework for working with youth by recognizing outstanding young people who have developed assets and adults who contribute to the positive development of youth.

U-ROC Award nominees receive recognition for a variety of important reasons, some of these include: youth who have made significant contributions through volunteering, young people who have overcome significant barriers toward their personal success and adults who have gone the extra mile to support and mentor young people in Richmond.

2024 U-ROC Award Recipients

2024 U-ROC Award Recipients

The Positive Ticket Program originated in Richmond in 2001 and was adopted widely across the police system in North America. The program provides Richmond RCMP officers and other community service providers with positive "tickets" that are issued to young people up to 18 years old. The tickets are given out to recognize good behaviour, reward good deeds or simply to connect and build relationships. Each ticket can be redeemed for one free drop-in session at a participating community centre and facility of the recipient’s choice.

Positive Tickets can be redeemed at the following locations:

• Cambie Community Centre
• City Centre Community Centre
• Hamilton Community Centre
• South Arm Community Centre
• Steveston Community Centre
• West Richmond Community Centre
• Arena Services
• Aquatics
• Pitch and Putt Golf
  

*Fitness Centre orientations are mandatory for youth aged 13 to 15 years. Youth 13 to 17 years must demonstrate appropriate maturity level and must submit completed Parental Consent Form and PAR-Q Form prior to fitness centre access.
Informed Consent and Permission Form Youth
PAR-Q+ Fillable Form 2024

Pink Shirt Day places emphasis on being kind to others and ourselves, supporting one another and fostering safety for all individuals in the community. The City, Richmond School District, Richmond Fire Rescue, Richmond RCMP and Richmond Public Library recognize Pink Shirt Day annually on the last Wednesday of February. This year Pink Shirt Day is February 28, 2024.

Pink Shirt Day originated in 2007 when two Secondary students from Nova Scotia gave pink shirts to their classmates to wear in solidarity, after discovering that another student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. This has now evolved into an international anti-bullying movement.

Follow along and see how the Richmond community is celebrating for Pink Shirt Day on richmond.ca/PinkShirtDay and by using the hashtag #RichmondPink.

The Richmond Youth Media Program (RYMP) is a free program for youth (13–24 years). Participants learn media literacy skills that are relevant to their interest and will be placed in a supportive environment where they can engage with positive role models. Programming includes drop-in sessions (during which supervised youth can work independently) and a variety of structured sessions.

Visit Media Lab for more information.

Foundry Richmond aims to provide a welcoming, inclusive and accessible space for young people (12-24 years) and their families to find support for their wellness needs. Foundry centres provide a one-stop shop for young people to access mental health care, substance use services, primary care, social services and youth and family peer supports. The Foundry makes it easy for young people to find youth-friendly, welcoming and appropriate services – by simply walking into their local Foundry centre, accessing Foundry’s virtual services or by exploring the tools and resources online. The City of Richmond continues to support the Richmond Foundry Project as a stakeholder and partner. Visit Foundry BC for more information.

Visit Program Registration to browse and register online for scheduled programs currently being offered City-wide.

On January 29, 2024, City Council approved the new Richmond Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). The YAC acts as a resource and provides advice to City Council regarding planning, development and implementation of policies, programs and services that directly impact youth and young adults in Richmond.

There are nine citizen appointees between the ages of 13 and 24 to represent youth perspectives and one citizen appointee, 25 years or older, who plays a significant role in a youth’s life. The citizen appointees each serve a one year term. There are also four appointees from youth-serving organizations. The City will provide a Council Liaison, a staff liaison, a representative from the City’s Community Services division and a recording secretary.

For more information, visit richmond.ca/advisory.