Ontario Youth Parliament is a youth organization that annually holds a four-day debate conference on Family Day weekend for youth ages 14 to 21 from Ontario, Canada. Drawing on roots within the United Church of Canada dating back to 1907, OYP is a non-denominational Christian-based organization that is open to participants of all faiths. It combines components of parliament-style debate, social and leadership development activities and exploration of spirituality. The debate is modeled after the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, with mock legislation written by members of the youth Cabinet on current issues facing youth in Canada. Social activities include two dances and a formal banquet, secret friends, and team-building games. The spiritual side of OYP is addressed through open nightly discussion on the theme chosen for that year and attendance at the host church's worship service.
OYP has a long history of youth leadership and community and maintains ties to hundreds of alumni across Canada.
Read more about Ontario Youth Parliament: Organization
Famous quotes containing the words youth and/or parliament:
““I don’t suppose there’s a man going, as possesses the fondness for youth that I do. There’s youth to the amount of eight hundred pound a-year, at Dotheboys Hall at this present time. I’d take sixteen hundred pound worth, if I could get ‘em, and be as fond of every individual twenty pound among ‘em as nothing should equal it!””
—Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
“What is the historical function of Parliament in this country? It is to prevent the Government from governing.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)