Direct student engagements:  hosted directed engagements with local elementary, middle schools and our local high school.  

Every year our Council has provided direct financial support through our Grant in Aid funding specifically for youth causes such as dry grad for both Belmont and Royal Bay High School, Dunsmuir School Hip Hop Program, The Forge, and QCHAT Support Association.

The city also provides considerable annual funding to the Pacific Centre Family Services which provides counselling and mental health services for children, youth and families  throughout the West Shore community.

Backed by funding from Public Safey Canada, the city launched a dedicated Youth Engagement Strategy designed specifically to build safe local spaces and prevent gun and gang violence.

The city hired a dedicated Youth Engagement Coordinator to manage local programming, support youth health, and act as a bridge between youth and local government.

Along with the Village Initiative and School District 62, Colwood led the way in the formation of the Municipal Leadership Advisory Committee, to develop a coordinator position for youth and families to serve the Westshore communities including Sooke.

Colwood applied for and was selected for Project Upstream as one of only 10 pilot sites across Canada to participate in a national evidence-based prevention project.  The program allows for the utilization of national data to identify early risk factors and build safety nets upstream before harmful situations impact local youth.