About Us

Our Mission

To build the next generation of Canadian digital leaders by connecting youth to the spaces, skills, and networks that shape Internet governance and digital policy — at home and internationally.

Our Vision

A Canada where youth are recognized, resourced, and empowered participants in every forum where the digital future is decided.

Why Do We Do What We Do?

The digital realm touches every dimension of life — how we learn, work, communicate, and participate in democracy. Yet the tables where its future is shaped have rarely included young people. We exist to change that. We believe that youth don’t just inherit the digital world — they are already shaping it. Our work ensures that when decisions are made about access, safety, regulation, and infrastructure, Canadian youth have a voice, a seat, and the preparation to use both effectively.

Youth as Stakeholders

Digital governance shapes algorithms, AI systems, data rights, and platform economies — decisions made across technical bodies, regulators, and international fora that define the world young people will inhabit longest. Yet the multistakeholder model, organized around professional identity, has long treated youth as a future stakeholder group rather than a present one. YDLC rejects that framing. Youth are among the most directly affected by digital governance decisions — as users, workers, and citizens — and that stake is real now. We exist to ensure it is recognized, and that young Canadians have the preparation and access to act on it wherever digital governance happens.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Initiatives We’ve Supported

WSIS Youth Caucus

At the 20-Year Review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), youth achieved something without precedent in Internet governance: formal recognition as a distinct stakeholder group in the final WSIS+20 text — the first time a stakeholder group emerged through bottom-up advocacy rather than top-down designation. YDLC was proud to develop and coordinate the WSIS Youth Caucus, a cross-regional initiative that brought together youth from around the world to ensure their voices shaped the WSIS+20 process from within, securing that historic recognition.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Learn More About the WSIS Youth Caucus

Website: Link

CircleID Op-Ed: Link