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Encounters with Canada (EWC), was the country’s largest youth forum, bringing up to 3,200 youth to Ottawa throughout the year for week-long sessions to learn about national history, culture and institutions. This bilingual program was created in 1982 to promote youth leadership and knowledge of Canada by visiting national capital institutions, participating in events and meeting with prominent guest speakers. As of 2006, EWC was managed by the not-for-profit heritage organization Historica Canada (formerly the Historica Foundation). When EWC closed in 2021 more than 113,000 young people had participated in the program.
History
Creation
EWC first opened its doors to participants on 19 September 1982. The program was founded by the Canadian Unity Council, a private not-for-profit organization that was established in 1964 (originally known as the Canada Committee). The mission of the Canadian Unity Council was “to inform and to engage all Canadians in building and strengthening Canada.” In 1978, the Canadian Unity Council released the results of a national survey that showed interest in a pan-Canadian program for youth to raise awareness of Canadian history and society. The Canadian Unity Council’s goal was to create a program that would “make a significant impact in promoting a better understanding of Canada among young Canadians.” Throughout the program’s existence, it received support from the Government of Canada (see Federal Government).
Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre
The EWC program was based at The Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre, formerly the Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, which was renamed in tribute to the inspirational young athlete in 1982 (see Terry Fox). The complex, situated on 2.6 acres of land in east Ottawa, included dormitories, volunteer quarters, a cafeteria-auditorium, classrooms and recreational spaces.
The Centre’s opening ceremony, held on 28 October 1982, was attended by then governor general of Canada, the Right Honourable Ed Schreyer, and Terry Fox’s parents, Betty and Rolly Fox, along with other dignitaries.
Did you know?
In 1983, Ed Schreyer presented the program with a cheque for $250,000 on behalf of Prince Charles (as of 2023 King Charles III) and Diana, Princess of Wales, originally a gift to the couple from the Royal Canadian Legion. "It's nice to see a wedding gift put to such good use," said Prince Charles, while visiting the Centre with Princess Diana on 22 June 1983.
Historica Canada
In 2006, EWC’s very existence was threatened by the closure of the Canadian Unity Council. The Historica Foundation (now Historica Canada), an organization dedicated to Canadian history and civic education, agreed to purchase EWC the same year.
Under Historica Canada’s direction, the Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre was renamed the Historica Canada Centre in 2019.
Program and Curriculum
Throughout the year, some 3,200 teenagers aged 14 to 17 travelled from across the country to meet in Ottawa for a week of experiential activities that promoted youth leadership, citizenship and knowledge of Canada. The program operated with the support of over 1,000 volunteers. Every year, some 168 current and retired teachers donated time and expertise as monitors.
EWC was recognized by every Ministry of Education across the country and worked with schools and school boards to recruit and support students attending the program. The program was fully bilingual, and included three major components:
- Canadian institutions, including visits to Parliament and museums, a guided tour of the national capital and participation in various cultural events;
- A series of educational modules focused on topics such as official languages, youth engagement, peace and Canadian history (see Official Languages Act (1969));
- A career-themed program drawn from one of 13 topics: Arts and Culture, Canada Remembers, Ecology and Environment, Experience Canada, International Affairs, Journalism and Communications, Law, Medicine and Health, Politics in Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Science and Technology, Sports and Fitness, and Vimy: Canada’s Coming of Age (see Vimy Ridge).
Guest Speakers
Many prominent Canadians were involved in EWC to help educate participants about national and international history. These participants included government leaders from every level, including prime ministers, , senators, and governor generals, noted Canadian scientists and astronauts (Marc Garneau, Roberta Bondar, Julie Payette), Olympic and Paralympic athletes (Carolyn Waldo, Elizabeth Manley, Charlene Wong, Alwyn Morris, Jean Labonté), Hockey Hall of Fame Athletes (Ken Dryden), chief justices and judges of the Supreme Court of Canada ( Antonio Lamer, Brian Dickson, Claire L'Heureux-Dubé, Peter Cory), Canadian authors (Richard Gwyn, Jack Granatstein, Charlotte Gray, Michael Ondaatje), poets, performing artists, singers ( Alanis Morissette), comedians (Rick Mercer), Inuit and Indigenous leaders, members of the Canadian Armed Forces (Roméo Dallaire, Lewis MacKenzie), RCMP commissioners, royalty (Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Edward), world leaders (Tony Blair, George H. W. Bush, Hillary Clinton) ambassadors, dignitaries and experts (Jane Goodall) from many other countries.
Alumni
From its establishment, EWC has encouraged youth from across Canada to meet and expand their knowledge. Notable EWC alumni include:
- Former members of Parliament; Leona Aglukkaq, Lisa Raitt, Jason Kenney, James Rajotte
- 2013 Rhodes Scholar Paul Manning
- Three-time Juno Award winning fiddler Ashley MacIsaac
- Actor Peter Mooney, best known for his role on the popular television program, Rookie Blue
- Newfoundland singer and guitarist Jackie Sullivan
- Sean McCann of the Canadian rock group, Great Big Sea
- Author Amy Bright
- Activist Jeremy Dias of Jer’s Vision
- Activist Taylor Quinn
Closure
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and for the health and safety of participants, staff and volunteers, the final session of the EWC program took place in March 2020. In July of that year, Historica Canada announced the program’s temporary closure and in January 2021, the program’s permanent closure. The program was permanently closed due to lack of revenue from student registration and the cost of maintaining the EWC’s facilities during the pandemic’s lockdowns and public health restrictions.
Following the closure of the EWC program, the Historica Canada Centre was sold. The site of the former Centre has since been turned into a community centre (housing the office of the Manor Park Community Council) and marketplace.
Legacy
Artefacts from the EWC program and the Historica Canada Centre were donated to the Canadian Museum of History, which will preserve the history of this 38-year-program in its collection.
