CASE STUDY | Holistic Health and Wellbeing in CBYF – Alberni-Clayoquot

A soccer team laughing and smiling together

The Tamarack Institute is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to ending poverty in all its forms, for good. We support real people and invest in real communities for long-term change.



Cette ressource est également disponible en français. Pour y accéder, veuillez cliquer sur l’icône du globe dans le coin supérieur droit de la page et choisir Français – Canada.



This case study explores the impacts and learnings from the first five years of
Communities Building Youth Futures (CBYF), a multi-sectoral collaboration between youth leaders, the Tamarack Institute, and other community allies. Between 2019 and 2024, CBYF has supported almost 70,000 young people in 20 communities to re-engage in school, secure stable employment, and develop as leaders and mentors in their communities. 

Early in the CBYF initiative, communities recognized that for young people to succeed in education and employment, they must have their basic needs met. CBYF youth-led initiatives helped young people access food, mental and physical healthcare, transportation, and meaningful connections with Indigenous Elders and adult allies. The case study contains: 

  • Narration by youth leader Jordan Higgins from CBYF Alberni-Clayoquot Region, British Columbia  
  • In-depth descriptions of CBYF initiatives related to holistic health & wellbeing including Alberni-Clayoquot’s harm reduction initiatives, Sudbury’s Hope Campaign, Yellowknife’s Youth of Yellowknife Campaign, and Kahnawà:ke’s Healing Through Performance Art  
  • Additional highlights from Chatham-Kent, Laval, Alberni-Clayoquot, Yellowknife, Digby, Sudbury, the Yukon, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Prince Albert, Oxford County, Corner Brook, Portage la Prairie, Digby Chilliwack, and Grande Prairie 
  • Quotes from 22 youth participants, leaders, and leadership table members about their experiences with CBYF 
  • Key data, learnings, outcomes, and other impacts of the initiative 

 



Recent Publications

Group of people laughing and smiling together
CASE STUDY | Youth Engagement and Leadership in CBYF – Oxford County
Friends embracing and smiling together
CASE STUDY | Service Navigation and Access to Supports in CBYF – Sudbury
A soccer team laughing and smiling together
CASE STUDY | Holistic Health and Wellbeing in CBYF – Alberni-Clayoquot
People laughing and talking together
CASE STUDY | Employment and Mentorship in CBYF – Grande Prairie
CASE STUDY | Accessible Education in CBYF – Portage la Prairie
CASE STUDY | A Squad of Young Tech Tutors Responds to the Challenges of Pandemic Digital Learning.
CASE STUDY | A Squad of Young Tech Tutors Responds to the Challenges of Pandemic Digital Learning
Case Study | Digby's Youth-Led Initiative Creates a Space for Youth in Nova Scotia
CASE STUDY | Digby's Youth-led Initiative Creates a Space for Youth in Nova Scotia
CASE-STUDY | Corner Brook: Free Tutoring Builds Student Confidence
CASE STUDY | Corner Brook: Free Tutoring Builds Student Confidence
CASE STUDY | Sudbury Youth Co-design Digital Strategy to Improve Service Access
Building the Bridge to Youth Success: Overcoming the Digital Divide
Digital Divide
CASE STUDY | Prince Albert Bridges the Digital Divide with Local Youth
Student engagement
CASE STUDY | Portage la Prairie: Roving Campus Re-engages Students
mentorship
CASE STUDY | Yellowknife Youth Reach Their Dreams Through Technology and Mentorship