A new book filled with personal stories from passionate young Canadian leaders offers a glimpse into a new generation that is among the first to navigate a truly global planet. They have more choices, more indecision, more global access and information, yet more global consequences and responsibility. Organized by four Action Canada Fellows (Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Kris Frederickson, Ahmed Kayssi and Cynthia Mackenzie), Generation is a compilation of stories from 30 high-achieving young Canadians – activists, idealists and warriors – who explain how they recognized their desire to pursue their passion and how they are working to affect change. The book is divided into four categories: personal/environmental connections; social entrepreneurship; community involvement; and political engagement. The stories highlight the innovative and empowering ways in which young people today are identifying and addressing society’s problems in these areas. Contributors include Miali Coley, who as a teenager organized a summer-camp program to encourage the youth in her Iqaluit community to experience the outdoors, and Action Canada Fellow George Roter, who co-founded an organization of Canadian engineers that reaches across borders to help developing communities. “This book is a celebration of how our generation is changing our world,” says Action Canada Fellow Kris Frederickson. “It’s about looking beyond anger and apathy.” The Fellows hope that the book, to be published by Greystone Books in February 2006, will inspire and challenge its readers to get involved and help to improve the world around them. Royalties from the book will be donated to DreamCatcher, a Yukon-based youth mentorship program that connects high school students with mentors from around the country. A companion website, www.generationscanada.ca, will serve as a resource for leadership. In addition to producing the book, the Fellows have partnered with organizations like Canada 25, D-Code and Apathy is Boring, which are all examining policies and ways to galvanize youth action and take it to the next level. “Generation,” says Severn Cullis-Suzuki, “is our effort to profile the efforts, ideals, values, passion and accomplishments of our peers through their own inspiring words – and to encourage others to follow these role models.” Cullis-Suzuki says the group also hopes the book will be useful for decision-makers in setting policies for engaging youth.
