Youth Forum @GC45 will be 100 young people and their leaders from United Church communities of faith across Canada and Bermuda. Youth Forum Delegates include voting commissioners and delegates (with a voice but no vote). As of June 30, 2025, one group is aged 15– 17, and the other is 18– 25.
Accommodation will be at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown from August 5– 12. Food, travel, and accommodation will be arranged by the General Council Office. Youth under 18 will be supervised by the Youth Forum Leadership team, which will be finalized in January 2025.
Youth Forum delegates will be encouraged to engage in all business sessions of the 45th General Council and home groups throughout this time. Ideally, Regional Councils will elect at least one youth (age 15–21) to serve as a Commissioner to General Council. Youth Forum delegates who are not selected as Commissioners will share their wisdom with voice but no vote.
If you are a commissioner from your region, at least 15 years old and no older than 25 by June 30, 2025, you are already a Youth Forum delegate and will receive information about how to register when General Council 45 Registration opens.
If you are interested in being a Youth Forum delegate (and you were not elected as a commissioner from your region), there is still an opportunity for you to participate as each region and the Indigenous Circle will send six delegates (including those who are in this age group who are being sent as commissioners). You must be at least 15 years old and no older than 25 by June 30, 2025, to apply to be a Youth Forum delegate.
The United Church of Canada has commitments to becoming anti-racist and encouraging equity and diversity amongst leadership and participants at all levels of the church. Youth Forum at GC45 will live into these commitments by ensuring that over half of our leadership and participants will identify as racialized and/or Indigenous as well, ensuring participation and leadership from other equity identities including but not limited to, persons with disabilities, those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, those whose primary language is not English, etc. We know identity can be complicated and we give thanks for being able to be a more inclusive expression of the Body of Christ.
Each region is responsible for selecting its representative Youth Forum delegates. To learn more about the process in your region or for the Indigenous Circle, contact the staff person listed below (more information about regional council boundaries can be found on this map).
Hello from the General Council 45 Youth Forum planning team! We are excited to serve together and look forward to welcoming you to #GC45youth.
The key goals of the Leadership Animators program include leadership development, vocational discernment, and planning for General Council 45 and Youth Forum.
Johannes Van Kessel-Crozier is honoured to serve as a Youth Forum Leadership Animator for the summer of 2024. The key goals of this program include leadership development, vocational discernment, and planning for General Council 45 and Youth Forum which will occur in July 2025. Johannes resides in Comox Valley B.C. on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, in the Pacific Mountain Region. He is part of the leadership and musical leadership at Weird Church Cumberland and serves on the Regional Youth Council and Regional Executive Council. His Hobbies and passions include music, playing the piano and organ, church history, church polity, and almost everything about church!
Matthew Tyhurst is thrilled to be a Youth Forum Leadership Animator for the summer of 2024. Matthew resides in Georgetown, Ontario, on the Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation territory, part of the Horseshoe Falls Regional Council. Matthew is heavily involved with St. Andrew’s United Church and St. John’s United Church, two local churches in his area. Matthew has also had previous employment with The United Church of Canada, working as a Climate Motivator last summer and participating in GC44 as a Youth Forum delegate. Outside of his work with the church, Matthew is a Grade 12 student who is passionate about social justice work, specifically environmental advocacy. In his free time, Matthew engages in many hobbies, such as curling, debating, and playing music.
Joshua Bell is delighted to serve as a Youth Forum Leadership Animator for the summer of 2024. Joshua resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Plains Cree and Métis lands in the Living Skies Region. He worships at St. Martin’s United Church and serves on the Structural Change Evaluation Steering Group and the Vision Fund Committee, along with the Business Committee for General Council 45. Outside of his work with the church, he is a history and political science student at the University of Saskatchewan. He is passionate about church governance and enjoys reading and playing board games.
Tia Park-Lee is excited to serve as a Youth Forum Leadership Animator for the summer of 2024. Tia is a leadership animator representing Canadian Shield Region as she is originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, on the Robinson-Huron Treaty territory. She moved in July of 2024 and now resides in Hamilton, Ontario, on the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas. Before her move, Tia worshiped at St. Andrew’s United Church in Sault Ste. Marie and will also serve on the worship committee for General Council 45 planning. Outside of her work with the church Tia is preparing for her first year at McMaster University in the Mathematics and Statistics program this fall.
Dorcus Annika Yohan is delighted to serve as a Youth Forum Leadership Animator for the summer of 2024. Dorcus Annika Yohan resides in Norman’s Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador, on the ancestral and traditional homelands of the Beothuk, the Mi’kmaq, the Innu, and the Inuit in the Atlantic Region. She worships at Bethel United Church, Norman’s Cove Pastoral Charge and serves on the GC45 Worship Committee. Outside of her work with the church, Dorcus aspires to become a nurse and will be attending Memorial University this fall. She is passionate about serving God and worshiping with her congregation.
Mariana is a 16-year-old high school student. She currently lives in Scarborough, Ontario. She is a member of the Uganda Martyrs United Church of Canada. This summer, she is participating in the leadership animator program, where some of her goals include planning the GC45 Youth Forum and exploring her vocational discernment. She is also excited to be part of the business committee for GC45. In the future, Mariana aspires to become an OB-GYN.
Benjamin Ryan is pleased to be serving as a GC45 Youth Forum Leadership Animator for the summer of 2024. Benjamin resides in Montreal on the traditional lands of the Kanienʼkehà꞉ka or Mohawk people in the Nakonha:ka Region. He has participated in and helped plan or lead youth and young adult events in the region since 2016, serves on the United Spirit Camp leadership committee, and hopes to join the Equity Committee for GC45. Outside of his work with the church he is passionate about the performing arts and community building. He will be starting university at Concordia this fall following his passion for theatre and all things creative.
Kupa Munikwa is looking forward to serving as a Youth Forum Leadership Animator for the summer of 2024. Kupa resides in New Brunswick on Mi'gmaq, Wolastoqiyik, Peskotomuhkati Territory in the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters region. She worships at various places in the Greater Moncton area and serves on the worship committee for GC45. Outside of her work with the church she is studying at Dalhousie University. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, making art, and exploring new places.
Staff support for the Youth Forum Leadership Animator program comes from Amy Crawford and Springwater Hester-Meawassige at the General Council Office, Pamela Evans from Pacific Mountain and Chinook Winds Regional Councils, and Alana Martin from the GoProject.