Youth Centre for Excellence
A place where diverse youth belong, grow, lead, and thrive.
We understand that a strong start shapes a strong future. The Youth Centre for Excellence is a welcoming, youth-driven space designed to empower youth from diverse cultural backgrounds to discover their strengths, expand their opportunities, and build meaningful connections in their community.
YCE is more than a centre, it’s a community where youth belong, create and lead with purpose.
After School Refugee Language Program
After School Refugee Language Program
This program aims to provide essential English language acquisition support for refugee youth with an English level of A1.2 or below, influencing their success in social, cultural, and community connections. This program is offered in three terms from October to June, with 10 sessions each term.
Art Therapy
Art Therapy
This program runs in select schools based on need and referral. Activities are designed by licensed art therapists to help immigrant children and youth process feelings and experiences from past difficult circumstances and possible traumas. The goal of the program is to use the creative process to help participants explore self–expression, gain personal insight, and develop new coping skills.
Delivered when funding is available. By referral only.
Campus Companion
Campus Companion
Campus Companion is a mentorship program for Newcomer grade 11 and grade 12 students as they begin to navigate the transition from high school onwards. High school students are paired with volunteers currently enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan, who assist them in gaining knowledge and confidence for their chosen academic path and post-secondary education. Through weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meetings, newcomer youth and their mentors engage in activities and discussions that foster a supportive mentoring relationship. The program takes place outside of school hours, at times and locations on campus determined by the individual youth and the student volunteer.
Cultural Activities and Field Trips
Cultural Activities and Field Trips
Variety of activities arranged such as beading and birchbark basket making, Indigenous foods, Storytelling circles, Blanket Exercise, cultural teachings, and ceremonies with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous community members.
Join field trips such as Wanuskewin Heritage Park, visit to a First Nation community, attend a Pow Wow, experience a Sweatlodge, and more.
Dates are announced via social media and our mailing list.
Cultural Volunteering
Cultural Volunteering
Are you a newcomer youth between the ages of 16 and 21 who loves music, art, and community events? Join our Cultural Volunteering Program and become part of Saskatoon’s vibrant cultural scene!
As a volunteer, you’ll have the chance to support concerts, festivals, and other cultural events across the city. You’ll help with a variety of tasks such as welcoming guests, assisting event organizers, guiding attendees, and ensuring everyone enjoys a positive experience.
Through this opportunity, you’ll:
• Gain hands-on experience working directly with the public.
• Build valuable skills in communication, teamwork, and time management.
• Enhance your resume with meaningful work experience in community engagement and event coordination.
• Meet new people, explore diverse cultures, and become an active part of Saskatoon’s cultural life.
Whether you’re passionate about the arts, looking to build confidence, or eager to get involved in your new community, cultural volunteering is a fun and rewarding way to make a difference!
Indigenous Community Events
Indigenous Community Events
Join with SODS at vibrant community events that celebrate Indigenous culture and connections, such as the Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Round Dances, Pow Wow Dances, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events.
Register when announced on social media or join the mailing list.
Peer Leader Training
Peer Leader Training
A training program prior to the start of the school year, to build the capacity in well-established newcomer high-school students to develop and deliver school orientation workshops for new students and their families. These youth also act as leaders within their schools throughout the year to help newcomer youth make the transition and feel welcome and included.
Promoting Chemical Safety Awareness Among Newcomer Youth
Promoting Chemical Safety Awareness Among Newcomer Youth
This program develops leadership skills for youth in chemical safety awareness. The initiative is funded by Health Canada and is designed to raise awareness among youth, ages 14 to 29 about the safe use of chemicals in everyday life.
The program will run from October to March with weekly sessions. Join us for the Youth Chemical Safety Awareness Program!
As a participant, you will:
• Attend interactive sessions and workshops with experts
• Join facility tours focused on chemical safety practices
• Create digital content and outreach materials
• Take part in community engagement activities
• Receive fully funded WHMIS training
• Earn a certificate of completion
School Buddy Program
School Buddy Program
The goal is to build friendships and a supportive learning environment over the course of six (6) weeks during lunch hours at selected elementary schools. The School Buddy Program matches new immigrant and refugee children with host Canadian children to facilitate their integration into Saskatoon. Facilitators lead the group through activities designed to foster cultural understanding between the students while also having fun and
developing new or existing friendships within the group. The program takes place throughout the year, following the school academic calendar.
SSWIS Summer Camps
SSWIS Summer Camps
The SSWIS Summer Camps are designed for newcomer immigrant and refugee children from low-income families, ages 6 to 10. The camps provide a mix of educational and recreational activities to engage children and support their learning and development during the summer break.
Summer Activities for Youth
Summer Activities for Youth
Provides summer programming for newcomer youth. The program is designed for youth ages 10-18 and is a combination of pre-registered events and drop-in programs that occur over the course of July and August. The program is flexible to accommodate participant needs.
Voice of Youth Leadership Summit
Voice of Youth Leadership Summit
The one-day youth leadership summit, organized by Youth Leadership Initiative participants, is for discussion of the issues that impact youth today.
The goal of the conference is to bring newcomer, Canadian and Indigenous youth together to engage in a dialogue with leaders in the community. Participants in the Youth Leadership Initiative identify passion projects, collaborate with community partners, and present their findings to other youth and the community at large. The youth summit takes place annually in March.
Youth Digital Storytelling
Youth Digital Storytelling
These workshops seek to enhance understanding between newcomer and Indigenous youth and promote cultural understanding within their communities. They teach participants how to create digital media productions through scripting, filming and editing and are intended to engage youth on cultural, relational, social and personal levels.
Youth Empowerment Workshops
Youth Empowerment Workshops
The Youth Empowerment Workshop (YEW) series offers a range of artistic and practical skill-building sessions to address service gaps in programming for refugee and immigrant youth. The YEW sessions aim to enhance cultural understanding, foster positive relationships, and empower youth with essential skills for integration with a long list of arts and culture activities involving cooking, woodworking, spoken word, dancing, music, literary, media and visual arts, and many more.
This program funded by City of Saskatoon- Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Grant is delivered in partnership with the Saskatoon School Boards, CNYC, White Buffalo Youth Lodge, CHEP, Saskatoon YMCA and many others.
Youth Hosting Youth
Youth Hosting Youth
The Youth Hosting Youth program connects immigrant youths with their Canadian peers or with immigrant youths who have lived in Canada for at least three years and have a solid knowledge and understanding of Canadian society. The program features lunch-hour socials along with in-class workshops that promote interaction and discussions. The focus of these sessions is to address concerns that youth experience in their academic, social, and personal lives. The program take place throughout the year, following the school academic calendar.
Youth Leadership Initiative
Youth Leadership Initiative
Welcome to the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) — a program dedicated to bringing together newcomer and Canadian youth aged 12–24 to foster leadership skills and civic engagement. Our initiative provides opportunities for youth to explore various areas of community engagement, guiding them toward becoming future leaders who can drive positive change in their communities.
Youth Leadership Initiative is funded in part by Canada Service Corps and in part by Scotiabank, a national movement that empowers youth aged 12–24 to gain experience and build important skills while giving back to their community. Learn more about Canada Service Corps at Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps.
What is the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI)?
At YLI, we believe that community engagement is essential for youth to develop a sense of responsibility and ownership toward their communities. The program includes:
– Volunteer activities that provide valuable experience, networking opportunities, and skill-building.
– Leadership training, public speaking workshops, and team-building exercises to equip youth with the tools needed to become effective leaders.
– Youth-led Passion Projects, which offer real-life experience in fostering and championing change.
Participants will work on their Passion Projects and present their experiences and findings at the next Youth Summit in 2026.
Our program encourages youth to take ownership of their development and step into leadership roles within their communities. Through educational workshops and site visits, participants gain hands-on experience and exposure to various community organizations and initiatives.
YLI helps youth:
– Identify community needs
– Develop and execute impactful projects
– Collaborate in team environments
We encourage youth to step outside their comfort zones and explore different avenues of civic engagement. At YLI, we are committed to creating an environment that supports both personal and professional growth, empowering youth to reach their full potential as community leaders.
Youth Sports Training and Activities
Youth Sports Training and Activities
Youth Sports Training and Activities aims to enhance the leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship skills of youth while fostering physical, social, and emotional development. Activities include marathon training, swimming, soccer, basketball, and volleyball, Afghan girls’ skateboarding, roller derby and many others. The sport sessions take place through weekly sessions from: April – June, September – December, and January – March.
Financial aid is available to cover registration fees for low-income newcomer youth aged 4-18 for many sports. All program and individual funding is provided by the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charity, intended to get youth involved in sports and physical activity programs across Canada.
Youth Study Group
Youth Study Group
The Youth Study Group initiative is a comprehensive program designed to assist Newcomer and immigrant youth with their homework. By offering homework assistance, we aim to bridge gaps in understanding, foster a positive learning environment, and facilitate a smoother integration into the education system. The program runs throughout the year, from September to June, following the school calendar, with sessions per week on Monday through Thursday in different high schools.